from NASA.gov: "M82 or the Cigar galaxy, shines brightly at infrared wavelengths and is remarkable for its star formation activity. The Cigar galaxy experiences gravitational interactions with its galactic neighbor, M81, causing it to have an extraordinarily high rate of star formation — a starburst."

Askar 120APO: 840mm f/7
Guided on ZWO AM5
ZWO ASI533MC Cooled Color Camera at -20C
34x600s exposures with Ha/Oiii filter
ZWO ASI533MM Cooled Mono Camera at -20C
24x300s exposures with Ha filter
Processed with PixInsight, Ps

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"The Leo Triplet, or the M66 Group, is a group of interacting spiral galaxies located in the northern constellation Leo. The group consists of the galaxies Messier 65, Messier 66 and NGC 3628, also known as the Hamburger Galaxy. The Leo Triplet lies at an approximate distance of 35 million light years from Earth."

Askar 120APO: 840mm f/7
ZWO ASI533MC Cooled Color Camera at -20C
Guided on ZWO AM5
51x180s with UV/IR cut filter
Processed with PixInsight, Ps

© All Rights Reserved

Askar 120APO: 840mm f/7
ZWO ASI533MC Cooled Color Camera at -20C
Guided on ZWO AM5
25x300s with UV/IR cut filter
Processed with PixInsight, Ps

Tags:   M51 The Whirlpool galaxy askar 120 messier

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Revisited this with the color camera, I also used a hydrogen-alpha filter on my mono camera to bring out the star forming regions. Without setting out to do it I have proved to myself that using an unfiltered (basic uv+ir filter) mono camera to capture the detail (with an additional set to capture just Ha) and a color camera to get the color gives much better results with galaxies (at least in a short time frame). I suppose this means I need a second larger scope for galaxy season....

"The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as M31, is one of the nearest galaxies to the Milky Way and is the largest galaxy in our local group. It's located about 2.537 million light-years from Earth and is on a collision course with the Milky Way, expected to merge with it in about 4.5 billion years.

Key Features: Size and Structure: Andromeda is a spiral galaxy, much like the Milky Way, with a diameter of about 220,000 light years. It contains approximately one trillion stars, which is more than twice the number of stars in our own galaxy. Its massive spiral arms and the intense star formation activity within them are prominent features.
Core: The nucleus of the Andromeda Galaxy is unusual as it appears to have a double core, which might be the result of a past merger with another galaxy. The center is also believed to house a supermassive black hole, similar to the Milky Way.
Satellite Galaxies: Andromeda has several satellite galaxies, including M32 and M110, which are easily observable with amateur telescopes. These and other satellites are bound by Andromeda’s gravity and interact with it in complex ways.
Stellar Content: The galaxy's stellar population is diverse, with numerous young blue stars and older red stars. The rate of star formation in Andromeda is higher compared to the Milky Way, which contributes to its bright appearance when observed in the night sky.
Observation: It’s one of the few galaxies visible from Earth with the naked eye, appearing as a faint smudge of light under clear, dark skies. It's best viewed during Northern Hemisphere autumn months.
Interaction with the Milky Way:Andromeda and the Milky Way are predicted to collide and merge to form a new galaxy, often humorously referred to as "Milkomeda" or "Milkdromeda". This dramatic event, while monumental on a cosmic scale, is unlikely to affect individual stars within either galaxy due to the vast distances between them." --synthesized from various sources


Askar ACL200: 200mm f/4
ZWO ASI533MC Color Camera at -10C
60x90s rgb

Nikon 70-200mm 200mm f/2.8
ZWO ASI533MM Mono Camera at -10C
27x180s lum
11x600s ha

Guided on ZWO AM5
Processed with PixInsight, Ps

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Another object that I can't reach from my backyard.. taken in the desert of Utah. Never realized those famous pillars would be visible in my small telescope.

from space.com: "The Eagle Nebula is located in the constellation Serpens and covers an area of 70 by 55 light-years. It is home to the iconic Pillars of Creation, made famous by an image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1995.

Parts of the Eagle Nebula are emission nebulas, meaning that the clouds of gas and dust are so hot they produce their own light. Other parts are dark nebulas, which are made of cold gas and are only visible because of the silhouettes they create against the nebula's glowing backdrop."

Askar 120APO: 840mm f/7
ZWO ASI533MM Mono Camera at -20C
Guided on ZWO AM5
20x180s with Ha filter
20x180s Oiii
20x180s Sii
Processed with PixInsight, Ps

© All Rights Reserved