M51 -- WHIRLPOOL GALAXY

Object

Type                      Spiral Galaxy

Constellation            Canes Venatici

Distance                 37 million light years

Magnitude               8.4

Size                       11x7 arc-min

Image

Date                       2010-05-31

Place                      Bixhoma Observatory (H33)

Exposure Data          LRGB  120:60:60:60 mins @ -5C

                             Lum 24x5, R 12x5, G 12x5, B 12x5

Notes                     R, G, B filters binned 2x2

Equipment

Optics                    Meade 12" RCX-400

Focal Length            2438 mm @f/8

Mount                     Meade RCX on Milburn Wedge

Camera                   SBIG ST-8XME

Focuser                  RoboFocus

Filters                     CFW-10, Astrodon LRGB

Software                 TheSky6, TPoint, CCDSoft, CCDAutopilot3, CCDStack, PhotoShop CS