Description:

On the left is M81, also known as Bode's Galaxy/Nebula and is a wonderful spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major.  M81's influence left M82 a broken galaxy (upper right) .  Filled with exploded stars and colliding gas, a galaxy so violent it emits x-rays.  These two galaxies are easily observed with binoculars although it takes telescope to see detail in these beautiful gems of the sky.  Note that I have stretched this image quite a bit to reveal both the Holmberg IX, believed to be a satellite galaxy of M81 and also the dust clouds reflecting the combined light of the Milky Way's stars.  Interesting, the faint Galactic Halo beside M81 may be a part of M81 itself but has not been confirmed.  

Photographic Details:

Date & Location: March 31st thru April 2, 2011, Fort Mckavett, Texas.
Scope: Homemade 10" f4.81 Newtonian Astrograph.
Autoguider: QSI's intergrated guider port, Meade DSI Pro II and PHD Guider software.
Camera: QSI 583wsg controlled with ImagePlus 3.83 Camera Control.
Filters: Astrodon True Balanced E-Filters- Red, Green, Blue, and Luminence.
Conditions: Temp 43F, Humidity 32%, Winds 3-8mph, Transparency 8/10, Seeing 8/10.
Exposures: 12 x 300sec R,G,B. 24 x 300sec Luminence Sub Frames. calibrated with associated Darks, Flats, Flat Darks, and Bias Frames.
Post-processing: Automatic calibration with ImagePlus 3.82 with associated Darks, Flats, Flat Darks, and Bias Frames.  Final processing Adobe Photoshop CS.