Galaxies
Island Universes

Galaxies are enormous gravitationally bound conglomerations of stars, dust, gas and dark matter. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Learn more about galaxies here:
http://www.seds.org/messier/galaxy.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy

To learn more about the galaxy you live in (the Milky Way) click here:
http://www.seds.org/messier/more/mw.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milky_Way

Click on an image to enlarge.
Click on a constellation name to view a star chart (courtesy Starry Night Software).
If you download and process a raw file please send me your results. As soon as possible I will post your image.

Target
Raw Image
Processed Image
Number & Length of Exposures
Focal Length, f/# & ISO
Lens/Telescope & Camera Used
Download Raw Stack
M31, The great spiral in Andromeda.
2 million LY distant.
Size: 3 degrees.
Mag: 4.4
65 frames,
2 minutes each
500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)

Dark and flat frames applied.

Click to download TIFF or archived ZIP

While shooting the 65 frames for the photo above, a meteor streaked through this one, leaving a greenish smoke trail.

 

M31 photographed through a normal camera lens.
50mm
f/3.5
ISO 800
Canon 50mm 1.8 Mark II lens.
Canon 10D
 
M31 through a zoom lens.
66 frames,
1 minutes each
190mm
f/4.5
ISO 1600
Tamron 70-300mm zoom lens.
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.

Click to download TIFF or archived ZIP
 
The same image reprocessed.
       
My first image of M31 from 1999.
1 frame,
20 minutes
400mm
f/5
ISO 200
Orion ShortTube 80mm refractor.
Pentax K1000.
Kodak E200 slide film push processed 1 stop.
             
M33 Spiral Galaxy in Triangulum.
3 million LY distant.
Size: 1 degree
Mag: 6.3

7 frames,
4 minutes each

500mm
f/5
ISO 800

Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D
My first attempt at processing this image.

This image of M33, taken a year later (08-2007) has more detail and is larger due to more pixels in the Canon XTI sensor.

90 frames of
60 seconds each and 50 frames of 90 seconds each

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted and substacked in Nebulosity. Additive-stacked in Photoshop CS.

Click to download TIFF or archived ZIP
This image was made with a 6 inch f/5 reflector (see Equipment page).
58 frames of 1 minute each.
750mm
f/5
ISO 1600
6 inch reflector, Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M49 in Virgo.
60 million LY distant.
Size: 9x7 arc min.
Mag: 8.4
32 frames,
1 minute each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M51, The Whirlpool Galaxy in Canes Venatici.
37 million LY distant.
Size: 18 arc min
Mag: 8
29 frames,
1 minute each
500mm
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D
Dark frame subtracted.

Click to download TIFF or archived ZIP
 
The same stack with more careful processing.
 
   
             
M58 in Virgo.
60 million LY distant.
Size: 5 arc min
Mag: 9.7
17 frames,
1 minute each
500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M59 and M60
in Virgo.
28 frames,
1 minute each
500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M61 in Virgo.
60 million LY distant.
Size: 6 arc min.
Mag: 9.7
26 frames,
1 minute each
500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M63, The Sunflower Galaxy in Canes Venatici.
37 million LY distant.
Size: 10x6 arc min.
Mag: 8.6
60 frames,
1 minute each
500mm
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D
The same target imaged with an XTI camera, resulting in more resolution. This image has also been cropped more than the one above.
31 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M64, The Blackeye Galaxy in Coma Berenices.
19 million LY distant.
Size: 9x5 arc min.
Mag: 8.5
14 frames,
1 minute each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D

Dark frame subtracted.

Click to download TIFF or archived ZIP

The same target imaged with an XTI camera, resulting in more resolution. This image has also been cropped more than the one above.
27 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
The Leo Triplet includes M65, M66 and NGC 3628.
51 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
A second attempt at shooting this target yielded better results.
70 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M74, The Phantom Galaxy in Pisces.
35 million LY distant.
Size: 10 arc min.
Mag: 9.4

28 frames,
75 seconds each.

500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
   
46 frames, 90 seconds each and 28 frames,
75 seconds each.
   
Dark frame subtracted.
 
The same image reprocessed.
       
             
M77 in Cetus.
60 million LY distant.
Size: 7x6 arc min.
Mag: 8.9
69 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M81, Bode's Galaxy
12 million LY distant, Size: 21x10 arc min,
Mag: 6.9 and M82, The Cigar Galaxy. 12 million LY distant, Size: 9x4 arc min, Mag: 8.4
Both in Ursa Major.
30 frames,
1 minute each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D

Dark frame subtracted.

Click to download TIFF or archived ZIP

These frames were shot a year later with
a Canon XTI. The two galaxies were processed separately
to keep individual detail.
190 frames of 90 seconds and 72 frames of 2 minutes.
500mm
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
Yet another night of shooting this target yielded this image.
29 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
This is M82,
the Cigar Galaxy.
 
       
This image was made with a 6 inch f/5 reflector (see Equipment page).

Misaligned mirrors caused star distortions.
57 frames of 1 minute each.
750mm
f/5
ISO 1600
6 inch reflector.
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
 
Yet another example of more frames = more detail.
104 frames of 1 minute each.
     
             
Markarian's Chain
in Virgo. Contains M84, M86, M87, M88 and a number of other galaxies. The center of this cluster is 70 million LY distant.
46 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M85 in Coma Berenices.
60 million LY distant.
Size: 7x5 arc min.
Mag: 9.1
56 frames,
1 minute each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M87 in Virgo.
60 million LY distant.
Size: 7 arc min.
Mag: 8.6
28 frames,
1 minute each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M89 and M90 in Virgo.
60 million LY distant.
Size: 4 arc min.
Mag: 9.8
46 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M91 in Coma Berenices.
60 million LY distant.
Size: 5x4 arc min.
Mag: 10.2
37 frames,
1 minute each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             

M94, spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici.
14.5 million LY distant.
Size: 7x3 arc min.
Mag: 8.2

54 frames,
1 minute each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D

Dark frame subtracted.

             
M95, M96 and M105 in Leo.
App. 36 million LY distant.
27 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M99 in Coma Berenices.
60 million LY distant.
Size: 5 arc min.
Mag. 9.9
32 frames,
1 minute each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M100 in Coma Berenices
60 million LY distant.
Size: 7x6 arc min.
Mag. 9.3
32 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M101, The Pinwheel Galaxy in Ursa Major.
27 million LY distant.
Size: 22 arc min.
Mag: 7.9
No .of frames unknown,
1 minute each.
500mm,
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D

Processing info unknown.

This image was made from the same set of raw frames.
109 frames,
1 minutes each.
500mm,
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D

Dark frame subtracted.

Click to download TIFF or archived ZIP

A year later I reshot M101. This is my best one yet.
56 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm,
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M102 (?) The Spindle Galaxy in Draco.
There is some doubt among astronomers as to the true identity of this galaxy.
26 frames,
60 seconds each.
500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M104, the Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo.
50 million LY distant.
Size: 9x4 arc min.
Mag: 8.0
30 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm,
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
M106, spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici.
25 million LY distant.
Size: 19x8 arc min.
Mag: 8.4
39 frames,
1 minute each.
500mm,
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D
 
M106 photographed with a Canon XTI. The extra pixels, and better processing techniques, produced a more detailed image.
162 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm,
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
   
191 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm,
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             

M108, spiral galaxy in Ursa Major.
45 million LY distant.
Size: 8 arc min.
Mag: 10
M97, The Owl Nebula, is visible at right.

29 frames,
1 minute each.
500mm,
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D

Dark frame subtracted.

M108 photographed with a Canon XTI. The extra pixels, and better processing techniques, produced a more detailed image.
46 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm,
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
 
       

M109, spiral galaxy in Ursa Major.
55 million LY distant.
Size: 7x4 arc min.
Mag: 9.8

33 frames,
1 minutes each.
500mm,
f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 10D
Dark frame subtracted.
Reshooting this target with a better camera and more experience produced a better image.
52 frames,
1 minutes each.
500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
NGC185 dwarf spheroidal galaxy in Cassiopeia.
2.3 million LY distant.
Size: 14 arc min.
Mag: 9.2
31 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm,
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTI)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
NGC 891 (C23),
egde-on galaxy in Andromeda.
10 million LY distant.
Mag: 10
Size: 13 x 3 arc min.
98 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm, f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
NGC 2403 in
Camelopardalis.
12 million LY distant.
Mag: 8.4
Size: 18 x 11 arc min.
99 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm, f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
NGC 2683 in Lynx.
16 million LY distant.
Mag: 10.6
Size: 9 x 2 arc min
84 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm, f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
             

NGC 2841 in Ursa Major.
31 million LY distant.
Mag: 9.3
Size: 8.1 arc min.

38 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm, f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
 
Adding more frames and more careful processing produced a better image.
60 frames,
90 seconds each.
     
             
NGC 2903 in Leo.
20.5 million LY distant.
Mag: 8.9
Size: 12.6 x 6.6 arc min.
133 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm, f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
 
Shooting this target in lower humidity and more careful processing produced a better image with fewer frames than the image above.
44 frames,
90 seconds each.
     
             
NGC 3115 in Sextans.
30 million LY distant.
Mag: 9.2
Size: 8x2 arc min.
23 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm, f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
NGC 3521 in Leo.
35 million LY distant.
Mag: 8.9
Size: 9.5
33 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm, f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
Adding more frames and more careful processing produced a better image.
49 frames,
90 seconds each.
     
             
NGC 4236 in Draco.
12 million LY distant.
Mag: 9.7
Size: 18.6
62 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm, f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
NGC 4244 in Canes Venatici.
6.5 million LY distant.
Mag: 10.2
Size: 16.2
32 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm, f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
             

NGC 4565 in Coma Berenices.
31 million LY distant.
Mag: 9.6
Size: 16 x 3

22 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm, f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
NGC 4631 in Canes Venatici.
30 million LY distant.
Mag: 9.8
Size: 17 x 3.5 arc min.
32 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm, f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
NGC 4725 in Coma Berenices.
million LY distant.
Mag:
Size: arc min.
37 frames,
1 minute each.
500mm, f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
NGC 5907 in Draco.
40 million LY distant.
Mag: 10.4
Size: 12 x 1 arc min.
49 frames,
90 seconds each.
500mm, f/5
ISO 800
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
             
NGC 6946, spiral galaxy in Cepheus.
11 million LY distant.
Size: 11 arc min.
Mag: 8.9
64 frames,
1 minutes each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
 
 
Adding more exposures to the image above produced smoother results and more detail.
160 frames of 60 seconds and
90 seconds each.
   

Dark frame subtracted and substacked in Nebulosity. Additive-stacked in Photoshop CS.

Click to download TIFF or archived ZIP

             
NGC 7331, galaxy in Pegasus.
46 million LY distant.
Size: 11x4 arc min.
Mag: 9.5
38 frames,
1 minutes each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
             

Caldwell 60, the Antanna Galaxies, in Corvus.
? million LY distant.
Size: 2.6x2 arc min.
Mag: 10.7

33 frames,
1 minutes each.
500mm
f/5
ISO 1600
Celestron C102 refractor
Canon 400D (XTi)
Dark frame subtracted.
             

 

 

Contact Me

Photos and text ©2007 Eric A. Jacob