Category: Deep Sky

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M101 the mighty “Pinwheel” galaxy

One of the most impressive galaxies in Ursa Major, M101 is well-known to most observers, and can already be detected with binoculars.

This picture was taken under the dark skies of Grandpré, La Talma, in Northern France. SQM Values varied during the three capture nights between 21,20 and 21,40.

With the large Dobsonian telescopes (16″ to 20″) many details also visible in this picture could be detected.

In full 100% view (the original sensor resolution), many many small galaxies van be seen in the background. Most of the weakest ones are 20th to 21th magnitude.

Click on the image for a larger view!

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The elusive Leo II galaxy

Leo I was the only dwarf galaxy I knew in the Leo constellation. On the Grandpre observation weekend, one of the observing challenges was Leo II. So I got a quick snapshot of it (only 90 minutes) to have an idea.

It turns out well in the picture, clearly visible as a galaxy but also some of the brightest stars (around mag 20).

One tiny galaxy peers through Leo II (left inside of Leo II). This is (ref:Skysafari catalogues) PGC5250798, a magn. +21 galaxy distant at an incredible 6 billion lightyears, and even more incredible, receeding at an asthonishing rate ot 109817 km per second. That is 36% of light speed.

Leo II itself is magnitude 11th, with dimensions 14.8′ x12.2′. It’s only 457 thousand light years away (for times the diameter of our own galaxy). It is also really small with a diameter of 1961 lightyears.

(click on the image for a larger view)

Leo II March 2022 Esprit 120 F7 EQ8 ASI2600MC 18x300s or 90′ SQM 21,60 Astropixelprocessor and PS Elements

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