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Astrophotography Galaxy

Astrophoto: Bode’s Galaxy and Cigar Galaxy – Messier 81 and Messier 82 – 04/21

Bode’s and Cigar Galaxy, two well known Galaxies on the spring sky. I really like the result for only 30 minutes total exposure.

The Clear Sky Evening

Bode’s Galaxy and Cigar Galaxy

Astrophoto M81 Bode’s Galaxy – M82 Cigar Galaxy – Clear Sky 13.
These two galaxies were more or less a technical test on an evening with light foggy clouds. Sky was clear for about 30 minutes and i was able to complete my tests and shoot this photo.

Here the result of 30 Minutes with dithering in the high resolution version on Flickr:

Bode's and Cigar Galaxy, M81 and M82

Lessons Learned

Since my CANON M100 is not supported on Windows Systems when it comes to astro-control-software, i switched to a Linux System using INDI and EKOS. The primary technical test was trying to dither and it was a real milestone for me.

Technical overview of Astrophoto M81 Bode’s Galaxy – M82 Cigar Galaxy – Clear Sky 13

TelescopeVIXEN ED80sf
Focal Length600mm
Aperture ratio7.5
Erecting Lense
Filter
MountSkywatcher HEQ-5
Goto-ControlEKOS
Mount ControlINDI
Guiding Scope Focal Length162 mm
Guiding Camera Chip4.8mm x 3.6mm, 8bit
Guiding Camera Resolution1280×960
Guiding SoftwareEKOS, INDI
Dithering3 pixel
CameraCANON EOS M100(a)
Methodfocal projection
Camera angle
Camera ControlEKOS, INDI, Gphoto2
Photography Date12.04.2021
Moon<1%
Exposure-Time Lights10x180s
SensitivityISO 400
CalibrationframesFlats, Bias
Post Processing Date16.05.2021
Stacking, IntegrationAffinity Photo
Post Processing SoftwareAffinity Photo and SiriL
Image EditingAffinity Photo
Capture PlaceKoblenz, Deutschland
LightpollutionBortle 5
Scattered lightstrong

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