M81 & M82
(click on the image for a larger version)		The image of the galaxies M81 and M82 is the result of 12 stacked images of 3 minutes each at ISO 800.  Stacking was done with DeepSkyStacker.  Colors and details were teased out of the image with Photoshop Elements.  Unfortunately we discovered (later) that the tracking was not spot-on so the stars are a bit elongated.  A second image of M81 was combined with this widefield view to bring out the stellar details. -  ISO 800 (colors) -  ISO 1600 (stellar) -  F3.8 (colors) -  F10 (stellar) -  30 second exposures (x 65) + 2 minute exposures (x 11); 54 minutes total for stellar -  3 minute exposures (x 12) for colors -  Unfiltered -  Direct images through the 5" Wright Newtonian Astrograph for colors -  Direct images through the 8-inch LX200GPS for stellar -  Unguided -  Location: TDS 12.30.2008 (stellar) 1.30.2009 (colors)