IC 348 (also known as IC 1985) is a rarely imaged open star cluster surrounded by a reflection nebula. The image is very difficult to both image and process due to the glare of the very bright star at top center. This is likely the reason that IC 348 has not been imaged very often. The light from nearly 400 stars in the cluster is scattered by clouds of dust in this star-forming region, lighting the reflection nebula.
Imaged in LRGB at Stellar Winds Observatory, Animas, New Mexico. OTA Planewave CDK 17
Image Processing: Mark Hanson and Mike Selby