|
Date 2011 |
Location Mayhill, NM |
Software ACP, MaxIm DL, TheSky6 |
Mount Software Bisque Paramount ME |
Guide Atik 16IC, Astrodon MMOAG |
|
Optic OGS/RCOS 10" RC |
Camera Atik 11000C |
Filter OSC RGB |
Exposure 1200s x 28 |
Process Astroart 5, PixInsight, Photoshop CS5 |
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Billions and Billions.com/Pinwheel
The Pinwheel Messier 101 in Ursa Major was actually discovered by Pierre Mechain rather than his friend Messier in 1781. M101 leads a namesake group of smaller galaxies. Observations with the Hubble Space Telescope place it at 25,000,000 light-years from Earth. The Pinwheel is well over double the size of our own galaxy yet if this 'face-on' were seen on edge, its disk would appear extremely thin. Notice the asymmetrical spiral structure, copious dust lanes, and the many pinkish knots of HII (Hydrogen) regions in the spiral arms. These would be as the emission nebulae in the arms of our own Milky Way. Note little NGC 5477 just left of 6 o'clock. Click for a larger version or return to the Gallery