Messier 45 (Pleiades) - wonderfuluniverse.de

Messier 45

Over the years, I have imaged Messier 45 (the Pleiades) multiple times under varying conditions and from different locations. My earliest datasets were acquired from my backyard under moderately light-polluted skies. A subsequent imaging session in Banon, southern France, provided significantly improved seeing conditions and darker skies, allowing for higher signal-to-noise ratios and better definition of the faint reflection nebulae surrounding the cluster’s bright B-type stars.

The most recent dataset was obtained remotely via Deep Sky West, utilizing telescopes located in Chile and New Mexico. These southern and mid-latitude sites offered excellent atmospheric transparency and minimal light pollution, resulting in exceptionally clean and detailed subframes. The high-quality data allowed for a more rigorous photometric and color-calibration process, yielding a more accurate representation of the nebular structures and stellar color balance.

Data calibration, image registration, integration, and advanced post-processing were performed in PixInsight, employing weighted batch preprocessing, star alignment, and gradient correction tools. Noise reduction and deconvolution techniques were applied to enhance fine structural detail while preserving the natural morphology of the nebulosity.

The final composite image demonstrates the characteristic blue reflection nebulae produced by interstellar dust scattering the light of hot, young stars within the cluster. This project not only illustrates the progressive improvement of imaging and processing techniques over time but also highlights the advantages of high-altitude, low-humidity remote observatories for deep-sky astrophotography.