Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Ursa Major (UMa)  ·  Contains:  Bode's Galaxy  ·  M 81  ·  NGC 3031
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M81 LRGBHa with IFN, Girish Muralidharan
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M81 LRGBHa with IFN

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
M81 LRGBHa with IFN, Girish Muralidharan
Powered byPixInsight

M81 LRGBHa with IFN

Equipment

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Acquisition details

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Description

Here is my attempt at a more detailed, close up image of M81 along with the IFN surrounding the galaxy.

The reality is that the galaxies are not surrounded by this dust - the dust is much closer to us than the galaxies - it just happens to look that way. Kind of like looking at the moon on a partially cloudy night.

This dust, unlike classic reflection nebulas - that are usually illuminated by neighboring stars - is actually illuminated by the glow of our own Milky Way galaxy. And yes, it is very very faint. Steve Mandel named this nebulosity Integrated Flux Nebula, or IFN.

Luminance was acquired with ASI183MM Pro - 300' x 48 = 4 hrs

RGB acquired with ASI2600MM Pro - 120' x 210 = 7 hrs

Ha acquired with ASI2600MM Pro - 600' x 20 = 3.5 hrs

Total integration time = 14.5hrs from Bortle 6 (RGBHa) / 4 (luminance)

Comments

Revisions

  • M81 LRGBHa with IFN, Girish Muralidharan
    Original
  • M81 LRGBHa with IFN, Girish Muralidharan
    C
  • Final
    M81 LRGBHa with IFN, Girish Muralidharan
    D

C

Description: Adjusted color tone since it was a little pinkish to my taste

Uploaded: ...

D

Description: Tweaked colors on the galaxy a bit..

Uploaded: ...

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

M81 LRGBHa with IFN, Girish Muralidharan

In these public groups

Milwaukee Astronomical Society