This is an image of M83, also known as the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy. It is a barred spiral galaxy about 15 million light years away in the constellation Hydra. It is one of the closest and brightest barred spiral galaxies in the sky and is visible with binoculars. Its name is derived from its resemblance to M101, the Pinwheel Galaxy. This image combines data taken with two separate telescopes; a CDK17 and a 12.5 inch RCOS. It represents over 39 hours of total exposure time.
Telescope: Planewave CDK-17
Telescope: RCOS 12.5 inch
Camera: SBIG STXL11002 with AOX
Mount(CDK17): Paramount ME
Mount(RCOS): 10Micron GM2000 HPS Monolith
Ha(CDK17): 7x30 minutes (binned 1x1)
Luminance(CDK17): 21x20 minutes (binned 1x1)
Luminance(RCOS): 16x20 minutes (binned 1x1)
Red(CDK17): 15x20 minutes (binned 1x1)
Red(RCOS): 13x20 minutes (binned 1x1)
Green(CDK17): 15x20 minutes (binned 1x1)
Green(RCOS): 12x20 minutes (binned 1x1)
Blue(CDK17): 15x20 minutes (binned 1x1)
Blue(RCOS): 12x20 minutes (binned 1x1)