M51 Whirlpool Galaxy star sprays
with 10" f/3.9 Astrograph
Uploaded 2/15/16

 
This
            image is dedicated to my friend Paul Teirney in Australia. This is his favorite northern
            object, and I took it especially for him. Thanks Paul for being
            our friend in astronomy, paleo, and general rockhounding!

            
Select an image size for a larger view:

1290 x 960


Instrument:  10" f/3.9 Orion Astrograph Newtonian
Mount:  Astrophysics 1200 QMD
CCD Camera:  SBIG 10XME NABG with Enhanced Water Cooling
Guider: Meade DSI Pro  w/80mm piggyback refractor
Exposure:  LRGB:  1h,  15m
AstroDon RGB Combine Ratio:  1: 1.05: 1.2
Location:  Payson, Arizona, Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing FWHM = 3 arcsec , Transparency 9/10
Outside Temperature:  35 F
CCD Temperature:  -20 C
Image Processing Tools: 
Maxim DL6:  Calibration, deblooming (Starizona Debloomer), aligning, stacking
PixInsight:  Curves, Deconvolution
Photoshop CS2:  Curves, Color Correction, Gradient removal (Grad Xterminator), Cleanup

HOME   GALAXIES     EMISSION NEBS     REFLECTION NEBS   COMETS  
   GLOBULARS     OPEN CLUST     PLANETARIES     LINKS