M81 or NGC 3031 is also known as Bode's galaxy. It is 12M Light years away in the constellation Ursa Major. This galaxy is often viewed together with its companion galaxy, M82 in wide filed eyepieces and the pair make quite a sight. The faint blue patch above M81 is a magnitude 16.5 satellite galaxy called Holmberg IX. This image is the result of data taken by Garry Sedun and processing by John McDonald
Details
2019-02-07 to 12
20" f/4.6 telescope at the SDG Observatory of Garry Sedun in Arizona. TeleVue 3" Paracorr coma corrector and Moravian G3 16200 camera with off axis ZWO ASI 174 mini guiding camera and Optec Gemini Focusing Rotator. Mount - Paramount ME Exposures - 24 B. 23 G, 35L and 20 R subs each 300s with darks and bias, but no flats for calibration. Processing in Pixinsite and Photoshop.