Tag Archives: Canes Venatici

Whirlpool Galaxy M51

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Orion Optics UK SPX 250
Imaging cameras: Artemis Atik 383L+
Mounts: Vixen New Atlux + Skysensor 2000
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Orion Optics UK SPX 250
Guiding cameras: M-Gen Guiding Kamera
Focal reducers: GPU Komakorrektor
Software: Fitswork4, Adobe Photoshop CS2
Filters: Baader Planetarium Ha 36mm 7nm, Baader Planetarium 36mm Luminance, Baader Planetarium 36mm Red, Baader Planetarium 36mm Green, Baader Planetarium 36mm Blue
Accessories: Lacerta MGEN2
Dates: March 8, 2014, March 20, 2014
Locations: Kreben
Frames:
Baader Planetarium 36mm Blue: 9×600″ -20C bin 1×1
Baader Planetarium 36mm Green: 8×600″ -20C bin 1×1
Baader Planetarium 36mm Luminance: 16×600″ -20C bin 1×1
Baader Planetarium 36mm Red: 9×600″ -20C bin 1×1
Baader Planetarium Ha 36mm 7nm: 5×900″ -20C bin 1×1
Integration: 8.2 hours
Darks: ~24
Flats: ~60
Bias: ~150

Author: Stefan Westphal
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 24 Aug 2014

M106 in Canes Venatici

Messier 106 (also known as NGC 4258) is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Pierre Méchainin 1781. M106 is at a distance of about 22 to 25 million light-years away from Earth. It is also a Seyfert II galaxy. Due to x-rays and unusual emission lines detected, it is suspected that part of the galaxy is falling into a supermassive black hole in the center. NGC 4217 is a possible companion galaxy of Messier 106.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Telescope Services 10″ F/4 Carbon Imaging Newton
Imaging cameras: SBIG ST-10XME
Mounts: Sky-Watcher HEQ6 Pro
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Teleskop-Service 8×50 Finderscope
Guiding cameras: Lodestar Autoguider
Focal reducers: Baader Planetarium MPCC
Software: Steve Brady Larry Weber FocusMax, Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight Core 1.8, CCDWare CCDAutoPilot 5, Diffraction Limited MaximDL 5, Software Bisque, Cynogen, TheSkyX Professional Edition, Adobe Photoshop CS5, CCDWare CCD Inspector
Frames: 70×339″
Integration: 6.6 hours

Author: Emiel Kempen
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 21 Aug 2014

M51: Whirlpool Galaxy

The Whirlpool Galaxy (also known as Messier 51a, M51a, or NGC 5194) is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus in the constellation Canes Venatici. Recently it was estimated to be 23 ± 4 million light-years from the Milky Way, but different methods yield distances between 15 and 35 million ly. Messier 51 is one of the best known galaxies in the sky. The galaxy and its companion (NGC 5195) are easily observed by amateur astronomers, and the two galaxies may even be seen with binoculars. The Whirlpool Galaxy is also a popular target for professional astronomers, who study it to further understand galaxy structure (particularly structure associated with the spiral arms) and galaxy interactions.
In 2005 a supernova (SN 2005cs) was observed in the Whirlpool Galaxy, peaking at apparent magnitude14.
On 31 May 2011 a type II supernova, was detected in the Whirlpool Galaxy, peaking at magnitude 12.1. This supernova, designated SN 2011dh, showed a spectrum much bluer than average, with P Cygni like characteristics in its hydrogen-Balmer lines. Interestingly, the progenitor was probably a yellow supergiant and not a red or blue supergiant, which is unusual.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Planewave 12.5 ” CDK Dell Kirkham Astrograph
Imaging cameras: SBIG STXL 6303
Mounts: Paramount PME
Software: Startools
Filters: Astrodon Blue, Astrodon Green, Astrodon Red, Astrodon Luminance
Dates: May 16, 2014, May 22, 2014, May 26, 2014, May 27, 2014
Frames:
Astrodon Blue: 5×300″ bin 1×1
Astrodon Green: 5×300″ bin 1×1
Astrodon Luminance: 16×300″ bin 1×1
Astrodon Red: 5×300″ bin 1×1
Integration: 2.6 hours

Author: Giulio Ercolani
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 6 Aug 2014

NGC 5033 in Canes Venatici

NGC 5033 is an inclined spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici. Distance estimates vary from between 38 to 60 million light years from the Milky Way Galaxy. The galaxy has a very bright nucleus and a relatively faint disk. Significant warping is visible in the southern half of the disk. The galaxy’s relatively large angular size and relatively high surface brightness make it an object that can be viewed and imaged by amateur astronomers. The galaxy’s location relatively near Earth and its active galactic nucleus make it a commonly studied object for professional astronomers.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: AG Optical 12.5 IDK
Imaging cameras: Apogee U16M
Mounts: Paramount MX
Software: photoshop, DC-3 Dreams ACP, PixInsight PixInsinght 1.8 RC7, Maxim DL
Filters: Astrodon E-series LRGB
Dates: June 21, 2014
Locations: New Mexico Skies
Frames: 46×900″
Integration: 11.5 hours

Author: Mike Miller
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 21 July 2014

M106 Across the Spectrum

Image Credit: X-ray – NASA / CXC / Caltech / P.Ogle et al.,
Optical – NASA/STScI, IR – NASA/JPL-Caltech, Radio – NSF/NRAO/VLA

The spiral arms of bright, active galaxy M106 sprawl through this remarkable multiwavelength portrait, composed of image data from radio to X-rays, across the electromagnetic spectrum. Also known as NGC 4258, M106 can be found toward the northern constellation Canes Venatici. The well-measured distance to M106 is 23.5 million light-years, making this cosmic scene about 60,000 light-years across. Typical in grand spiral galaxies, dark dust lanes, youthful star clusters, and star forming regions trace spiral arms that converge on a bright nucleus. But this composite highlights two anomalous arms in radio (purple) and X-ray (blue) that seem to arise in the central region of M106, evidence of energetic jets of material blasting into the galaxy’s disk. The jets are likely powered by matter falling into a massive central black hole.

APOD NASA 05-Jul-14

Sunflower Galaxy

M63 (also known as NGC 5055, or the Sunflower Galaxy) is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici consisting of a central disc surrounded by many short spiral arm segments. M63 is part of the M51 Group, a group of galaxies that also includes M51 (the ‘Whirlpool Galaxy’). M63 was discovered by Pierre Méchain on June 14, 1779. The galaxy was then listed by Charles Messier as object 63 in theMessier Catalogue.

In the mid-19th century, Lord Rosse identified spiral structures within the galaxy, making this one of the first galaxies in which such structure was identified.

In 1971, a supernova with a magnitude of 11.8 appeared in one of the arms of M63.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Ian King Ikharos 8″ RC
Imaging cameras: Atik 314L+
Mounts: Software Bisque Paramount MX
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Orion Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Guiding cameras: QHYCCD QHY5
Software: PixInsight, Software Bisque CCDSoft 5, Software Bisque TheSkyX, iLanga AstroPlanner, Matt Thomas’s CCDCommander
Filters: Baader Luminance 36mm, Baader Red, Green, Blue 36mm
Accessories: Atik EFW2
Dates: April 12, 2013
Frames: 173×300″
Integration: 14.4 hours

Author: Colin McGill
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 05 July 2014

M 94 in the constellation Canes Venatici

Messier 94 (also known as NGC 4736) is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781, and catalogued by Charles Messier two days later. Although some references describe M94 as a barred spiral galaxy, the “bar” structure appears to be more oval-shaped. The galaxy is also notable in that it has two ring structures. M94 is classified as having a low ionization nuclear emission region (LINER) nucleus. LINERs in general are characterized by optical spectra that reveal that ionized gas is present but the gas is only weakly ionized (i.e. the atoms are missing relatively few electrons).

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Ian King Ikharos 8″ RC
Imaging cameras: Atik 460 EX
Mounts: Software Bisque Paramount MX
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Ian King Ikharos 8″ RC
Guiding cameras: Atik 314L+
Software: PixInsight, Software Bisque CCDSoft 5, Software Bisque TheSkyX, iLanga AstroPlanner, Matt Thomas’s CCDCommander
Filters: Baader H-alpha 7nm 36mm, Baader Luminance 36mm, Baader Red, Green, Blue 36mm
Accessories: Atik EFW2, Innovations Foresight On-axis guider
Dates: April 16, 2014
Frames: 294×600″
Integration: 49.0 hours

Author: Colin McGill
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 02 July 2014

Messier 63: The Sunflower Galaxy

Image Credit & Copyright: Bill Snyder (at Sierra Remote Observatories)A bright spiral galaxy of the northern sky, Messier 63 is about 25 million light-years distant in the loyal constellation Canes Venatici. Also cataloged as NGC 5055, the majestic island universe is nearly 100,000 light-years across. That’s about the size of our own Milky Way Galaxy. Known by the popular moniker, The Sunflower Galaxy, M63 sports a bright yellowish core in this sharp, colorful galaxy portrait. Its sweeping blue spiral arms are streaked with cosmic dust lanes and dotted with pink star forming regions. A dominant member of a known galaxy group, M63 has faint, extended features that could be the result of gravitational interactions with nearby galaxies. In fact, M63 shines across the electromagnetic spectrum and is thought to have undergone bursts of intense star formation.

NASA APOD 13-Mar-2014

M3: globular cluster in Canes Venatici

Messier 3 (also known as M3 or NGC 5272) is a globular cluster of stars in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Charles Messier on May 3, 1764, and resolved into stars by William Herschel around 1784. Since then, it has become one of the best-studied globular clusters. Identification of the cluster’s unusually large variable star population was begun in 1913 by American astronomer Solon Irving Bailey and new variable members continue to be identified up through 2004.
This cluster is one of the largest and brightest, and is made up of around 500,000 stars. It is estimated to be 8 billion years old. It is located at a distance of about 33,900 light-years away from Earth.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: AT6RC
Imaging cameras: Canon EOS 1000D / Rebel XS
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-G
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Orion Mini Guide Scope
Guiding cameras: Orion Star Shoot Planetary Imager & Autoguider
Focal reducers: TeleVue 0.8x
Software: DeepSkyStacker, PHD guiding, photoshop, Canon EOS
Dates: May 11, 2012
Frames: 90×120″ ISO1600
Integration: 3.0 hours

Autor: Mike Carroll

10 March 2014

We select the best works of amateur astrophotographers with details of equipment, shooting processing etc.

M51: Whirlpool galaxy

The Whirlpool Galaxy (also known as Messier 51a, M51a, or NGC 5194) is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. Recently it was estimated to be 23 ± 4 million light-years from the Milky Way Galaxy, but different methods yield distances between 15 and 35 million ly. Messier 51 is one of the best known galaxies in the sky. The galaxy and its companion (NGC 5195) are easily observed by amateur astronomers, and the two galaxies may even be seen with binoculars. The Whirlpool Galaxy is also a popular target for professional astronomers, who study it to further understand galaxy structure (particularly structure associated with the spiral arms) and galaxy interactions.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Astro-Tech AT8IN f/4 8″ Imaging Newtonian
Imaging cameras: Orion Starshoot Mono III
Mounts: Celestron CGEM
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Orion ST 80
Guiding cameras: Starlight Xpress Lodestar
Software: PixInsight, photoshop, Maxim DL
Filters: Xagyl Comm 1.25″ Luminance
Accessories: Shoestring Astronomy FCUSB, Xagyl Comm 1.25″ Ultra-Thin Filter Wheel, Astro-Tech Coma Corrector
Dates: April 22, 2012
Frames:
Xagyl Comm 1.25″ G: 30×180″ bin 1×1
Xagyl Comm 1.25″ Red: 30×180″ bin 1×1
Xagyl Comm 1.25″ B: 30×180″ bin 1×1
Xagyl Comm 1.25″ Luminance: 22×300″ bin 1×1

Autor: Chris Madson

AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI

11 February 2014

We select the best works of amateur astrophotographers with details of equipment, shooting processing etc.

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