April 11, 2015

M82 (Spring 2015)


Galaxy M82 is amazing because it appears to be exploding.

I considered a version of the image with the background darker, but in fact the background contains several very distant galaxies and perhaps a distant galaxy cluster.  I enjoy the presence of these faint fuzzies enough to put up with a bit of photographic noise.

Telescope: Astro-Tech AT111EDT and William Optics AFR-IV (eff. f/5.6)
Camera and Exposure: SXVF-H9 (Lum 65x300") (Ha 19x1200"); SXVF-H9C (34x300"); Alnitak Flat-man flats
Filter(s): Astronomik CLS, 6nm Ha
Guiding: SX Lodestar and SX OAG
Mount: Takahashi NJP
Software: Nebulosity, PHD, Maxim DL, Registar, Photoshop CS3
Location: The Woodlands, TX