Documenting capturing the Messier Catalog of 110 Astronomical Objects EAA Style. Many (really most) of these I have observed or imaged before, but starting over in December 2021.
How many can I get before the end of 2022? We shall see…
As of 03/27/2022… 58 Messiers… over half way there!!!
All the objects in this log were EAA observed. The mount and cameras are remotely controlled with KStars/Ekos/INDI running on an Astroberry Raspberry Pi.
Current progress: 80 of 110 Messier Objects EAA Observed and Captured
M1, M3, M4, M5, M10, M12, M13, M14, M15, M31, M32, M33, M34, M35, M36, M37, M38, M39, M40, M41, M42, M43, M44, M45, M46, M47, M48, M49, M50, M51, M52, M53, M56, M57, M58, M59, M60, M61, M63, M64, M65, M66, M67, M68, M74, M76, M77, M78, M79, M80, M81, M82, M83, M84, M85, M86, M87, M88, M89, M90, M91, M92, M93, M94, M95, M96, M97, M98, M99, M100, M101, M102, M103, M104, M105, M106, M107, M108, M109, M110
| Messier Object | EAA Image | Date | Notes |
| M1, The Crab Nebula |  |
12/26/2021 | Live stack of 45 x 20 second exposures.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M3, Globular Cluster |  |
04/01/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 10 second exposures gain 121.
Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M4, Globular Cluster |  |
05/20/2022 |
Live stack of 30 x 10 second exposures gain 121, bin 2×2. SVBONY SV503 102ED with 0.8 Focal Reducer (F/5.6) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M5, Globular Cluster |  |
04/22/2022 |
Live stack of 61 x 10 second exposures gain 121.
Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M10, Globular Cluster |  |
05/20/2022 |
Live stack of 30 x 10 second exposures gain 121, bin 2×2. SVBONY SV503 102ED with 0.8 Focal Reducer (F/5.6) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M12, Globular Cluster |  |
05/20/2022 |
Live stack of 30 x 10 second exposures gain 121, bin 2×2. SVBONY SV503 102ED with 0.8 Focal Reducer (F/5.6) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M13, Globular Cluster |  |
05/17/2022 |
The galaxy NGC 6207 is visible to the right and up from M13.
Live stack of 30 x 10 second exposures gain 121, bin 2×2. |
| M14, Globular Cluster |  |
05/20/2022 |
Live stack of 30 x 10 second exposures gain 121, bin 2×2. SVBONY SV503 102ED with 0.8 Focal Reducer (F/5.6) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M15, Globular Cluster |  |
12/22/2021 | Live stack of 23 x 4 second exposures.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M31, The Andromeda Galaxy |  |
12/23/2021 | Live stack of 47 x 8 second exposures.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M33, The Triangulum Galaxy |  |
12/23/2021 | Live stack 76 x 8 second exposures.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M34, Open Cluster |  |
01/08/2022 | Live stack 30 x 30 second exposures with gain set to 350
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M35, Open Cluster |  |
01/08/2022 | Live stack 30 x 30 second exposures with gain set to 350
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M36, Open Cluster |  |
01/08/2022 | Live stack 30 x 30 second exposures with gain set to 350
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M37, Open Cluster |  |
12/22/2021 | Live stack 91 x 1 second exposures.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M38, Open Cluster |  |
01/11/2022 | Live stack of 30 x 20 second exposures with 350 gain
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M39, Open Cluster |  |
01/11/2022 | Live stack of 30 x 20 second exposures with 350 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M40, Optical Double Star |  |
02/05/2022 | Live stack of 40 x 15 second exposures with 450 gain. Galaxy NGC 4290 top center, Galaxy NGC 4335 lower left. AT66ED with SV305 |
| M41, Open Cluster |  |
01/14/2022 | Live stack 28 x 10 second exposures at 400 gain. Stack was of 30 exposures, but 2 were ignored due to movement in the images (caused by wind I think).
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M42, The Orion Nebula |  |
12/22/2021 | Live stack of 160 x 1 second exposures.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M43, De Mairan’s Nebula |  |
01/11/2022 | Live stack of 30 x 10 second exposures with 350 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M44, The Beehive Cluster |  |
01/14/2022 | Live stack of 50 x 10 second exposures at 400 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M45, Pleiades – Open Cluster |  |
01/08/2022 | The bright star in the center is Maia. Live stack 30 x 30 second exposures with gain set to 350. AT66ED with SV305 |
| M46, Open Cluster |  |
01/14/2022 | Planetary Nebula NGC 2438
Live stack of 30 x 10 second an 15 x 20 second exposures at 400 gain. AT66ED with SV305 |
| M47, Open Cluster |  |
01/14/2022 | Live stack of 30 x 10 second exposures at 400 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M48, Open Cluster |  |
02/05/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 15 second exposures with 350 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M49, Galaxy |  |
04/01/2022 | Live stack of 20 x 15 second exposures and 60 x 10 second exposures gain 121.
Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M50, Open Cluster |  |
01/14/2022 | Live stack of 30 x 20 second exposures at 400 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M51, The Whirlpool Galaxy |  |
02/05/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 30 second exposures with 450 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M52, Open Cluster |  |
01/11/2022 | Live stack of 30 x 20 second exposures with 350 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M53, Globular Cluster |  |
04/01/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 10 second exposures gain 121.
Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M56, Globular Cluster |  |
05/20/2022 |
Live stack of 30 x 10 second exposures gain 121, bin 2×2. SVBONY SV503 102ED with 0.8 Focal Reducer (F/5.6) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M57, The Ring Nebula |  |
05/17/2022 |
Live stack of 30 x 10 second exposures gain 121, bin 2×2. SVBONY SV503 102ED with 0.8 Focal Reducer (F/5.6) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M58, Galaxy |  |
04/01/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 15 second exposures gain 121.
Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M59, Galaxy |  |
04/01/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 10 second exposures gain 121.
Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M60, Galaxy |  |
03/26/2022 |
NGC 4647 is the spiral galaxy just down and to the right from M60. NGC 4638 is further down and just to the left.
Live stack of 100 x 8 second exposures at 121 gain bin 2×2. Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M61, Galaxy |  |
04/01/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 10 second exposures gain 121.
Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M63, The Sunflower Galaxy |  |
02/05/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 30 second exposures with 450 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M64, The Black Eye Galaxy |  |
04/01/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 15 second exposures gain 121.
Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M65 – Galaxy |  |
03/05/2022 | M66 is visible in the top, just left of center, of the FOV.
Live stack of 60 x 10 second exposures at 200 gain bin 2×2. Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/7.2) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M66 – Galaxy |  |
01/22/2022 | Live stack of 50 x 10 second exposures at 400 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M67 – Open Cluster |  |
01/22/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 5 second exposures at 450 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M68, Globular Cluster |  |
04/01/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 10 second exposures gain 121.
Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M74, The Phantom Galaxy |  |
01/14/2022 | Live stack of 50 x 15 seconds and 10 x 20 seconds at 400 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M76, The Little Dumbbell Nebula |  |
01/14/2022 | Live stack of 30 x 20 second exposures at 400 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M77, Squid Galaxy |  |
01/14/2022 | M77 is in the left of the FOV, NGC 1055 is to the right.
Live stack of 50 x 15 second exposures at 400 gain. AT66ED with SV305 |
| M78, Reflection Nebula in Orion |  |
Live stack of 40 x 15 second exposures.
AT66ED with SV305 |
|
| M79, Globular Cluster |  |
01/14/2022 | Live stack 30 x 10 second exposures at 400 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M80, Globular Cluster |  |
05/20/2022 |
Live stack of 30 x 10 second exposures gain 121, bin 2×2. SVBONY SV503 102ED with 0.8 Focal Reducer (F/5.6) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M81, Bode’s Galaxy |  |
12/26/2021 | Can just get both of these in the FOV of the SV305 on the AT66ED.
M81 is in the upper left, M82 is in the lower right. Live stack of 77 x 8 second exposures. AT66ED with SV305 |
| M83, Southern Pinwheel Galaxy |  |
05/17/2022 |
Live stack of 60 x 10 second exposures gain 121, bin 2×2. SVBONY SV503 102ED with 0.8 Focal Reducer (F/5.6) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M84, Galaxy |  |
03/26/2022 |
M86 and others are visible at the top of the frame.
Live stack of 100 x 8 second exposures at 121 gain bin 2×2. Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M85, Galaxy |  |
03/26/2022 |
NGC 4394 is also visible up and slightly right from M85.
Live stack of 100 x 8 second exposures at 121 gain bin 2×2. Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M86, Galaxy |  |
03/26/2022 |
There are a lot of interesting galaxies in this FOV. M84 is towards the bottom of the frame. NGC 4402, NGC 4425, NGC 4407, NGC 4388, and NGC 4387 are all easily resolvable.
Live stack of 100 x 8 second exposures at 121 gain bin 2×2. Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M87, Galaxy |  |
03/26/2022 |
NGC 4478 and NGC 4476 are below M87.
Live stack of 100 x 8 second exposures at 121 gain bin 2×2. Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M88, Galaxy |  |
03/26/2022 |
Nice detail in the spiral arms.
Live stack of 100 x 8 second exposures at 121 gain bin 2×2. Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M89, Galaxy |  |
03/26/2022 |
NGC 4550 and NGC 4551 are visible in the left of the frame.
Live stack of 100 x 8 second exposures at 121 gain bin 2×2. Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M90, Galaxy |  |
03/26/2022 |
Live stack of 100 x 8 second exposures at 121 gain bin 2×2. Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M91, Galaxy |  |
04/01/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 15 second exposures gain 121.
Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M92, Globular Cluster |  |
05/20/2022 |
Live stack of 30 x 10 second exposures gain 121, bin 2×2. SVBONY SV503 102ED with 0.8 Focal Reducer (F/5.6) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M93 – Open Cluster |  |
01/22/2022 | Live stack of 50 x 6 second exposures at 300 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M94, Galaxy |  |
02/11/2022 | Live stack 60 x 15 second exposures at 350 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M95, Galaxy |  |
02/11/2022 | There is an interesting double star, NGC 3345, in the upper left of the FOV.
Live stack of 60 x 15 second exposures at 450 gain AT66ED with SV305 |
| M96, Galaxy |  |
02/11/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 15 second exposures at 400 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M97, The Owl Nebula |  |
01/14/2022 | Planetary Nebula
Live stack of 45 x 20 second exposures. AT66ED with SV305 |
| M98, Galaxy |  |
02/11/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 15 second exposures at 400 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M99, Galaxy |  |
02/11/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 15 second exposures at 450 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M100, Galaxy |  |
02/11/2022 | NGC 4312 is to the right and NGC 4328 is below M100.
Live stack of 60 x 15 second exposures at 450 gain. AT66ED with SV305 |
| M101, The Pinwheel Galaxy |  |
02/11/2022 | Live stack of 60 x 15 second exposures at 450 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M102, Galaxy |  |
03/26/2022 |
The dust lane running through the center of the disc can be resolved.
Live stack of 100 x 8 second exposures at 121 gain bin 2×2. Celestron C6 SCT F/6.3 Focal Reducer (actual F/6.9) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M103, Open Cluster |  |
01/08/2022 | Live stack 30 x 30 second exposures with gain set to 350
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M104, Sombrero Galaxy |  |
05/17/2022 |
Live stack of 40 x 15 second exposures gain 121, bin 2×2. SVBONY SV503 102ED with 0.8 Focal Reducer (F/5.6) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M105 – Elliptical Galaxy |  |
01/26/2022 | NGC 3384 and NGC3373 are also visible in the frame, just below M105.
45 x 20 second exposures at 450 gain. AT66ED with SV305 |
| M106, Spiral Galaxy |  |
02/09/2022 | Live stack 120 x 15 second exposures at 450 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M107, Globular Cluster |  |
05/20/2022 |
Live stack of 30 x 10 second exposures gain 121, bin 2×2. SVBONY SV503 102ED with 0.8 Focal Reducer (F/5.6) with the ZWO ASI294MC Pro Camera |
| M108, Galaxy |  |
01/14/2022 | Live stack of 45 x 20 second exposures at 400 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
| M109, Galaxy |  |
01/14/2022 | There is a another small (more distant???) galaxy in the upper right of the FOV which I have not been able to find the identity of yet.
Live stack of 60 x 20 second exposures at 400 gain. AT66ED with SV305 |
| M110, Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy |  |
01/11/2022 | Live stack of 30 x 30 second exposures with 350 gain.
AT66ED with SV305 |
This is for my observation planning.
30 Messier Objects left:
M2, M6, M7, M8, M9, M11, M16, M17, M18, M19, M20, M21, M22, M23, M24, M25, M26, M27, M28, M29, M30, M54, M55, M62, M69, M70, M71, M72, M73, M75
Missed Messier Opportunities
Tried M101 again on 02/09/2022. To low in the sky and some haze. I should be able to get M101 and a few more later on Friday (02/11) night. Hoping for clear skies.
Tried M65 on 01/22/2022 but it was still low in the east and some thin clouds moved in. I was able to resolve it, but the stack was really washed out due to the clouds. It will get higher in the ENE over the next few weeks/months so I’ll have another go at it soon.
Tried M101 on 01/14/2022 but it was very low in the ENE and there was a lot of light pollution. Could just get the center to resolve but not a lot of detail. Going to give it another go soon.
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