M81 - Bode's Galaxy + Gaëtan Maxant + LRGB HA3

M81 - Bode's Galaxy

Credit: Gaëtan Maxant

Filters: Optolong LRGB, Optolong HA3nm narrowband

 

 

M81 (NGC 3031), also known as Bode’s Galaxy, is a nearby spiral galaxy located approximately 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. This galaxy and its neighbour M82 are therefore among the galaxies closest to our own.
M81 is a grand-scale spiral galaxy, meaning its spiral arms are well-defined. Its diameter is approximately 96,000 light-years, which is close to but smaller than that of the Milky Way (~100,000 light-years, according to the lowest estimate).
M81 was discovered by the German astronomer Johann Elert Bode in 1774, who also discovered M82 (NGC 3034) on the same night. These two galaxies are, in fact, known as the Bode Nebulae. M81 was rediscovered independently by the French astronomer Pierre Méchain in August 1780, who reported it to his friend Charles Messier. Messier observed M81 on 9 February 1781.

 

 

 

Integration
Lum/Clear 173×300″ 14h 25′
R 36×300″ 3h
G 36×300″ 3h
B 35×300″ 2h 55′
Hα 3nm 27×300″ 2h 15′
22 Mar  15%
Totals 25h 35′

Imaging equipment
Telescope：Gallifrey Optics CDK 400mm F/7
Camera：ZWO ASI6200MM Pro
Mount：Sky-Watcher EQ8-R Pro
Filters
Optolong Blue 2"
Optolong Green 2"
Optolong H-Alpha 3nm 2"
Optolong Luminance 2"
Optolong Red 2"
Accessories： PrimaLuceLab SESTO SENSO 2
ZWO EFW 7 x 2″
ZWO OAG M68
Software： Adobe Photoshop
Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight
Siril Team Siril
Stefan Berg Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (N.I.N.A. / NINA)

Hope you like it.