Object Information

• Name/Designation: Cigar Galaxy (Messier 82 / NGC 3034)

• Object Type: Starburst Galaxy

• Constellation: Ursa Major

• Distance from Earth: ~12 million light-years

• Apparent Magnitude: ~8.4

• Angular Size: ~11 arcminutes

Imaging Info

• Date: April 13, 20 & 27, May 9, 2023

• Location: Athens, Greece

• Frames: Luminance – 222 × 60″ exposures (3h 42m)

  Narrowband – 176 × 60″ exposures (2h 56m)

  Total: 6h 38m

• Camera Settings: Gain 101 | Temperature: -5 °C

• Bortle Scale: 8/9 (City sky)

Equipment & Guiding

• Imaging Telescope: Sky-Watcher Explorer 130PDS

• Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI533MC Pro

• Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ5 Pro

• Filter: Baader UV/IR Cut Luminance 2″ & Optolong L-eXtreme 1.25″

• Accessory: Baader 2″ MPCC Mark III Newton Coma Corrector

• Guide Scope: Artesky 32mm Mini Guide Scope

• Guide Camera: ZWO ASI120MM Mini

Software

• Astro Photography Tool (APT)

• Sharpcap

• PHD2 Guiding

• Adobe Photoshop

• Siril