u/Sad_Combination_3363

🌌 M63 — The Sunflower Galaxy

Tonight, I captured another beautiful galaxy in the night sky — M63, also known as the Sunflower Galaxy.

Located in the constellation Canes Venatici, M63 is a fascinating spiral galaxy known for its bright central core and its complex, textured spiral structure that resembles the petals of a sunflower. Its delicate dust lanes and faint outer details make it a challenging but rewarding target for deep-sky astrophotography.

During the processing stage, more and more subtle structures of the galaxy slowly began to appear, especially the fine details within the spiral arms and the soft glow surrounding the galaxy. Capturing distant galaxies like M63 is always an incredible experience, reminding me of the immense scale and beauty of the universe.

📸 Imaging Details:

• 624 Light Frames

• 30 seconds exposure for each frame

• Total Integration Time: Approximately 5 hours and 12 minutes

🔭 Equipment Used:

• Sky-Watcher 200mm

• EQ6-R Pro Mount

• ToupTek ATR 585 Camera

• RGM Focus Motor

💻 Software Used:

• N.I.N.A for acquisition and telescope control

• Siril for stacking and image processing

✨ Final adjustments to the background and lighting were enhanced with the help of AI tools while preserving the natural appearance and fine details of the galaxy.

🌌 M101 — The Pinwheel Galaxy

Tonight, I captured one of the most beautiful spiral galaxies in the night sky — M101, also known as the Pinwheel Galaxy.

Located in the constellation Ursa Major, M101 is a large face-on spiral galaxy famous for its wide and delicate spiral arms filled with regions of star formation. Its detailed structure and faint outer arms make it a truly fascinating target for deep-sky astrophotography.

During the processing stage, more and more fine details slowly began to appear, especially within the spiral arms and the bright central core of the galaxy. Capturing distant galaxies like M101 is always an incredible experience, knowing that the light recorded in this image traveled for millions of years across space before reaching my telescope.

📸 Imaging Details:

• 450 Light Frames