M51 Whirlpool Galaxy in Unfiltered Luminance plus Ha/[OIII] from Stinger 450 Classical Cassegrain and FLI IMG1024S Dream Machine with Custom Scientific 4.5 nm Emission Line Filters

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taken on April 10 - 12, 2008 from my backyard in Castro Valley, Ca.

 

Stinger 450 Classical Cassegrain (18" f/12.6)  

Lumicon Giant Easy Guider with Focal reducer for final: F= 3366mm, f/7.1

Finger Lakes IMG1024S "Dream Machine  imaging camera operated at -37C 

Robofocus

Finger Lakes CFW1 Filter wheel

Custom Scientific 4.5 nm AR coated Halpha and [OIII] filters (50mm unmounted)

SBIG ST7E guide camera

39 exposures of 3 minutes with no filter

18 exposures of 10 minutes each through Halpha and [OIII]  filter

RGB made using synthesized Hbeta line

7 Hours 57 minutes total exposure time

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