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M51 the whirlpool galaxy (Original Post) moonshinegnomie 12 hrs ago OP
That is one cool picture!! AZ8theist 12 hrs ago #1
Awesome!! brer cat 12 hrs ago #2
equipment list moonshinegnomie 12 hrs ago #3
Looks like Dear_Prudence 6 hrs ago #4
Yes moonshinegnomie 4 hrs ago #5

AZ8theist

(7,247 posts)
1. That is one cool picture!!
Thu Mar 5, 2026, 02:25 PM
12 hrs ago

I would love to see a picture of your set-up. Sounds expensive!
Also, since I'm new to photography, I'd like to know how you go about a 15 hour exposure. One night? Two nights? Several?

moonshinegnomie

(3,991 posts)
3. equipment list
Thu Mar 5, 2026, 02:28 PM
12 hrs ago

asker v telescope
sony a6300 camera
ZWO asair plus controller
ZWO am5 mount

the mount rotates the scope to allow long exposures
i take multiple 5 minute exposures and use special software to stack them into one image. this is a total of 180 5 minute exposures over 2 nights

moonshinegnomie

(3,991 posts)
5. Yes
Thu Mar 5, 2026, 10:22 PM
4 hrs ago

That’s ic4263. Basically what are galaxy would look like edge on. It’s much further away. 140m light years
There’s another galaxy just above and to the right of the galaxy m51 is interacting with . That one is even further away, around 240m light years

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