Pinwheel Galaxy

4. Mar. 2025

Gear used

• Telescope: ASKAR 103APO with 0.8x reducer
• Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC pro
• Guidescope: Uniguide 32
• Guidecamera: ZWO ASI220MM Mini
• Mount: ZWO AM5N
• Controls: ASIAIR Plus

Data collected

• Sky: Bortle 4 to 5
• Lights: 267 x 180s
• Biases: 30
• Darks: 30
• Flats: 30

Early Spring Galaxy Hunting

As the seasons change, spring brings a shift in our nighttime view of the cosmos. From our vantage point on Earth, we are now looking outward, beyond our own galaxy. Since most of the beautiful nebulae and star clusters lie closer to the core of the Milky Way, these targets sink below the horizon after sunset. However, this presents the perfect opportunity to observe galaxies beyond our own. So, when the countless weather apps I constantly check predicted clear nights, I started planning my galaxy hunt. One particular galaxy stood out to me as the perfect target.

The Pinwheel Galaxy is one of the larger galaxies visible in the night sky. Although I recently acquired the ASKAR 103APO, I currently only have the 0.8x reducer to achieve a flat field for my camera. This combination of telescope and reducer sets my focal length at 560mm—already a significant increase from my previous setup with the Redcat 51. Still, I wanted to capture a galaxy with as much detail as possible.

I gathered my data over two nights from my backyard. The sky was crystal clear, and the seeing conditions were surprisingly good compared to what I usually get. Having never imaged a galaxy at this focal length before, processing the data was an absolute joy. It never ceases to amaze me how much detail and resolution a backyard telescope is capable of capturing.