The Whirlpool Galaxy
M51

 

Image acquired from my driveway in suburban West Knoxville.

Feb 18/19, 2004

Astro-Physics 1200 GTO mount with Intes MK 69
CFW-8a/   ST 10XME CCD

LRGB
180:50:40:60

Seeing ~ 5"   Two iterations of CCDSharp used on luminance image.
 

Software

 Acquisition : Maxim DL/CCD v. 3.21 / Robofocus / Focusmax/ The Sky / Sequencer II
Processing :  Maxim (  RC Astro Sigma Reject plugin )  / CCDSharp /Photoshop CS

"First light" after repair of mirror cells.
 

To view this image properly as well as other images on your monitor please adjust the contrast and brightness until each gradation in the greyscale is just discernable. Also set your display adapter to at least 24bit color and 1024 x 768 resolution minimum.

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