The Coathanger

Seems like this year has been an interesting one for astrophotography. Either the skies are cloudy, or they are very clear but during the full moon. What to do. 

Well, when the sky is bright and deep sky imaging is not ideal, it is an opportunity for imaging some of the brighter objects the universe has to offer. In this case the Coathanger.

The Coathanger
September 10, 2022 - WO GT102/ASI2600mm
f/5.6 107 minutes

The Coathanger is not a constellation, but a pattern of stars that is not one of the traditionally established, named constellations.  These collections are known as asterisms. It is a small collection of physically unrelated stars, also known as Brocchi’s cluster and Collinder 399. Although It looks very much like its namesake, and easy to make out with a pair of binoculars, you will need a dark sky and know just where to look.