ASI071MC – Semper Iuvenis Photography

My first galaxy photo — Bode’s Galaxy – Cigar Galaxy – Garland Galaxy

Messier 81 (M81), also known as Bode’s Galaxy, is a grand design spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major. The galaxy lies at an approximate distance of 11.8 million light years from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 6.94. It also has the designation NGC 3031. Bode’s Galaxy is home to over 250 billion stars and is the most remote blueshifted (moving toward us) large galaxy known.

This image is a stack of 5 hours of exposures taken from my driveway. Primary imaging gear – Telescope is the WO Z73 w/flat73A (430mm doublet refractor f5.9). Camera is the ZWO ASI071MC Pro cooled to 20f. Computerized Equitorial mount is the SkyWatcher EQ6r Pro. The support ensemble include the QHY Polemaster, WO 50mm guidescope with ZWO ASI120mm mini guide camera, Pegasus PBA, Intel NUC, Senso Sesto 2 Electronic Focuser w/temp probe. The software suite include windows 10 pro platform, Astro Photography Tool (APT) for image acquisition and auto focusing, PHD2 for guiding, ASTAP for plate solving, eqmod and ascom provide the interface support. Image processing was done manually in PixInsight. Metadata information added in Adobe Bridge and JPEG conversion performed in PhotoShop.

I wasn’t certain my wide focal length scope at 430mm would adequately capture these very small targets. I look forward to a longer FL refractor telescope in my future for these size targets, but for now this is it. Happy to see that I wasnt wasting my time imaging these.

The active galactic nucleus of M81 contains a supermassive black hole with a mass of 70 million solar masses, or 15 times the mass of the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way. Messier 81 has two well resolved spiral arms that contain large quantities of interstellar dust, associated with numerous starburst regions. Images of M81 taken at infrared wavelengths by the Spitzer Space Telescope have revealed that the interstellar dust is responsible for most of the infrared emissions detected in the galaxy. The hot, young, blue stars in the star forming regions of M81 heat the dust, increasing the emissions from these regions.

Several other members of the M81 Group, including the Cigar Galaxy (M82), are located in the same region of the sky. The Cigar Galaxy can be seen 38 arc minutes north of M81 (just below it in this image). The two galaxies can easily be seen in binoculars and small telescopes, but are not visible to the naked eye. M82 is smaller and fainter than M81, but is a wonderful example of a starburst galaxy and the two make a popular pair among astronomers. NGC 3077 (The Garland Galaxy)can be seen in the upper left part of the image.

I hope you enjoy this image of my first galaxy. Cheers!

IC 443 (also known as the Jellyfish Nebula and Sharpless 248 (Sh2-248)) is a galactic supernova remnant in the constellation Gemini. It lies adjacent to the emission nebula Sharpless 249, a star forming region, in the left half of this image. Some really smart folk who’ve been studying this believe that IC 443 may be the remains of a supernova (Star Explosion) that occurred 3,000 – 30,000 years ago. The same supernova event likely created the neutron star CXOU J061705, the collapsed remnant of the stellar core. The shock wave from the explosion produced the particularly intricate lacework of nebulosity that makes up the Jellyfish. The nebula, which is about 5,000 light years away, is adjacent to a rich region of star formation called Sharpless 249. IC 443 is one of the best-studied cases of supernova remnants interacting with surrounding molecular clouds.

The region is bordered by two very bright stars – Propus to the right and Tejat on the left. I find these two by lining up Alnitak (bottom star in Orions Belt) with the bright red star Betelgeuse and continuing about as far again. The two little stars are visible to the naked eye.

Eta Geminorum is the star’s Bayer designation. The traditional names Tejat Prior, Propus (from the Greek, meaning forward foot) and Praepes and Pish Pai (from the Persian Pīshpāy, پیش‌پای, meaning foreleg). In 2016, the International Astronomical Union organized a Working Group on Star Names (WGSN) to catalog and standardize proper names for stars. The WGSN’s first bulletin of July 2016 included a table of the first two batches of names approved by the WGSN; which included Propus for this star. Between the Propus and Tejat are several faint areas of nebulosity. IC 443, the jellyfish while further east around μ Gem is the emission nebula Sh 249 (left side of image). In between is the small faint emission nebula IC 444 (the bridge between the jellyfish and Sh 249).

Image captured with a ASI071MC Pro camera attached to a WO Z73 refractor telescope riding a SkyWatcher EQ6r Pro equitorial mount. Image acquisition with APT and processed manually in PixInsight. Exposures of 240s(28), 360s(94), 600s(32) – totaling 996 minutes, or 16.6 hours. All at unity gain and cooled to 20f. Calibration masters utilized.

Clear skies!

Tag: ASI071MC

M 81 – Bode’s Galaxy

The Jellyfish Nebula