M81 / M82
Bode and Cigar Galaxies
A wide 2022 revision of the M81 and M82 galaxy field
The later M81 and M82 revision includes the surrounding field and faint galactic structure from the 2022 run.
This frame remains part of the Lost Photons archive.
- What am I looking at?
- Bode's Galaxy (M81) and the Cigar Galaxy (M82) are a pair of galaxies interacting across millions of light-years.
- How far away is it?
- M81 is about 12 million light-years away; M82 is slightly closer.
- Where is it in the sky?
- In Ursa Major, near the Big Dipper bowl.
- Why does it matter?
- M82 is a starburst galaxy with a turbulent outflow; M81 is a classic grand-design spiral.
- When is the best time to photograph it?
- Spring nights when Ursa Major is high overhead.
Capture summary
Galaxy in Ursa Major
Broadband integration
Broadband integration
Spring target / wide composition
- Chroma 36mm Red 3h 17m 197 x 60s
- Chroma 36mm Green 2h 59m 179 x 60s
- Chroma 36mm Blue 2h 47m 167 x 60s
- Chroma 36mm Lum 25h 11m 287 x 120s, 937 x 60s
- Chroma 36mm Ha 5nm 8h 50m 106 x 300s
- Totals 43h 4m
Same target, different years.
Older revisions stay in the archive so you can see how the target changed with different equipment, processing, and experience.
When to image this target
Galaxy in Ursa Major; best planned for March through May from New Jersey.
Spring favors higher galaxy fields and northern targets after evening twilight.
Assumes a New Jersey backyard horizon and evening imaging.
Prioritize transparency, darker skies, and long broadband integration.
M81 / M82 is listed here in Ursa Major.
Current frame: Broadband RGB / Broadband integration.
Live altitude, moon, and filter guidance
Calculating target altitude and moon context.
Use the full planner to enter a ZIP code, choose a date, and compare the target from your sky.
Based on the current time.
Green marks usable dark-sky altitude.
Next upper transit.
Approximate horizon crossing.
Moon phase and altitude.
Acquisition & processing notes
Filter channels, integration times, and capture dates for this frame.
- Chroma 36mm Red 197 x 60s, 3h 17m
- Chroma 36mm Green 179 x 60s, 2h 59m
- Chroma 36mm Blue 167 x 60s, 2h 47m
- Chroma 36mm Lum 287 x 120s, 937 x 60s, 25h 11m
- Chroma 36mm Ha 5nm 106 x 300s, 8h 50m
- Totals 43h 4m
How I captured this
| Channel | Frames | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chroma 36mm Red | 197 x 60s | 3h 17m |
| Chroma 36mm Green | 179 x 60s | 2h 59m |
| Chroma 36mm Blue | 167 x 60s | 2h 47m |
| Chroma 36mm Lum | 287 x 120s, 937 x 60s | 25h 11m |
| Chroma 36mm Ha 5nm | 106 x 300s | 8h 50m |
| Totals | — | 43h 4m |
- Equipment used
- From my current rig
- Mount
- iOptron CEM60
- Telescope
- Explore Scientific FCD100 127mm Carbon Fiber Triplet APO
- Camera
- ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
- Filters
- Chroma 36mm Ha, OIII, SII, and LRGB (ZWO EFW 7×36mm)
- Focuser / rotator
- MoonLite NiteCrawler
- Reducer
- Starizona Apex ED 0.65×
- Guiding
- ZWO off-axis guider + ASI290MM Mini
- Control / power
- PrimaLuceLab Eagle 4S, Powerwerx PSU, Bioenno field battery, and MEGAbox
