Messier 101 (M101, NGC 5457) also known as the Pinwheel
Galaxy is a magnitude 8.3 face-on spiral galaxy in the
constellation of Ursa Major, and is located at a distance of about
27 million light years. It has an apparent size of 28.8x26.9 arc
minutes.
Date: Jun 2,9,11 2008
Location: New Ringgold PA
Optics: Meade LX200R 12 inch at f/5.9
Mount: Paramount ME
Camera: SBIG ST-8XME / CFW-8
Guiding: ST-8XME integral guiding chip controlled by Maxim
CCD
Exposure: LRGB (color 2x2 bin): Luminance: 12x10 min, R:8x5
min, G:8x3.3 min, B:8x6 min
Processing: Image acquisition using CCD Autopilot. Chris Abissi
did a great job of processing this for me. His resuults were so
superior to my own that I am only posting his image.
Comments: A large but faint galaxy. Chris' careful stretching of
the spiral arms accentuated the red-magenta nebulas and the
young blue star clusters while capturing the warm yellow glow
from the old stars making up the core.
Blue Mountain Vista Observatory New RInggold PA
M101 The Pinwheel
Galaxy