Messier 51 spiral galaxy [Robotic, GMO_5, Colorado]

These are some test images from the new System 5 scope at Grand Mesa Observatory, Colorado.

 

The system is:

 

Scope:

William Optics 12.5" Ritchey-Chrétien w/ 0.8x Reducer

Aperture: 317.5mm

Focal Length: 2032mm

Focal Ratio: f/6.4

 

Camera:

QHY600M 16-Bit Mono CMOS

Filters: LRGB, Ha, Oiii, Sii (by Chroma)

Pixel Size: 3.76 x 3.76

 

This image was made using PixInsight on 5 x RGB subs and 4 x Luminosity subs. Although master frames were provided, I calibrated and processed the raw subs myself. I used separate RGB and luminosity processing streams and combined everything just at the end which worked well (including blurring my colour image before channel combination with the luminosity image).

 

Large spiral galaxy Messier 51 is interacting gravitationally with smaller NGC 5195.

 

A rich spiral pattern of dark dust clouds reaches deep into the galactic core where a Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus is located - a dust ring obscures the central accretion disk and supermassive black hole from view.

 

A small edge on spiral galaxy IC 4277 is seen beneath NGC 5195.

 

I always like seeing the "spray" of stars thrown off NGC5195 by the interaction - imagine getting flung out of your galaxy!

 

I also really like the cluster of tiny galaxies mid right edge!

Done