M83

M83, in Hydra, is one of the premier galaxies in the sky, but better positioned for southern viewers. It is both large, at 13' x 11.5' and very bright, with a listed magnitude of 8.1! At Chiefland, it reached an altitude of only 31 degrees, but the seeing was good to start with and improved steadily during the imaging session. This shot was taken during the Chiefland Spring Star Party.

Image info:

12"LX200 on a Losmandy Titan Mount

Starlight Express
SXV-H9C

36x4 mins

f/5.3 (Optec FR)

Acquired and processed in Maxim (no darks and no flats) (reprocessed on 1/25/05)

guided with an STV on a piggybacked Sky90 refractor

4.16.04

Chiefland Spring Star Party