M106

This is my first image using two different cameras and telescopes, separated by almost 1000 miles!

The Hydrogen-alpha data for this image was acquired using the facilities at JMSM Observatory. The rest of the data (LRGB) was acquired in my own backyard "observatory".

It was fun to work on this data with this in mind. Even though I didn't plan this composition when I took the Ha data, it seemed to work out well in the end.

Click the image above to see the details and larger versions of the image. Or keep reading...

If you look at the image details page, you'll see that I acquired the data for this over 5 nights spread over three months!

I took the Hydrogen-alpha data primarily as a test of the equipment at JMSM Observatory - but also just to see what I could get. The Ha data on its own was quite noisy, even with almost 8 hours of exposure. However, it did highlight the Ha regions and the "jet" extending from the center of the galaxy quite well.

After this test I decided it would be fun to try and "complete" the image using data using my equipment from my back yard. It took a few sessions to get all the data and then the processing fun began! The deep luminance (>4.5 hours) did a great job of bringing out the outer regions of the galaxy. But it took quite a bit of color to match. After the first night of color I tried to complete the image but was unsuccessful. After the second night of color, it came out good but still needed a bit of work.

I've been tweaking it off and on since then and finally finished it off. I think the result came out well (for a pair of 6" telescopes!) even though the seeing at my house was not ideal during the exposures.

-Matt