Big Dipper Handle
In the handle of the Big Dipper you have the stars Alkaid, Mizar & Alcor, and Alioth. The scoop of the Big Dipper is just out of frame towards the top left. These labeled stars are between 78 - 104 light years (ly) away and they reside in our galaxy, the Milky Way. There are a few other amazing galaxies in this constellation as well. The Whirlpool Galaxy at about 23,000,000 ly, and the Pinwheel Galaxy at about 21,000,000 ly are shown here. I haven't shot the Sunflower Galaxy yet, but it is also hiding in the top-right corner at about 29,300,000 ly. Each of the 3 photos that make up this composite image are a stack of dozens of shots taken one after another (using a tracking mount).
Widefield: 40 x 1 minute exposures at f/2.4, ISO 100, 50mm. Taken 3/14/2020.
Pinwheel: 53 x 30 second exposures at f/5.6, ISO 5000, 300mm. Taken 10/09/2017.
Whirlpool: 65 x 50 sec. exposures at f/8, ISO 640, 300mm. Taken 3/22/2020.
Big Dipper Handle
In the handle of the Big Dipper you have the stars Alkaid, Mizar & Alcor, and Alioth. The scoop of the Big Dipper is just out of frame towards the top left. These labeled stars are between 78 - 104 light years (ly) away and they reside in our galaxy, the Milky Way. There are a few other amazing galaxies in this constellation as well. The Whirlpool Galaxy at about 23,000,000 ly, and the Pinwheel Galaxy at about 21,000,000 ly are shown here. I haven't shot the Sunflower Galaxy yet, but it is also hiding in the top-right corner at about 29,300,000 ly. Each of the 3 photos that make up this composite image are a stack of dozens of shots taken one after another (using a tracking mount).
Widefield: 40 x 1 minute exposures at f/2.4, ISO 100, 50mm. Taken 3/14/2020.
Pinwheel: 53 x 30 second exposures at f/5.6, ISO 5000, 300mm. Taken 10/09/2017.
Whirlpool: 65 x 50 sec. exposures at f/8, ISO 640, 300mm. Taken 3/22/2020.