Simcoe Skies Astronomy

M94 galaxy (NGC 4736)

Location: Canes Venatici (hunting dogs)
Distance: 16M Light years
Magnitude: 8.99
Apparent Size: 11.2' x 9.1'

	Date: July 21/09 Camera: Meade DSI-IIC Exposures: 74 Exposure length: 30 seconds, guided in RA (Meade ETX-90 with DSI-PRO) Gain: 63 Offset: 0 Filters: Meade IR filter (on camera) Guiding: RA only (Meade ETX-90 with DSI-Pro) Notes: Comparison shot, taken 9 days after the prior one. Significantly more detail than the previous shot, attributed mainly to the absence of the Skyglow filter (the increased number of frames is not likely to have that much effect). Similar moonlit conditions as last time, same exposure time per frame. Conclusion: Don't use a skyglow filter on galaxies!
	Date: July 12/09 Camera: Meade DSI-IIC Exposures: 36 Exposure length: 30 seconds, guided in RA (Meade ETX-90 with DSI-PRO) Gain: 63 Offset: 0 Filters: Meade IR filter (on camera), Orion SKYGLOW filter Guiding: RA only (Meade ETX-90 with DSI-Pro) Notes: A nice, tight spiral galaxy. Competing with rising moonlight for this shot, with the moon at about 72% illumination and just breaking over the horizon. A shot without the filters with this camera might be significantly improved.