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Still no fresh data due to the weather, so I’m working with old data to see if I can improve the results and to stay in the game.
This is almost 10 hours of data from 2021 imaged with my Explore Scientific ED102, ASI533MC-Pro, and now retired AVX mount.
I am hoping to capture new data on this target especially with the L-eNhance to isolate some of the red spiral arms, but the weather hasn’t cooperated the past few years.
Thanks for looking and comments are very welcome!
Jim
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
AstroBee wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 7:05 pm
Fantastic image Jim. I would suggest everyone look at the full resolution version on Astrobin. Amazing detail.
Thanks Greg!
I was actually hoping for more detail! I know, never satisfied!
There are some amazingly detailed images of M106 on Astrobin, but with much larger scopes and better skies.
Thanks for the nice comments!
Jim
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
Gordon
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED80CF, Skywatcher 200 Quattro Imaging Newt, SeeStar S50 for EAA.
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-g mount & Skywatcher EQ5 Pro.
ZWO mini guider.
Image cameras: ZWO ASI1600 MM Cool, ZWO ASI533mc-Pro, ZWO ASI174mm-C (for use with my Quark chromosphere), ZWO ASI120MC
Filters: LRGB, Ha 7nm, O-III 7nm, S-II 7nm
Eyepieces: a few.
Primary software: Cartes du Ciel, N.I.N.A, StarTools V1.4.
Hi Mike and thanks! @Solsearcher. It doesn't take much patience as long as everything is cruising along well (autopilot).
The only thing that requires patience these days is a clear sky!
Jim
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
messier 111 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 28, 2023 12:49 am
wow , love the details in there , thx .
Thank you Jean-Yves!
JSBach1801 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 28, 2023 4:22 am
This is a nice target to image because of the galaxy's angle to us, it really gives you a sense of depth. Excellent capture, Jim!
It is a beautiful target and I am thankful that I had a good year in 2021. It's been a month since I've been out and it feels much longer. I just hope that I don't have a repeat of last summer (4 months without imaging). Sorry for complaining!
Thank you for your very nice comments!
MariusD69 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 28, 2023 6:16 am
Wonderful image! Great work, Jim! Congrats for APOD!
Much appreciated Marius!
Jim
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
Hey Jim, congrats on the APOD. Hope you get some clear skies and get some of that narrowband data. I found this video by DR. Becky Smethurst which I really enjoyed a couple of years back and thought you might enjoy it. I've always been fascinated by M106.
Scopes: Esprit 100, 12.5" Telekit Dob Camera: 294 MC Pro, 224 mc, 2600mm Guiding: ZWO 290 mini on 120mm guide scope Mounts: EQ6R-Pro, EQ Platform. Filters: Optolong L-Pro & L-Enhance, Chroma 36mm LRGB, 5nm HA, 3nm OIII, 3nm SII. Software: SharpCap, SGP, StarTools 1.7, Photoshop, Pixinsight The Death Star Observatory Astro Photos:https://www.astrobin.com/users/starfield/
starfield wrote: ↑Thu Jun 29, 2023 6:28 am
Hey Jim, congrats on the APOD. Hope you get some clear skies and get some of that narrowband data. I found this video by DR. Becky Smethurst which I really enjoyed a couple of years back and thought you might enjoy it. I've always been fascinated by M106.
Hi Steve,
Thank you very much for that link! The video by Dr. Becky is one of the most interesting astronomical video's that I have ever seen!
I watch her video's on YouTube, but just recently subscribed to her channel and haven't seen this one.
I was clueless to how special M106 was. Now, I know!
I can feel her enthusiasm about M106 as she just spins off amazing information about this Seyfert galaxy. I can't thank you enough for sending me this link!
The photo that she shows at the start of the video is awesome. Hubble?
Unfortunately, M106 is now in an almost unreachable piece of sky from my backyard, so even with good skies, I will have to wait until next year.
Not sure what I can pull out with the L-eNhance, but it will be very interesting!
ANYONE THAT HASN'T SEEN THIS VIDEO BY DR. BECKY REALLY SHOULD WATCH IT!
Thanks a bunch Steve!
Jim
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), ZWO OAG, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, ASI 220mm mini , IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
Jim Thommes Jim's Astrophotography
David Levy Maksutov Newtonian, Celestron Edge 9.25, FSQ-106N Refractor (on loan), WO ZenithStar 66 APO Refractor, WO Megrez II APO, Sigma 150 mm EOS Lens
Losmandy G11/Gemini, iOptron GEM45, Celestron Advanced VX, iOptron CEM70
ST8300M Camera, Atik 383L, Canon 350D (IR cut modified), ASI1600M, ASI294M, ASI260M
Observatory - Desert Astronomy Association (Shelter Valley, CA)
