Exposures: 80 minutes of lum (10 min subexposures), 40 minutes each RGB (5 min subs) for total of 3.5 hours
The open cluster (NGC 7142) is 6,200 light years away and is thought to be one of the oldest open clusters currently known. The reflection nebula (NGC 7129) shown in the lower right is much closer to us at 3,300 light years. Radiation from the open cluster is responsible for illuminating the gas surrounding this nebula giving it a rosebud shape. The stem (of the rosebud) is formed from the collision of gas jets shooting out from the bright starts near the center and carbon monoxide molecules.
6,200 light years away
(image reduced to 60% of original size)
FOV = 52 x 35 arc minutes
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