Messier 81, also known as NGC 3031 or Bode's Galaxy, is a massive spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major, some 12 million light-years away. Its isophotal diameter, measured in D25, is 29.44 kiloparsecs (96,000 light-years). Professional astronomers have investigated Messier 81 in great detail due to its proximity to the Milky Way galaxy, size, and active galactic core (which contains a 70 million Solar Mass supermassive black hole). The galaxy is a well-liked subject for amateur astronomers due to its huge size and relatively high brightness. A repeated rapid radio burst, FRB 20200120E, was discovered in the constellation M81 in late February 2022, according to researchers.
Johann Elert Bode made the initial discovery of Messier 81 on December 31, 1774. As a result, it is also known as "Bode's Galaxy." Bode's object was reidentified by Pierre Méchain and Charles Messier in 1779, and as a result, it was added to the Messier Catalogue.
The biggest galaxy in the M81 Group, a collection of 34 galaxies in the constellation Ursa Major, is named Messier 81. It places this group and the Local Group, which contains the Milky Way, as relative neighbours in the Virgo Supercluster at a distance of around 11.7 Mly (3.6 Mpc) from the Earth.
The biggest galaxy in the M81 Group, a collection of 34 galaxies in the constellation Ursa Major, is named Messier 81. It places this group and the Local Group, which contains the Milky Way, as relative neighbours in the Virgo Supercluster at a distance of around 11.7 Mly (3.6 Mpc) from the Earth.
The three galaxies were all depleted of hydrogen gas as a result of gravitational interactions between M81, M82, and NGC 3077, which led to the formation of gaseous filamentary structures in the group. Additionally, these interactions have made it possible for interstellar gas to enter the centres of M82 and NGC 3077, where it has sparked or accelerated star formation.
Dust from interstellar space is the primary source of infrared radiation. This galaxy's spiral arms are where this interstellar dust is mainly located, and studies have indicated that it is linked to areas where stars develop. The most common theory is that star formation regions include hot, brief blue stars that are particularly effective at heating the dust, increasing the region's infrared dust emission.
Dust from interstellar space is the primary source of infrared radiation. This galaxy's spiral arms are where this interstellar dust is mainly located, and studies have indicated that it is linked to areas where stars develop. The most common theory is that star formation regions include hot, brief blue stars that are particularly effective at heating the dust, increasing the region's infrared dust emission.
All the data was collected in one night, although this isn’t the complete data and requires more to finish this project. The data was collected on 21/01/2023. This was one of the first targets I collected this year and aimed to improve how much data is here.
Since its target is Circumpolar, collecting data on this target isn't too hard, but there are better times to collect as it can be quite low in the night sky at times. Plan accordingly and will not be disappointed of the results. This target will benefit from Ha data add to this UV/IR data collected due to the large amounts of Ha which is present in M82, which can be hard to achieve.
Overall, there are 1hr 30mins of total exposure at 30sec sub-exposures, which were stacked in Deep Sky Stacker and processed in Pixinsight with various add-ons.
Since its target is Circumpolar, collecting data on this target isn't too hard, but there are better times to collect as it can be quite low in the night sky at times. Plan accordingly and will not be disappointed of the results. This target will benefit from Ha data add to this UV/IR data collected due to the large amounts of Ha which is present in M82, which can be hard to achieve.
Overall, there are 1hr 30mins of total exposure at 30sec sub-exposures, which were stacked in Deep Sky Stacker and processed in Pixinsight with various add-ons.
Scope – Celestron RASA 8
Mount - Skywatcher EQ6 R Pro
Guide scope – ZWO 30mm
Guide Camera – ZWO ASI 120mm mini
Main Camera – ZWO Asi 533mc Pro
Control box – ZWO ASIAIR Pro
Filter – Baader 2" UV/IR filter
Starizona Filter drawer next to the camera sensor
Fox Halo 96k power bank
Dew heater with its own power bank on the guide scope
Main scope Celestron ring dew heater powered though the ASIAir
Mount - Skywatcher EQ6 R Pro
Guide scope – ZWO 30mm
Guide Camera – ZWO ASI 120mm mini
Main Camera – ZWO Asi 533mc Pro
Control box – ZWO ASIAIR Pro
Filter – Baader 2" UV/IR filter
Starizona Filter drawer next to the camera sensor
Fox Halo 96k power bank
Dew heater with its own power bank on the guide scope
Main scope Celestron ring dew heater powered though the ASIAir