EAA – 02/01/2022 – Couple M81 Group Galaxies and CN Challenge

Weather is suppose to be decent for the near future and we should have a few clear nights over the next week or so. The telescope is set back up in the drive way and I took advantage of a mostly clear sky. There were a few high thin clouds off to the North and East and it was a bit warmer than it has been. I was able to EAA observe a couple more galaxies in the M81 Group and a few planetary nebulas on February’s Cloudy Nights EAA Observing Challenge.

All these EAA images were capture with my SV305 Camera through my Astro-Tech AT66ED and live stacked using SharpCap Pro. Guiding using the OSSAG and the SVBONY SV106 Guide Scope. The mount and cameras are remotely controlled with KStars/Ekos/INDI running on an Astroberry Raspberry Pi.

NGC3077 a small disrupted elliptical galaxy and a member of the M81 Group. NGC3077 is located in the northern constellation Ursa Major. This is a live stack of 40 x 30 second exposures at 400 gain.
NGC 3077 - Galaxy in the M81 Group - Captured 02/01/2022

NGC2976 a peculiar dwarf galaxy, and a member of the M81 Group, in the constellation of Ursa Major. This is a live stack of 40 x 30 second exposures at 400 gain.
NGC 2976 - Galaxy - Member of M81 Group - Captured on 02/01/2022

I attempted to capture Holmberg I, UGC5139, which is another galaxy in the M81 Group, but I was not able to resolve it after 15 minutes or so of 30 second exposures at 450 gain.
Attempt at Holmberg I - UGC 5139 - 02/01/2022
Based on plate solving and the Deep Sky Image Annotation in SharpCap it should be right in the middle of the frame, but I cannot see it. I think more aperture is going to be needed to get this one. I don’t think the AT66ED is going to be able to get it.

Every month the Cloudy Nights EAA Forum has a EAA Monthly Observing Challenge. These objects are part of the February 2022 EAA Observing Challenge.

NGC40, the Bow Tie Nebula, in the constellation Cepheus. This is a live stack of 40 x 15 second exposures at 400 gain.
NGC 40 - Planetary Nebula - Captured 02/01/2022

NGC1501 a complex planetary nebula in the constellation of Camelopardalis. This is a live stack of 40 x 15 second exposures at 400 gain.
NGC1501 - Planetary Nebula - Captured 02/01/2022

NGC1514 a planetary nebula in the constellation of Taurus. This is a live stack of 40 x 15 second exposures at 400 gain.
NGC 1514 - Planetary Nebula - Captured 02/01/2022

NGC2392, the Eskimo Nebula, a planetary nebula in the constellation of Gemini. This is a live stack of 20 x 15 second exposures at 400 gain.
NGC2392 - Eskimo Planetary Nebula - Captured 02/01/2022

It was a good EAA session. I packed everything in at around 10:30 PM since it’s a school night. Adding a couple more galaxies to my M81 Group Log. Planetary nebulas are always fun to observer. Still have a few more objects on the February Cloudy Nights’ EAA Challenge.

Enjoy!

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