CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE VIEW
Scope: C8 f/8;
Location: Blair Valley, Anza Borrego Desert, CA; 23 December, 2006; Camera:
Artemis285
Exposure: 7 x 480 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. 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 were applied to
the color channels for color correction. Selective sharpening with layer
mask was applied to galaxy features. Red was enhanced in the
starburst region (central axis). Color balancing and final
touches were done in Photoshop. Final Image size is approximately
1392x1040.
North is up in this image. M82 is an irregular galaxy located in the
constellation of Ursa Major. M82 is believed to be in heavy starburst; it is a
strong radio frequency source and is one of the brightest galaxies in infrared
light. The
distance of M82 to Earth is approximately 12 million light years. This
image replaces and earlier image that can be seen in the Archives
here. Horizontal FOV is about 20'
Image Center approximately - Equatorial 2000: RA: 09h 55m 54s Dec: +69°40'59"