CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE VIEW
Scope: C8 f/8; Location:
Laguna Mountains, CA; 20 May. 2006; Camera: Artemis285
Exposure: 9 x 240 sec Luminance exposures with IR Block Filter (bin 1x1);
6 x 120 sec RGB (bin 2x2)
Processing: Images were captured in Artemis Capture (as FITs). Aligned/stacked in Registax
3 and saved as FITS. Luminance and Color channels were numerically scaled and
color balanced in Astroart. Channels were co-registered in Astroart.
Central Gradient was removed in Astroart using a generated Flat. Curves and Levels applied in
Photoshop to optimize object features. Final LRGB combine was done in Photoshop using Luminance Layering (or
LLRGB). G2V color calibration factors as well as Atmospheric Extinction
factors were applied to the color channels for color correction. Selective sharpening with layer mask was applied to galaxy
spiral arms. Color
balancing and final touches were done in Photoshop. SGBNR was used to smooth
background noise on the luminance construction and the final result.
Final Image size is approximately 1392x1040.
North is up in this image. M94 is a galaxy located in the constellation of
Canes Venatici. It has a bright central region ringed by active star forming
regions. The dimmer outer disk is composed of mostly older (yellow/red) stellar
population. The distance of M94 to Earth is somewhat of a controversy with
estimates ranging from 15 million to 30 million light years. Horizontal FOV is about 20'
Image Center approximately
- Equatorial 2000: RA: 12h 50m 53s Dec: +41°07'17"
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