M51 Whirlpool Galaxy
Actually two interacting galaxies, it's the most irresistible spring imaging target. Here I have aimed for the best image I can do from my red zone location using my portable gear. We had 4 clear nights in a row and I used each one to collect 2 to 3 hours of decent data. All captures used 8 second exposures, albeit a buttload of them (where 1 buttload = 4,275 subframes).
Tech Stuff: Borg 71FL/TeleVue 2.0X PowerMate/QHY 166mono/ZWO LRGB filter set/iOptron CubePro unguided. Data collected with SharpCap in 6 minute LiveStacks with dark and flat subtraction L X 186 min; R X 162 min; G X 102 min; B X 120 min. Total 9.5 hours. Processed in PixInsight, GIMP, ACDSee. Collected April 5-9 2021 from my yard in Westchester, SQM-L 18.4-18.7 (Bortle 7 Suburban/Urban Transition sky).
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy
Actually two interacting galaxies, it's the most irresistible spring imaging target. Here I have aimed for the best image I can do from my red zone location using my portable gear. We had 4 clear nights in a row and I used each one to collect 2 to 3 hours of decent data. All captures used 8 second exposures, albeit a buttload of them (where 1 buttload = 4,275 subframes).
Tech Stuff: Borg 71FL/TeleVue 2.0X PowerMate/QHY 166mono/ZWO LRGB filter set/iOptron CubePro unguided. Data collected with SharpCap in 6 minute LiveStacks with dark and flat subtraction L X 186 min; R X 162 min; G X 102 min; B X 120 min. Total 9.5 hours. Processed in PixInsight, GIMP, ACDSee. Collected April 5-9 2021 from my yard in Westchester, SQM-L 18.4-18.7 (Bortle 7 Suburban/Urban Transition sky).