M100 Blowdryer Galaxy

M100, sometimes called “The Blowdryer Galaxy”, is a grand design spiral galaxy in the Virgo Cluster. It is 55 million lighyears distant and 107,000 lighyears in diameter.

Another result from Antenna Site in the desert west of Phoenix. Skies were great and I got some excellent luminance data. Color was captured at my house in Chandler. I have been lucky with a lot of clear skies so I captured an absolute ton of RGB data – most of which was good to use, but I did lose some reds to thin clouds.

Gear

Telescope	Orion Optics UK ODK12
Mount	10Micron GM1000HPS
Imaging Camera	QHY163M
Guide Camera	QHY5III178
Filter Wheel	QHYCFW2
Filters	Baader L, R, G, B 36mm unmounted
Focuser	FT3015B-A

Shot Details

Automation Software	TBA
Image Processing	PixInsight
Guiding	None
L	73 x 120sec at -10°C
R	141 x 120sec at -10°C
G	266 x 120sec at -10°C
B	215 x 120sec at -10°C
Total Integration	23.2 hours
Gain	120
Offset	70
Ambient	20°C
Moon	<5%
Bortle	1 and 6/7
Location	Salome, AZ; Phoenix, AZ