M 81 and M 82

The Details
Object	M 81 and M 82
Optics	Astro-Physics 160 EDF Refractor at f/7.7
Platform	Astro-Physics 1200 GTO
Camera	SBIG STL-11000M
Filters	Tru-Balance LRGB filter set
Date	14 May 2007
Location	Grandview Campground Area, White Mountains, Eastern California
Exposure	L 12 x 300 sec 1x1 bin; RGB 4 x 300 sec, 2x2 bin
Software	Maxim DL/CCD, Registar, Photoshop CS2
Orientation	Field of View: 58'57" x 45'07" centered on RA 09h55m59.3s DEC +69°18'10” (2000.0) . North angle 244.75 °; east 90° CCW from north
Notes	The M 81/82 galaxy group is one of the nearest to our Local group, with a mean distance of about 12 million light years from Earth. Other members of the group include NGC 3077, NGC 2976, NGC 2366, NGC 2403, IC 2574, Holmberg I, Holmberg II and Holmberg IX. The only member shown in the above image besides M 81 and M 82 is Holmberg IX, a faint smudge at a five o’clock position from the core of M 81.