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M51, The Whirlpool Galaxy in Canes Venatici.  The first galaxy recognised to have a spiral structure.  Located about 37 mln light years away.
 

Comments

Telescope:  Skywatcher 8" f/5 Newtonian

Focus:  Prime focus

Camera:  SAC7B, uncooled

Exposure: 147 x 25s 

Date:  23rd May 2003

Processing:  Acquired in K3CCDTools as AVI.  Stacked in Iris.  YRGB image, composited in Photoshop.  Colour enhanced using Multiple Luminance Layering.

Comments

Processed using the YRGB technique.  During the later stages of curve stretching in Photoshop the brighter stars were prevented from bloating by de-selecting them.

Most of of the characteristic diagonal banding noise from the SAC7 camera has been removed through subtraction of a 'banding flat' - see the Advanced Processing page. 

Colour saturation was increased using Multiple Luminosity Layering.  The smaller galaxy, NGC 5195 is noticeably more yellow, and the dust lanes a brownish red.   Some star colours are visible.

   
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