M63 4/21/2012

Catching Light

Photography by

Dan Lessmann

Oklahoma City Clear Sky Clock

Cheddar Ranch Observatory Clear Sky Clock

Catching Light

Photography by

Dan Lessmann

Oklahoma City Clear Sky Clock

Cheddar Ranch Observatory Clear Sky Clock

M63, The Sunflower Galaxy

Click image for larger version.

M63 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs). It is about 37 million light years distant and a member of the M51 Group.

Visually the galaxy takes on a grainy texture due to the fine concentration of dust lanes within the galaxy's short spiral arms.

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Date: 4/21/2012

Location: 4Domes Observatory

Telescope: C14 @ f/9

Mount: AP-1200

Camera: SBIG STL-6303E

Acquisition and Guiding: CCD Autopilot controlling Maxim DL

LRGB Combine Exposures:

Luminance - 10 x 600, Bin 1x1, 1.7 hr

Red - 5x300 Seconds, Bin 2x2

Green - 5x300 Seconds, Bin 2x2

Blue - 5x300 Seconds, Bin 2x2

Post Processing:

ImagesPlus: Calibration, align and combine, digital development

Photoshop CS4: Luminance, color combine, levels, curves, LAB color adjustment, high pass filter, sharpening

NeatImage: Noise reduction