Object Information:

 

Messier 101 [M 101]
Mag. - 7.9v
Galaxy Type - SAB (rs) cd I
Constellation - Ursa Major
Distance -  23 million light years

 

Messier 101 is the largest member of a small galaxy cluster located 23 million light years distant.  Messier 101 shines with the luminosity of 33 billion suns.  Messier 101's size is estimated to be 190,000 light years across.

  Imaged at: 

 

Near Desert Center, Riverside County, California,

  Equipment:  

 

Optics - Takahashi MT-200,
Mount - Astro-Physics 1200 GTO,
Camera - SBIG ST-10XME                                                 

  Exposure Information:

 

Luminance - Sum of eighteen 360 second exposures = 108 min. total,

  Camera Control Software:

 

MaxIm DL,

  Image Processing Software:

 

MIRA 6, Photoshop CS.