M81, Bode's Galaxy in Ursa Major

    M81 (NGC 3031), Magnitude 6.9 Sb Spiral Galaxy, Size 21.0'x10.0', Constellation: Ursa Major.

Image Details:

• Scope: Celestron Ultima 8 OTA.
• Mount: Celestron AS-GT.
• Camera: Adirondack Video Astronomy Stellacam II.
• Configuration: f/3.3 focal reducer, visual back .
• Effective Focal Length: 609mm, f/3.
• Guiding: None.
• Location: Chiefland Spring Picnic, Chiefland, FL       
• Date: 28 April 2006.
• Post Processing: Registax 3, Adobe Photoshop.
• Procedures: Video recorded to DVD, converted to .avi (with FlaskMPEG), stacked with Registax 3, and processed with Photoshop.

M81 is justly famous--it's one of the brightest galaxies in the area. But its fame,  I must admit,  has more to do with  its juxtaposition with highly detailed M82 than with what it has to offer on its own. M81 is bright, sure, but it doesn't give up its secrets easily. I have just been able to detect its diaphanous spiral arms from the dark skies of the Prude Ranch (Texas Star Party).

At 12 million light years out, M81 is the principal member of a small group of galaxies that includes M82.

I feel good about this one. The Stellacam did show the spiral arms (if only barely) on the monitor in real time. Bigdob guru Tom Clark was amazed that I could do this with "only" a C8...

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