M95-M96 (2019)

M95 and M96 are both part of the Messier 96 or M96 Group (also known as the Leo I Group) is a group of galaxies in the constellation Leo. The group contains three Messier objects M95, M96, and M105 and a number of other galaxies depending on your field of view. The group is one of many groups that lies within the Virgo Supercluster.

M95 or NGC 3351, galaxy on the left, is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 38 million light-years away and 46,000 ly across. This makes it about half the size of our own Milky Way.  The spiral arms are tightly bound to the central core and contain many young blue stars as shown on the image.

M96 or NGC 3368 is spiral galaxy about the same size and mass of the Milky Way and approximately 35 million light-years away. The spiral arms are weak and asymmetrical due to its interaction with the other nearby galaxies. Variations in ultraviolet emission from the core indicate there may be a supermassive black hole in the center. Also, a supernova was observed in this galaxy on May 9, 1998.

I am happy with how it turned out and it is a vast improvement on my image from a couple of years ago. I could not believe it when I fired up my mount and noticed it was almost a month since I last imaged. There were several reasons for this - vacation, bad weather, and really busy.  Hopefully I will be able to do a bit more imaging this month. I just purchased a Pegasus Pocket Powerbox to aid in my setup when I go offsite or in the yard but now I have redo my cable management again. 

M95-M96
Location: Home Monroe, CT
Date: 4-24-19, 4-28-19
Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT115EDT 115mm Refractor Telescope
Barlow: None
Focal Length: 805mm
f/7
Focal Reducer: Astro-Tech 0.8x Focal Reducer/Field Flattener for Refractor Telescopes
Mount: Orion Sirius
Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW 8x 1.25"
Filter: ZWO R, G, B, L
Autoguiding: QHY-5L-II-M attached to an Agena 50mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
Exposure: R 55 x 90, G 54 x 90, B 55 x 90, L 87 x 90 (4.2 hrs)
Gain: 139
Offset 21
Temp: 8 C
Post Processing: PixInsight and Photoshop
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