Messier 11 (M 11) - Wild Duck Cluster

Introduction | Map | Find/Identify | Sketch | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the open star cluster M 11, called Wild Duck Cluster, in the constellation Scutum/Shield.

 

Introduction

The open star cluster M 11, called Wild Duck Cluster, is located in the constellation Scutum/Shield and, according to Stoyan, is regarded as the most beautiful of its kind that is visible from central Europe. M 11 is located in the Scutum cloud, a special section of the Milky Way.

Size: 7' (Stoyan)
Distance: 6,000 light years (Stoyan)
Rating: **** (Stoyan)

 

Map

M 11 (top) belongs to the constellation Scutum/Shield. All other objects belong to the Sagittarius constellation (M 8, M 16, M 17, M 20, M 21, M 23, M 24). (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

 

Find/Identify

Find: M 11 is located at the "tail end" of the constellation Aquila and close to the constellation Scutum. I see there a chain of stars, which comes down diagonally and ends horizontally to the right (at beta Scutum). Below you will find the star cluster M 11, which you can quickly recognize by its glow. To its right there is a small trapeze (see Identify). (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Here is another closer map (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com):

Identify: M 11 in the constellation Scutum/Shield is located close to an irregular trapezium, which I can see well in binoculars (and depending on the telescope, it is on the left or right side of M 11), but cannot find on many star maps and in many astronomy programs, because it is quite small. This trapezium helps me to find the star cluster and also to identify it as M 11!

(Image created with Stellarium)

 

Sketch

The sketch by Michael Vlasov (DeepSkyWatch.com) provides an impression of what I failed to observe in Summer/Autumn 2016: Sketch of the M 11 star cluster by Michael Vlasov (Copyright © Michael Vlasov 2016)

Note: I only have the author's permission to link to the sketch.

 

My Best Own Photos

ZWO ASI224

         

M 11 - Sep 2, 2021, PS 72/432, 60frames, 5sec, gain300, with IR/UV cut filter

 

M 11 - Sep 4, 2021, TLAPO1027, 60frames, 5sec, gain300

 

M 11 - Sep 4, 2021, TLAPO1027, 60frames, 5sec, gain300, processed

eVscope

         

M 11 - Jun 11, 2020

 

M 11 - Jun 11, 2020, photo left processed

 

M 11 - Jun 11, 2020, photo left processed and sharpened

   

M 11 - Aug 23,2020

 

M 11 - Aug 23,2020, photo left processed

 

M 11 - Aug 23,2020, photo left processed and sharpened

   

M 11 - Sep 8, 2021

 

M 11 - Sep 8, 2021, photo left processed

 

M 11 - Sep 8, 2021, photo left processed and sharpened

   

M 11 - Oct 7, 10.2021

 

M 11 - Oct 7, 10.2021, photo left processed

 

M 11 - Oct 7, 10.2021, photo left processed and sharpened

eVscope 2

         

M 11 - Aug 22, 2022

 

M 11 - Aug 22, 2022, photo left processed

  M 11 - Sep 6, 2023, 2 min
       

M 11 - Oct 10, 2023, 2 min

       

Vespera

    

M 11, Jul 31, 2022- original (5 frames = 50 seconds; before autofocus update)

 
 

M 11, Jul 31, 2022 - original (18 frames = 180 seconds; after autofocus update)

 
 

M 11, Oct 5, 2022 - original (30 frames = 300 seconds)

  M 11 with NGC 6712 (bottom), Nov 10, 2022 - original, mosaic (194 frames = 1940 seconds) - evaluation

 

My Own Observations

Observations September 2016

Observations October/November 2017

Observations September/October 2018 (France)

Observations October-December 2018 (Mühlhausen)

Observations August/September 2019 (Mühlhausen)

Observations September/October 2019 (France)

Observations October 2019 (Mühlhausen)

Observations May to September 2020

Observations July to October 2021

Observations July to November 2022

Observations September/October 2023

 

References

On this Site


Appendix: My Own Photos

ZWO ASI224

         

M 11 - Sep 2, 2021, PS 72/432, 60frames, 5sec, gain300, with IR/UV cut filter

 

M 11 - Sep 4, 2021, TLAPO1027, 60frames, 5sec, gain300

 

M 11 - Sep 4, 2021, TLAPO1027, 60frames, 5sec, gain300, processed

eVscope

         

M 11 - May 29, 2020

 

M 11 - May 29, 2020

 

M 11 - May 31, 2020, poor conditions

   

M 11 - May 29, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 11 - May 29, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 11 - May 31, 2020, photo on top processed

   

M 11 - Jun 11, 2020

 

M 11 - Jun 11, 2020, photo left processed

 

M 11 - Jun 11, 2020, photo left processed and sharpened

   

M 11 - Jul 9, 2020

 

M 11 - Aug 8, 2020

 

M 11 - Sep 7, 2020, disturbed

   

M 11 - Jul 9, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 11 - Aug 8, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 11 - Sep 7, 2020, photo on top processed

   

M 11 - Aug 23, 2020

 

M 11 - Aug 23, 2020, photo left processed

 

M 11 - Aug 23, 2020, photo left processed and sharpened

   

M 11 - Sep 30, 2020, slightly disturbed

 

M 11 - Sep 30, 2020, photo left processed

 

M 11 - Sep 30, 2020, photo left processed and sharpened

   

M 11 - Jul 17, 2021, collimated poorly

 

M 11 - Jul 17, 2021, photo left processed

 

M 11 - Jul 17, 2021, photo left processed and sharpened

   

M 11 - Jul 18, 2021, collimated poorly

 

M 11 - Jul 18, 2021, photo left processed

 

M 11 - Jul 18, 2021, photo left processed and sharpened

     

M 11 - Jul 29, 2021, collimated poorly

 

M 11 - Jul 29, 2021, photo left processed

 

 

Collimation Test (Aug 20, 2021)

   

M 11 - Jul 29, 2021, collimated poorly, for comparison (see also Aug 17 and 18, 2021)

 

M 11 - Aug 20, 2021, after collimation with clouds

 

M 11 - Aug 20, 2021, after collimation with less clouds

   

M 11 - Jul 29, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 11 - Aug 20, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 11 - Aug 20, 2021, photo on top processed

   

M 11 - Jul 29, 2021, photo on top processed and sharpened

 

M 11 - Aug 20, 2021, photo on top processed and sharpened

 

M 11 - Aug 20, 2021, photo on top processed and sharpened

   

M 11 - Sep 8, 2021

 

M 11 - Sep 8, 2021, photo left processed

 

M 11 - Sep 8, 2021, photo left processed and sharpened

   

M 11 - Oct 7, 10.2021

 

M 11 - Oct 7, 2021, photo left processed

 

M 11 - Oct 7, 2021, photo left processed and sharpened

     

M 11 - Oct 16, 10.2021

 

M 11 - Oct 16, 2021, photo left processed

   

eVscope 2

         

M 11 - Aug 22, 2022

 

M 11 - Aug 22, 2022, photo left processed

  M 11 - Sep 6, 2023, 2 min
       

M 11 - Oct 10, 2023, 2 min

       

Vespera

    

M 11, Jul 31, 2022- original (5 frames = 50 seconds; before autofocus update)

 
 

M 11, Jul 31, 2022 - original (18 frames = 180 seconds; after autofocus update)

 
 

M 11, Oct 5, 2022 - original (30 frames = 300 seconds)

  M 11 with NGC 6712 (bottom), Nov 10, 2022 - original, mosaic (194 frames = 1940 seconds) - evaluation