Object: The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)
Date: 06/3/08
Location: Texas Star Party, near Fort Davis, TX
Camera: SBIG 10XE using a Meade 10" ARC OTA @ f/6.8
Mount/Guiding: G11, SBIG 10XE internal guide chip
Total Exposure:  LRGB 90:30:30:30, 5min subs (AstroDon True Balance filters) binned 2x2 for a 1.65 arcsec image scale.  Camera temp -5 degrees C
Processing Software: CCDSoft, Registar, Photoshop, and GradientXTerminator.  
Comments: This beautiful structure is actually two galaxies NGC 5194 and NGC 5195 interacting in a gravitational dance at a distance of some 35 million light-years. This image was taken early in the week at TSP over two nights.  The seeing was not exceptional and there was a little wind so I binned the luminance data 2x2 and was able to use most of the exposures. 

© Dave Dockery 2008