Sunflower Galaxy

[Explorer 190 MN]

M63 Galaxy also known as the sunflower galaxy. It is a relatively bright Galaxy at Mag 9.3 It is roughly 37 million light years form earth and is a part of the M51 galaxy Group. I can only imagine the excitement of Charles Messier when he first saw this galaxy in the Mid 19th century during his search for comets.

 

The seeing was rather good on the night which makes a change as we almost always have the jet stream above my observing places which causes all sorts of distortion in the atmosphere.

My observing place is only 14 m above sea level there is also a fair bit of light pollution since the new housing development was built last year. I can no longer see the Milky way sadly its time to move!

 

I hope you enjoy the picture!

 

RC 250 TT

CGE Pro corrected with a TDM

Feather Touch focuser with Feather touch Micro focus motor

SX LF AO

SX Slim OAG

SX Lodestar

Atik 460ex Mono

Atik FW2 9 filters 1,25"

Baadar 1,25" LRGB filter

 

The image consists of

37 x Lum bin 1x1

15 x 60 sec R bin 2x2

15 x 60 sec G bin 2x2

15 x 60 sec B bin 2x2

Total 3.8 hours taken over three nights

 

 

[Sunshine]

Wow that’s a beautiful shot! 

[Explorer 190 MN]

Thank you I had unusually good seeing