Messier 7 (NGC 6475) from Namibia

Messier 7 (NGC 6475), also known as the Ptolemy Cluster, is a bright open cluster located in the constellation Scorpius. Easily visible to the naked eye, it has been known since antiquity and was first recorded by Claudius Ptolemy as early as 130 AD. The cluster lies against a rich backdrop of the Milky Way, making it a beautiful wide-field target both visually and photographically.

I imaged this object during my stay at the Tivoli Astrofarm in Namibia in 2006, under the stunningly dark southern skies. The field surrounding M7 is filled with countless background stars and subtle traces of interstellar dust, which add depth and texture to the image.

The data calibration and registration were done using DeepSkyStacker, while the final image processing was performed in PixInsight.

The images were taken with the following equipment:

• Date: 2006
• Location: Astrofarm Tivoli, Namibia
• Telescope: Rubinar Lens
• Focal length [mm]: 500
• Focal ratio: 5.6
• Mount: Vixen Atlux
• Camera: Canon 300 Da
• Filter: OSC
• Exposure time [min]: 16
• Resolution: 6.27″/px