M51 - The Whirpool Galaxy

20:11 15/4/2009 UTC

What 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!

Camera: Atik Instruments 4000LE, Modified Canon EOS 350D | 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 | 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): 21.50mag/arcsec²