Nights at Melinda Heights

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Exposures: SII 27×900 Ha 26×900, OIII 23×900

Telescope: Televue NP101 + .8 Reducer

Camera: QSI 683

Mount: AP900

Distance: 850 Light Years                                        

Magnitude: 6.8                                                             

Size:  45 Arc-minutes                                                 

Age: Approx. 2,000,000 Years                                 

NGC 2175 is an open star cluster surrounded by nebulosity in the constellation Orion. The star cluster is located directly behind the “eye” of the monkey head. The entire nebula consists of the following star clusters:  NGC 2175, NGC 2175S, NGC 2174 and the nebula surrounding them. NGC 2175S, also known as Lund 1182, is located at the “base of the skull” of the monkey head. NGC 2174 is the star cluster located directly behind the “mouth” of the monkey head. The entire complex is commonly called the Monkey Head Nebula.

LRGB version with Televue NP101 (no reducer) using 12 x 300 second exposures from a Bortle 6 zone:

For a full size image click here.