M52 is an open cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia and can found between the star Caph and the constellation Cepheus. There are quite a few stars in this region of the sky, but this open cluster is detached from the surrounding field stars. As with any other open cluster this is formed by younger stars. Due to interstellar absorption it is difficult to pinpoint the distance of this cluster but it is estimated between 3,000 and 7,000 light years away, so I go with somewhere in the middle around 5,000 light years distance.

I used black canson paper, white charcoal pencil, kneaded eraser, and I did use a blending stump in order to create some of the haze effect I was seeing in this cluster.

This cluster is not associated with any nebulosity, but I sure saw some, and so did Charles Messier. I don’t know if the nebula I was seeing was due to stars I was unable to resolve, or if it was created by the dew I later noticed on the corrector plate of my 8” SCT, but as I usually do, I sketched what I saw.

Thanks for watching. Clear skies!

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