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100 percent enlargements from the above Schmidt frame:


            

NGC6134 - Open Cluster

            

NGC6164/65 - Bipolar Nebula

            

NGC6167 - Open Cluster

            

NGC6193 - Open Cluster

            

NGC6200 - Open Cluster

            

NGC6204 - Open Cluster


 

            
 This complex
            field lies at around Declination -50S, which puts it only 5 degrees
            above my southern horizon at Happy Jack. Meticulous planning
            enabled me to capture two 6 minute exposures in between two distant
            Ponderosa pine trees on the distant southern horizon. The two
            images which contained plenty of tree branches along the bottom
            of the frame were combined to create this nearly unobstructed
            view of this fabulous field.

            
The major attraction
            here besides the huge heart shaped Ara Nebula - NGC6188 is the
            extraordinary NGC6164/65 bipolar nebula, which is an object of
            unknown origin. You might say photographing this object is the
            crown jewel of my southern photographic explorations. I've also
            cropped out of the original full size frame some other objects
            of interest as these open clusters. 

            
There are a number
            of other very low and interesting object lurking along the southern
            horizon. This set of images has encouraged me to try to capture
            more of the southern hemisphere wonders from my own backyard!

Instrument:  8" f/1.5 Celestron Schmidt Camera
Platform:  Homemade GEM
Film:  Kodak Supra 400
CCD Autoguider: ST4
Exposure:  2x6mins
Filters:  NONE
Location:  Happy Jack, Arizona
Elevation:  6800 ft.
Sky:  Seeing 10/10, Transparency 8/10
Outside Temperature:  45 F
Processing: Photoshop, PixInsight Pro.
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