M48 Open Cluster
Sometimes visible with the naked eye, the M48 open cluster of stars is 23 light years across and about 1500 light years from Earth. M48 is one of Messier's few "missing objects" - Its recorded position is off by 5 degrees. The true position was found by Oswald Thomas in 1934. North is to the right.

Scope/Mount: AstroTech AT8RC 8" F8 Ritchey-Chretien with ATFF2 Field Flattener, Celestron CI-700 Mount
Camera: Orion StarShoot Pro V2 one-shot color
Guiding: QHY5L-IIM through Orion Deluxe OAG, PHD guiding software
Exposure: (6) 5 min
Software: Nebulosity, PhotoShop CS2
Comment: 04-18-15, Tierra del Sol, CA. Just a plain ol' open cluster, but when collimation and guiding are good I just can't resist!