M51 05-24-2012 LRGB

M51 -> 1815K

* * Technical Data * *

Date	05-24-2012
Exposure	12hrs total, 3hrs ea. LRGB, Bin-2.
Optics	2004 RCOS 14.5" Ion, CF Truss, f:9, FL=3319mm.
Mount	2007 AP1200 GTOCP3 #714
Camera	2005 SBIG STL-11000M, 0.56 arc.sec p/pixel, -20C, AstroDon LRGBH-a.
Guider	As required: Internal ST-237H chip, or AstroDon MMOAG with 2006 SBIG STL-Remote, w/visual Red filter, or TAK FS-78, FL=632mm f:8, 2.41arc.sec p/pixel and STL-Remote.
Equipment	RCOS Field Flatener Corrector. Custom built Water Cooling and DryAir Purge Systems
Processing	MaximDL/CCD w/Russ Croman's Sigma Combine Plug-In, Photoshop CS4, FITSplug by Eddie Trimarchi, AstroActions by Noel Carboni
Location	StarFields Observatory (SFO), Chiefland Astronomy Village, Florida,
Comments	Interesting how the upper star stream coming off NGC5195 seems to wrap back left upon itself, almost like the faintest portions are behind the bridge between M51 and NGC5195. More interesting dark streams can be seen around the lower small red star right of NGC5159. Don't know if this is real or not. Background galaxies galore all around the M51 complex.