A Whale and Hockey Stick in Space!

NGC 4631 or the Whale Galaxy is an edge on  barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici located on the lower center portion of my image. It has a a slightly distorted wedge shape that gives it the appearance of a whale.  This galaxy has a bright central star forming region and dust lanes are visible throughout the galaxy.  Located about 30 million light-years from Earth it is approximately the same size as the Milky Way Galaxy.  Directly below the Whale is the small elliptical galaxy NGC 4627 which is gravitationally bound to NGC 4631.  The Hockey Stick Galaxy (a.k.a. the Crowbar Galaxy or NGC 4656/4657) is located on the top right.  This is a highly irregular shaped galaxy believed to have been elongated during interactions with NGC 4631.

Processing was a bit tedious as usual in fact I used StarTools for first time in a long time.  I was pleased with how the Whale turned out but a little less happy with the Hockey Stick.  I also used  Astrophotography Tool (APT) for camera control. I am getting a little more comfortable with it so if I ever get another camera I will be ready. I found focusing in APT using FWHM is a bit more jumpy than with BYE, but it did work. Also, taking flats is easier as APT has a setting where all you have to do is change the camera to Av mode.     

Crop

Wide Field

NGC 4631 - The Whale Galaxy and NGC4656/57 - The Hockey Stick Galaxy
Location: Happy Frog Observatory, Monroe, CT
Date: 04-21-18, 4-22-18
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i(a), AstroPhotography Tool APT)
Telescope: Orion ED80 80mm f/7.5 Apochromatic Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 600mm
f/7.5
Focal Reducer: Orion 0.8x Focal Reducer for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Sirius EQ (HEQ5)
Filter: Astrodon UV/IR
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: 65 x 90s, 55 x 90s
ISO: 1600
Temp: 4 C, 5 C
Post Processing: Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop, Gradient Exterminator, Astronomy Tools, StarTools.
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