vkastronomy.com - CCD Astrophotography Blog
M51 - The Whirpool Galaxy
20:11 15/4/2009 UTC
< PreviousWhat a spectacular conditions. SQM read almost 22 and sky was pristine and seeing was very good. And I just happened to be testing at Ursa observatory again with 91cm telescope. Despite of few challenges I managed to get some 20 good 45s exposures from M51. This time I also added some colour data from my earlier image taken with 8 inch newton and DSLR. This is a bit quick processing, I might update the image after a while. Very nice observing site and very exciting telescope!
NGC/IC Object List:
NGC5194 galaxy RA:13h29m52.6 Dec:+47°11m'44" BMag: 8.9, M 51 Whirlpool Galaxy
[High Resolution : 960x785]
Camera: Atik Instruments 4000LE, Modified Canon EOS 350D (Rebel XT) | Telescope: Ursa Artjärvi Observatory 91cm f3.75 Astrofox Folded Newton, Orion Optics Europa 200mm f6 Newtonian reflector | Mount: Ursa Dome 1 | Filters: Baader IR/UV block | Guiding: - | Exposure: L 20x45s binned 2x2 CCD @ -20° f3.75 | Software: CCDWare CCDStack, Adobe Photoshop CS4, GradientXTerminator Plugin, Artemis Capture | Location: 60°44'00"N 26°12'46"E (Tähtikallion Observatory/Artjärvi, FI) | Background sky brightness (SQM): 21.50 mag/arcsec² | Target altitude in the beginning of the exposure 68°
Average Rating 4.44 (9 total votes)
Added: 17:27 16/4/2009 UTC
01.03.2009 12:30 UTC : Atik Flatfield
27.02.2009 18:43 UTC : New CCD Camera
26.02.2009 17:38 UTC : Field power
@Koivula: 9.8°C 78% (2009-07-04 06:40)
![[High Resolution : 960x785]](images/m51-2009.04.15-20h11m-high.jpg){kind=link}