Bill Richards
Well-Known Member
These targets are a bit too small for my astrophotography gear (until my new equipment comes off extended backorder), so not one of my better images. But larger targets are hard to come by this time of year so you take what you can get.
These 3 galaxies are Bode's Galaxy (top-center, aka M81), the Cigar Galaxy (bottom-left, aka M82) and NGC3077 (bottom-right). The two larger galaxies are roughly 12 million light-years from Earth and have been locked in gravitational combat for a billion years. Gravity from each galaxy has profoundly affected the other during a series of close encounters. Their last go-round lasted about 100 million years and likely raised density waves rippling around M81, resulting in the richness of M81's spiral arms. M82 was left with violent star forming regions and colliding gas clouds so energetic the galaxy glows in X-rays. In the next few billion years, they will eventually merge into a single galaxy. The smallest of the 3 galaxies, NGC3077, is also caught up in the gravitational warfare, the distortions from which could be seen with a larger telescope.
Although difficult to see, there are at least 60 other smaller galaxies sprinkled throughout this image as well.
This image is the result of ~5-1/2 hours of exposure time taken over 2 nights in February and April 2022 (but only half of the exposures were used).
Equipment and Software:
=======================
Mount: iOption CEM40 w/iPolar
Telescope: SkyWatcher Esprit 100ED
Auto-Focuser: Pegasus FocusCube2
Imaging Camera: ASI2600MC-Pro
Guide Camera: ASI290MM-Mini on OAG
Imaging Software: NINA
Guiding Software: PHD2
Image Processing Software: PixInsight
Exposure Details:
=================
Camera Temperature: -15C
Bias: 50
Gain: 100
162 x 120s without filter
#M81 #M82 #NGC3077 #bodesgalaxy #cigargalaxy #amateurastrophotography #asi2600mc #astro #astronomia #astronomy #astronomyclub #astronomylover #astronomyphotography #astrophotography #cosmology #cosmos #deepsky #deepskyobject #galaxy #highpointscientific #ioptron #longexpo #longexposure #nasa #nightphotography #nightsky #outerspace #photography #science #space #spacephotography #stargazing #stars #telescope #theourspace #universe #zwocameras
These 3 galaxies are Bode's Galaxy (top-center, aka M81), the Cigar Galaxy (bottom-left, aka M82) and NGC3077 (bottom-right). The two larger galaxies are roughly 12 million light-years from Earth and have been locked in gravitational combat for a billion years. Gravity from each galaxy has profoundly affected the other during a series of close encounters. Their last go-round lasted about 100 million years and likely raised density waves rippling around M81, resulting in the richness of M81's spiral arms. M82 was left with violent star forming regions and colliding gas clouds so energetic the galaxy glows in X-rays. In the next few billion years, they will eventually merge into a single galaxy. The smallest of the 3 galaxies, NGC3077, is also caught up in the gravitational warfare, the distortions from which could be seen with a larger telescope.
Although difficult to see, there are at least 60 other smaller galaxies sprinkled throughout this image as well.
This image is the result of ~5-1/2 hours of exposure time taken over 2 nights in February and April 2022 (but only half of the exposures were used).
Equipment and Software:
=======================
Mount: iOption CEM40 w/iPolar
Telescope: SkyWatcher Esprit 100ED
Auto-Focuser: Pegasus FocusCube2
Imaging Camera: ASI2600MC-Pro
Guide Camera: ASI290MM-Mini on OAG
Imaging Software: NINA
Guiding Software: PHD2
Image Processing Software: PixInsight
Exposure Details:
=================
Camera Temperature: -15C
Bias: 50
Gain: 100
162 x 120s without filter
#M81 #M82 #NGC3077 #bodesgalaxy #cigargalaxy #amateurastrophotography #asi2600mc #astro #astronomia #astronomy #astronomyclub #astronomylover #astronomyphotography #astrophotography #cosmology #cosmos #deepsky #deepskyobject #galaxy #highpointscientific #ioptron #longexpo #longexposure #nasa #nightphotography #nightsky #outerspace #photography #science #space #spacephotography #stargazing #stars #telescope #theourspace #universe #zwocameras
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