M82- Astronomy and astrophotography CCD camera images

27/02/2005
Object name: M82 Ursa Major A
Popular name: Ursa Major A
Object type: Galaxy
Magnitude: 9.2
Size: 11.2 4.3
Position angle: 6
Classification: Sd
Apparent RA: 09 55 54.0 Apparent Dec: +69 40 59
Constellation: Ursa Major

Captured in K3ccdtools, stacked in registax 3. Dark and sigma clipping. Exported to photoshop as tiff. Curves in photoshop. Bright stars desaturated with blended minimum filter

An experiment with longer exposures and less gain. Some of the dimmer outer regions are visible - but its very hard to capture this object properly due to its huge dynamic range. Extremely cold and clear night with moon rising. Overall I was pleased with this result - although the starshapes are a bit wobbly in places...

Exposure Details :

IR Block 82x26s on 200mm @ F5 with SC3.5

Curdridge Observatory, Southampton,UK