My First Whirlpool Galaxy Attempt: M51
Greetings fellow stargazers! I'm thrilled to share my very first attempt at capturing the magnificent M51, also known as the Whirlpool Galaxy. This is a bucket-list target for many astrophotographers, and I'm excited to finally have an image of it in my collection.
The Journey Begins
Capturing deep-sky objects like M51 can be a challenging yet incredibly rewarding endeavor. It requires patience, the right equipment, and a good understanding of acquisition and processing techniques. For this attempt, I used the following setup:
Equipment Used:
- Mount: Star Adventurer 2i
- Telescope: TS Photoline 60/360 f/6 apo
- Camera: Canon 1200D
Acquisition Details:
Getting enough signal from faint deep-sky objects is crucial. Here's a breakdown of the data I collected:
- Lights: 162 frames x 30 seconds each (ISO 1600) - totaling 4860 seconds (1 hour and 21 minutes). This was a short window of clear skies!
- Darks: 32 frames x 30 seconds
- Biases: 25 frames
- Flats: 25 frames
Processing:
I used Siril for the processing of this image. As this is my first attempt, I'm particularly keen on receiving feedback regarding the editing process. Any recommendations for improvement are always welcome!
Community Feedback and Future Plans
I'm always looking to improve my astrophotography skills, and I believe that community feedback is invaluable. One suggestion I've received is to potentially increase the focal length (F/L) and get a bit closer to the galaxy in future attempts. Another idea is to experiment with a slightly higher ISO and see how the stacking process handles any increased noise. These are great points that I'll definitely consider for my next imaging session.
This first attempt at M51 is just the beginning. I'm eager to continue learning and pushing the boundaries of what I can capture in the night sky. Stay tuned for more cosmic adventures!
