M81

M81, also known as Bode's Nebula, is a large and beautiful spiral in Ursa Major. This shot of it was my first taken at my new "site" in Allentown, Pa, a campground that I'm currently staying at. The skies are reasonably dark, with mag 5 to 5.5 skies.

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Image info:

10" Homemade Newtonian on a Losmandy Titan Mount

Starlight Express
SXV-H9C

57x3 mins

f/4 with MPCC FF

Acquired in Astroart and processed in Maxim as an RGB image (no darks and no flats)

guided with an STV on a piggybacked Sky90 refractor

11.05.05

Allentown, Pa