M101 The Pinwheel Galaxy

This is a "work in progress" of the Pinwheel Galaxy in the constellation of Ursa Major. The galaxy lies at a distance of 21 million light-years. At the rate I'm going it will take this long to complete :)

 

Captured over 6 nights March-April, each night interrupted by clouds. I plan to add more Luminance & Red frames the next clear moonless night

 

Celestron 11" EdgeHD + Starizona Hyperstar (F/2)

QHY23M CCD & Baader LRGB+Ha filters

CGEM-DX mount

Astro Tech AT65EDQ as a guide scope

QHY5L-IIM guide camera

 

Guiding accomplished with Metaguide

Images acquired with APT (Astrophotography Tool 2.82)

Each color channel pre-processed, aligned and stacked with Nebulosity 3 & Deep Sky Stacker

Color channels combined and post-processed using Photoshop CS6

 

Lum 15x120 3/17/15

Red- 15x120 3/18/15

Green- 24x120 3/22/15 & 4/11/15

Blue-26x120 3/22/15, 4/10/15 & 4/11/15

Ha- 12x300 4/24/15

Done