M63 - Sunflower Galaxy in LRGB

[XCalRocketMan]

The Sunflower galaxy (M63). This was taken before I realized my OTA was a bit out of collimation, but nonetheless a fairly good capture. I will be trying this one again later next month with my ASI2600mm.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Celestron EdgeHD 1100
Imaging cameras: ZWO ASI 1600MM Cooled Pro
Mounts: Astro-Physics AP1100GTO
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Celestron EdgeHD 1100
Guiding cameras: ZWO ASI174mm
Software: Corel Paintshop Pro · PixInsight · SGP Pro SGPro v3
Filters: ZWO Red 31mm · ZWO Green 31mm · ZWO Blue 31mm · ZWO Lum 31mm
Accessory: Celestron OAG · ZWO EFW 31mm · Moonlite CFL 2.5" focuser with stepper motor and mini controller

Dates:March 21, 2021

Frames:
ZWO Blue 31mm: 36x60" (gain: 139.00) -20C bin 1x1
ZWO Green 31mm: 37x60" (gain: 139.00) -20C bin 1x1
ZWO Lum 31mm: 74x60" (gain: 139.00) -20C bin 1x1
ZWO Red 31mm: 36x60" (gain: 139.00) -20C bin 1x1

Integration: 3.1 hours
Darks: ~40
Flats: ~25
Avg. Moon age: 7.29 days
Avg. Moon phase: 49.04%
Bortle Dark-Sky Scale: 5.00

[AstroBee]

Fantastic image. But you had a duplicate post that was deleted.

[XCalRocketMan]

Yeah. The first post produced an error about not having privileges for the uploaded file. I tried again by selecting the image directly and it worked. I guess that was why two posts showed up.

[messier 111]

love the tone and details , very nice , thx .

[Juno16]

Quite a beautiful capture XCal!

[MistrBadgr]

Very nice image. I like the way the blue starburst regions show up. For you, there may be deficiencies in the image, but all I can say is , "OK, whatever you say. " Look really good to me! Thanks for sharing!

[XCalRocketMan]

Very nice image. I like the way the blue starburst regions show up. For you, there may be deficiencies in the image, but all I can say is , "OK, whatever you say. " Look really good to me! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks. When I finally get a chance to redo this with my 2600 I'll be adding Ha to better capture the starburst regions. But I was surprised to find they were recorded this well with just Broad Band imaging.

[TheButcher]

Excellent Image!

[Ylem]

Lookin' Good

[MariusD69]

Wonderful image! Great job!

[jrkirkham]

Congratulations on the APOD. I love the picture.

[StarBru]

Just beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

[Gmetric]

Fantastic image, well done.

[Makuser]

Hi Mikey. A superb Sunflower Galaxy image. Nice contrast with excellent core and sparkly spiral arms. Thanks for sharing your work with us Mikey, and congratulations on winning the TSS APOD Award.

[asanmax]

Great capture! I hope I'll have time to point my scope at it this year.

[XCalRocketMan]

Great capture! I hope I'll have time to point my scope at it this year.

Well it is still fairly well placed as it crosses the meridian just a bit past midnight - go for it. This image was actually just a test of my ASI2600. I plan to redo it again with longer RGB subs and some Ha as well.

[BABOafrica]

That's a lovely image of the Sunflower. Very nice color.

Congrats on the award.

BABO

[Greenman]

Great image loving the detail and processing. Congrats on the APOD!

[jthommes]

Nice looking image. Congrats on the APOD.

[Astrovetteman]

Beautiful image! Congrats on the APOD!! I'm ready to image some nebulae....galaxies are too small in my wide FOV!!
Great Job and CS!!
Tom