The Hidden Galaxy

2022 Reprocess

 

Original Edit

 

Image Details:

This Galaxy (IC 342) is the third-largest spiral galaxy in our sky by apparent size, covering around the same area of sky as the Full Moon. However, it is difficult to observe due to its proximity to the dusty bands of our own Milky Way. This galaxy is roughly 10 million light years from here in the Northern constellation of Camelopardalis, adjacent to Cassiopeia. ]

2022 Reprocess: As with many other re-edits of data, this one benefitted from much better treatment of color and contrast of interstellar dust, especially when paired with the relatively new Generalized Hyperbolic Stretch in PixInsight (as of this writing in November 2022)

Equipment:

  • William Optics Star71-II Petzval APO (350mm Focal Length, F/4.9)

  • ZWO ASI1600MM-P, ZWO Filters

  • Celestron CGEM-II

  • Autoguiding: Orion 50mm Guidescope + ZWO ASI224MC

Exposures:

  • Luminance: 145 x 300” (Total: 12h 5m)

  • Red, Green, Blue: 22, 22, 22 x 300” (Total: 4h 30m)

  • Hydrogen-Alpha 7nm: 131 x 300” (Total: 10h 55m)

Misc Details:

  • Capture Software: AstrophotographyTool, PHD2 (guiding), Celestron CPWI (mount control), Pegasus Powerbox (dew heater control, power management)

  • Processing Software: PixInsight

  • Taken from: Okie-Tex Star Party 2019 (Bortle 1 - LRGB), Wichita, KS (Bortle 5 - Hα)

  • Capture Dates: 22, 24, 26-28 September, 6-7 October, 2019

Annotation

Annotated