Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVn)  ·  Contains:  M 63  ·  NGC 5055  ·  PGC 166159  ·  PGC 2189522  ·  PGC 2189676  ·  PGC 2191533  ·  PGC 2191787  ·  PGC 2193890  ·  PGC 2194083  ·  PGC 2196175  ·  PGC 2196238  ·  PGC 2196633  ·  PGC 2196677  ·  PGC 2196770  ·  PGC 3087834  ·  PGC 45992  ·  PGC 46093  ·  Sunflower Galaxy  ·  TV CVn
Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
Sunflower Galaxy - A uncollimated sow's ear version, David Payne
Powered byPixInsight

Sunflower Galaxy - A uncollimated sow's ear version

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
Sunflower Galaxy - A uncollimated sow's ear version, David Payne
Powered byPixInsight

Sunflower Galaxy - A uncollimated sow's ear version

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

I was not even sure if I should post this one, as my reflector is in need of collimation....

Sunflower Galaxy in LHaRGB (Canes Venatici) , May 2023
Planewave CDK12.5" telescope and A-P 1100GTO AE mount
ASI6200MM Camera, Antlia Pro BB & 3nm Ha Filters
Lum (66 x 200s exposures, Bin 2x2, Gain 100)
RGB (3 x 28 x 240s exposures, Bin 2x2 Gain 100)
Ha (22 x 400s exposures, Bin 2x2, Gain200)
Total Integration Time = 11.7 hours
M82 is a class of galaxy termed a "flocculent", which is a fancy way of saying clumpy. The stars in the galaxy (that appear as an "atmosphere" at this distance), appear as clumps, separated by dust not only between spirals, but within the spirals as well. The sunflower galaxy is also in a class, termed "SAbc", because it has no central bar, as the Milky Way does. The combination of the two result in a galaxy the looks like its namesake. The spirals do exist, and are more clear presented in infrared images.
The Galaxy also appears as if it is in a cloud, and this cloud actually obscures the core and as a result we do not know what lies at the core, a massive black hole, or a dense star cluster. The star cloud around the galaxy is somewhat warped and some blame interaction with the dwarf UGC 8313 in the lower left.  To me, it appears to me as if there is a foreground dust cloud that creates "scratches" across the upper part of the galaxy and also an apparent reflection from an obviously much closer star. I have no idea if these feature are really part of the galaxy itself or are a part of the galactic warping.
Originally I had decided to spend some extra time on this target because I like it so much. However, early in my imaging I noticed some difficulty using autofocus. It is now clear to me that my CDK telescope is out of collimation. This has resulted in chromatic abberation and elliptical shape to the stars - they just look sloppy. I failed at turning the sow's ear into the silk purse that I wanted.

Comments