Messier 63: Flocculated but Surviving (Alex Woronow)

Celestial hemisphere: Northern · Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVn) · Contains: M 63 · NGC 5055 · Sunflower Galaxy

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Messier 63: Flocculated but Surviving

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Messier 63: Flocculated but Surviving

Messier 63: Flocculated but Surviving

OTA: Dreamscope 16” f/3.7
Camera: FLI Proline 16803
Observatory: Insight Observatory, Pietown, NM

EXPOSURES:
R: 7 x 300, 5 x 600 seconds
G: 5 x 300, 2 x 600
B: 5 x 300, 2 x 600
L: available but not used
Total exposure time used: 2.9 hours

Image Width: 1.1 deg
Processed by Alex Woronow (2022) using PixInsight, Topaz, SWT

The Target: Messier 63 is a “flocculent” galaxy and lacks distinct spiral arms. M 63 has a distinct halo (of stars and gas) surrounding the brighter central area and maybe two distinct halos, a bright one nested inside a fainter one. In addition, a pair of very faint “tails” extend downward in this image. One terminates near the bright yellow star (below and to the left of the galaxy), and the other is more distorted and lies to the left of the first one. These tails were not discovered until 1979 and are thought to be due to gravitational disruption caused by the accretion of a smaller galaxy.

Processing: Although different exposure times were somewhat available, all filters were processed using all appropriate subs. L subs were also available but not used. Their inclusion did not enhance the image detail but degraded the color and brought out the color mottling in the background. It appears to be a little recognized effect that adding L to an RGB image causes hue shifts--but it does—sometimes minor, sometimes more.

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	Image of the day	Top pick	Top pick nominations	Total submitted
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	Image of the day	Top pick	Top pick nominations	Total submitted
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Other
Unknown

The “AstroBin Image of the Day and Top Picks”, or IOTD/TP, is a long-running system to promote beautiful, interesting, peculiar, or otherwise amazing astrophotographs, with a focus on technical excellence. Learn more.

Submitted The date and time when you submitted this image for IOTD/TP consideration.	...
Views by Submitters (available since September 19th, 2023) Every image is assigned to 50% of available Submitters. In the event that at least 80% of them don't view the image before its time in the IOTD/TP process expires, it's assigned to the other 50% of Submitters and the process begins anew.
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Status	Advanced success
Started	...
Astrometry.net job	6469456
PixInsight job	XLEHHVCOPICIJDNKWRF3ERKGBLRH5FH8
PixInsight queue size	n/a
PixInsight stage	TASK_LOG

RA (center)	13h16m02s.17
RA (top/left)	13h13m15s.87
RA (top/right)	13h19m09s.28
RA (bottom/right)	13h18m50s.38
RA (bottom/left)	13h12m52s.86

Dec (center)	+42°02′56″.1
Dec (top/left)	+41°36′44″.0
Dec (top/right)	+41°42′12″.1
Dec (bottom/right)	+42°28′48″.3
Dec (bottom/left)	+42°23′18″.7

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Messier 63: Flocculated but Surviving

Messier 63: Flocculated but Surviving

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Messier 63: Flocculated but Surviving

Messier 63: Flocculated but Surviving

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