Galaxies
Gems of the universe. Diverse, magnificent, and almost incomprehensible in size, number and variety- galaxies make a wondrous sight to observe through a telescope. Below are a few of my attempts to capture (at least some of) their grandeur.
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The Andromeda Galaxy (M31 )(and it's minor neighbors) is our closest major galactic relative. Captured in late 2018 through my Meade 80mm APO refractor and Canon T5i DSLR. This was a combination of ISO800 and ISO1600 data for a total of about 2.5hrs worth of data that was captured about 45 minutes to the west of the DC Metro area.
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Bode's Galaxy (M81), and the Cigar Galaxy (M82), with a cameo in the upper left by NGC 3077 (another smaller galaxy)...so three for the price of one! Bode's Galaxy is a picturesque and stunning Galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. It is interacting gravitationally with M82 which accounts for the starburst and destorted shape of M82 in the upper right. This image was captured in March, 2019 through my Dad's old Meade SN-8 reflector telescope and Canon T5i DSLR. I had hoped to get around 4hrs worth of data, but technical (and human) issues resulted in about 2.5hrs worth of integration time at ISO800 (360" subexposures).
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A bright spiral galaxy of the northern sky, Messier 63 is about 25-30 million light-years distant in the constellation Canes Venatici. Also cataloged as NGC 5055, the majestic flower-like galaxy is nearly 100,000 light-years across. Making it about the size of our own Milky Way Galaxy.
I captured this image of M63 from our bright (Bortle 7.5) front yard, as it ascended through the DC Metro light dome. Considering the conditions, and total integration time of 3hrs, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. This was captured using my new (to me) RC-8" astrograph, modded Nikon D5300, and Skywatcher EQ-6R mount. 36x360" light frames, 40 darks, 40 flats, and 125 bias frames.
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M51 - The picturesque spiral of the Whirlpool Galaxy and it's lesser and gravitationally bound cousin NGC 5195. The compact galaxy appears to be tugging on the arm, the tidal forces from which trigger new star formation. The small galaxy has been gliding past the Whirlpool for hundreds of millions of years. This image was captured at Sky Meadows State Park in Northern Virginia in April of 2019. Image was captured with my RC-8 astrograph telescope, Nikon D5300 DSLR, and Skywatcher EQ6-R. 19x400" Lights, 40 flats, 125 bias frames, dithered. Total of about 2hrs of exposure time.
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Here's the Leo Triplet as shot from Spruce Knob Lake, West Virginia. This area has some of the, if not the darkest skies in the eastern US and it shows since this is only an hour and twenty minutes worth of data.
The Leo Triplet is a small group of galaxies about 35 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. This galaxy group consists of the spiral galaxies M65, M66, and NGC 3628. 15x300 second lights, 40 flats, 100 bias frames. Nikon D5300 DSLR, Astro-tech AT111, Skywatcher EQ6-R mount.
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Here's a widefield shot of M101 as shot from the dark skies outside of our cabin in West Virginia. Unfortunately at this resolution its hard to see, but there are no fewer than 10 distant or smaller galaxies scattered throughout this image... pretty amazing. Messier 101 is also known as the Pinwheel Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear. Astro-Tech AT111, Skywatcher EQ6R mount, Nikon D5300. 17x300 second light frames dithered with 40 flats, 100 bias frames.