The Whirlpool Galaxy Wide Field

Image above is a full scale crop.  Click on image for full size version.

 Imaging Automated by CCD Commander
Image Data: Object Information:
  • Exposure:  RGB - 15x300s:12x300s:21x300s
    • All exposures binned 1x1
    • Combine ratio - 1.25:1:1.75
  • Telescope:  Stellarvue SV80S @ f/4.78
  • Mount:  MI-250 GoTo
  • Camera:  SBIG ST-10XME CCD, SBIG CFW-8, SBIG/CS Filters
  • Location:  My backyard in Goleta, CA
  • Date/Time: 
    • RB: May 18, 2005,  21:58-23:59 PDT
    • BG: May 19/20, 2005,  22:56-01:47 PDT
  • Processing:  Taken  in MaxIm DL v4 using CCD Commander 100% UNATTENDED while I slept!  Reduced in CCDSoft.  Aligned sub-frames with RegiStar.  Combined sub-exposures with Ray Gralak's Sigma Clip.  Aligned sub-frames with RegiStar.  Gradient Removal, Color Combine, and DDP in MaxIm.  Levels, and selective sharpening/blurring in Photoshop.

  • Notes:  First Light image with the new SBIG ST-10XME.
  • Names:  M51/NGC5194, The Whirlpool Galaxy, NGC5195 (companion), NGC5198, IC4263, NGC5169, NGC5229
  • Type:  Spiral Galaxy, plus many background galaxies
  • Constellation:  Canes Venatici
  • Distance: about 15 million light years
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