M82 (the Cigar Galaxy) is a bright irregular galaxy 12 million LY distant.
Messier 82
31 Jan 08,
00:14 hrs
Meade 14” LX200GPS at f/3.3, Meade DSI III Pro, IR/UV filter
6 X 180 sec with integrated dark frames, approx 29°F air temp.
80mm Orion f/11.3 guidescope with Meade DSI II Color – 1/2 sec
exposures/corrections
Stacked in Registax, processed in PhotoShop
Wishing Star Observatory
This older Hyperstar image
shows many more stars (fainter stars) but the center
of the galaxy appears to be "burned out".
Messier 82 28 Jan 08,
21:36 hrs
Meade 14” LX200GPS with Hyperstar (f/2.0), Meade DSI III Pro, IR/UV filter
13 X 120 sec with integrated dark frames, approx 31°F air temp.
80mm Orion f/11.3 guidescope with Meade DSI II Color – 1 sec
exposures/corrections
Stacked in Registax, processed in PhotoShop
Wishing Star Observatory