M51 Data for this image of the beautiful Whirlpool Galaxy were acquired at different times using both a WO 110 at F7 (F/L 770) and a Meade 8" ACF at F5 (F/L 1000. Images were initially processed in CCDStack and subsequently finished in Photoshop CS6. Considerable effort and a number of procedures were needed to yield the final image. The size matching of the two sets of data was handled in CCDStack. Camera was ST2000 XM. Total integration time was approaching 5 hours.
April 2014