The Sunflower Galaxy

Your Shot with Voyager
#1

Here’s my latest image of the Sunflower Galaxy. This was taken over two nights earlier this week during a small stretch of clear skies and is the second target with my new ONTC 10” f/4 scope. The larger aperture sure helps with resolving the knots in the spiral arms compared to my older TMB130 image.

Description:
The Sunflower Galaxy, M63, is a spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici and lies some 30 million light years away. It is a flocculent (meaning fluffy) spiral galaxy which has no defined spiral arms, in contrast to grand design spiral galaxies like M81 or M101. Self propagating star formation is one explanation for the structure of these galaxies.

Details:
Scope: ONTC1010 f/4 reflector
Coma corrector: Paracorr Type 2
Camera: QSI690-wsg8
Guide Camera: SX Ultrastar
Mount: AP1100
L: 45x3min 1x1 binning
RGB: 48x5min 2x2 binning each
Total exposure: 6.2 hours
Software: Voyager, PHD2, APCC, Pixinsight

https://www.astrobin.com/a9pidz/0/

m63_lrgb_v1
m63_lrgb_v13316×2643 1.53 MB

7 Likes
#2

This is a wonderful image, one of the best i’ve seen of this object.
Please send to APOD because worth a pubblication for so many people around the world enjoy the astronomy and space.

All the best, congratulations
Leo

2 Likes
#3

I agree that this is one of the best I’ve seen. You really nailed the color. Well done, Gabe.

Glenn

1 Like
#4

Absolutely top quality; great detail and colour balance. All round joy.

Roberto

2 Likes
#5

Impressive image of a difficult target! Great job Gabe!

Rowland

1 Like
#6

I agree! This is a wonderful image.

Cheers,

José

1 Like