M81 and M82 Galaxies
M81 and M82 are galaxies that are part of the M81 Galaxy group. M81 is to the left and M82 to the right. Both are located 12 million light-years away. M81 is 96,000 light-years across, while M82 is 41,000 light-years across. The red filaments coming out of M82 are part of a star-burst region energized by M81, producing new stars 10 times faster than our own Milky Way galaxy. North is to the right.

Scope/Mount: TS-Optics PhotoLine 130mm F7 APO Refractor with Astro-Tech AT2FF Field-flattener, Celestron CI-700 Mount
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MMC monochrome with ZWO LRGB and Ha, Oiii, Sii filters
Guiding: QHY5L-IIM through Orion Deluxe OAG, PHD guiding software
Exposure: L:(30) 120 secs @ gain=139, Ha(24) 300 secs @ gain=300, RGB: each channel (10) 120 sec @ gain=200
Software: Nebulosity, Pixinsight, NoiseXterminator
Comment: 04/19/2025, Tierra del Sol, CA, good conditions. Palette = LRGB plus Ha used as mask.