M101 (Pinwheel Galaxy)
This somewhat irregular spiral in Ursa Major is shown in most atlases as somewhere around magnitude 7.7 but due to its size it is actually somewhat dim however it is visible in most small scopes. I have even seen this galaxy in my 25X100 binoculars. None of the smaller background galaxies in this image are visible through my 8" Newtonian scope. This image was taken with a thin crescent moon in the sky.
Details:
Imaged on 3/4/2006 at 3:17 AM Central Time
Equipment:
Camera: Canon 300D (unmodified)
at Prime Focus
Imaging Scope: 8” F4.9 Orion Reflector
Guide Scope: 120mm F5.0 Orion refractor
Guiding: GuideDog software and SAC-7b camera and TechnoPlus LX200 emulator
Mount: Losmandy CG-11
Image Information:Imaging Scope: 8” F4.9 Orion Reflector
Guide Scope: 120mm F5.0 Orion refractor
Guiding: GuideDog software and SAC-7b camera and TechnoPlus LX200 emulator
Mount: Losmandy CG-11
12 Frames, 10 Minutes each
@ ISO 800 + Avg of 5 Darks
No flat or bias frames
Captured with DSLR Control
Focused and Processed with Images Plus 2.5
No flat or bias frames
Captured with DSLR Control
Focused and Processed with Images Plus 2.5