Object Information:

 

Messier 1 is the first object cataloged by Charles Messier and is an expanding cloud of gas which was created when a star exploded as a supernova.  Chinese astronomers noted the supernova explosion which created this object on July 4, 1054 A.D.  It is reported that the supernova was visible during the day for twenty-three days.  This nebulous supernova remnant was first noted by John Bevis in 1731 and was later independently "discovered" by Charles Messier in 1758.  More on Messier 1 and Charles Messier can be found at: http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m001.html

 

The approximate size of the Messier 1 supernova remnant is 10 light years in diameter and it is continuing to expand at at rate of 1,800 km/sec.

  Imaged at: 

 

Hole-in-the Wall Campground, Mojave National Preserve, California;
Elevation - 4,400 feet

  Equipment:  

 

Optics - RC Optical Systems 10" Ritchey-Chrétien optical tube at f/9,
Mount - Astro Physics 1200 GTO,
Camera - Santa Barbara Instrument Group (SBIG) ST-10XME NABG CCD,
Filter - SBIG CFW-8 with Astrodon "E" Series CRGB filters

  Exposure Information:

 

October 3 and 6, 2005
Luminance - a sum of twelve, eight minute exposures for a total exposure time of 96 minutes.

RGB - 4 x eight minute exposures for each color channel at 2x2 binning.

  Camera Control Software:

 

CCD Soft Ver. 5

  Image Processing Software:

 

Image calibration - MIRA AP 7; Final processing - Photoshop CS