20220204 - M51 (CVn) Whirlpool Galaxy - Test shot, whirling around without getting dizzy
What’s in the picture(s) -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whirlpool_GalaxyQuote “The
Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as
Messier 51a,
M51a, and
NGC 5194, is an
interactinggrand-designspiral galaxy with a
Seyfert 2active galactic nucleus. It lies in the
constellationCanes Venatici, and was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy. Its distance is 31 million
light-years away from Earth.”
Interestingly enough, M51 is also classified as one of the ARP Galaxies (ARP85). A type of galaxies which is gradually becoming my target list for the C11 later.
What was the experience
It’s always difficult to curb your eagerness to capture new DSO object, when you finally have a Clear Sky after months of clouds and not a full moon in sight. My scopes were programmed on other objects, getting in the extra time (M101 and others). Because my focus has now shifted to getting more time on DSOs, to really bring the images to a higher level of quality, reduced noise, higher level/clarity of detail.
But, Canes Venatici, with M51, is finally getting high enough during the early night, to trigger a quick capture. To optimise the time captured, I went for BIN2, which boosts the light-capture 4x. The resolution of the camera/scope combination is 0,85 arc”/pixel, with guiding around 0,65 arc”, so slightly oversampled, but with BIN2 I still get 1.70 arc” which is small enough for some fine detail. The drawback being I need to make new calibration frames (darks/flats/bias).
A quick capture with the mono-camera, a quick processing, decent enough result, already quite some good colouring, some of the faint galaxies in the wider area also visible in the background, even NGC 5169 seems to contain some detail. Background isn’t 100% smooth, but given this is a test-shot, I’m happy. Enough to understand what I need to go for on the ‘real’ capture … 😎
How it was done
Scope: TS140 APO (FL 910mm)
Mount: CEM70G
Camera: ASI2600MM Pro
Photons: 20220204 LRGB 180s 10x 5x 4x 5x BIN2
Processing: PixInsight (Mac)
What have I learned from this
Although binning reduces the resolution, thankfully with the ASI2600, there is still enough detail left, although zooming in very (very) closely does show the pixelation.
In my quest for perfection, I will be going for the full resolution on the ‘real’ capture. But it’s good to know that this is a quick shortcut to get an initial idea.
Happy with the outcome.
Clear Skies everybody! 🤩✨🔭
Follow me @astrowaut
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