Markarian's Chain and Virgo Cluster Widefield
Markarian Chain

Wide Field of Markarian's Chain and Virgo Cluster

This is an uncropped full-frame, wide-field view of Markarian’s Chain and the Virgo Cluster of galaxies taken with a Takahashi Epsilon-130D and a QHY600M with LRGB filters.   Relatively short (100s) sub-exposures with a 19.88 SQM sky (Bortle 5) brings out large, bright galaxies (Mag 8-10) as well more distant, faint galaxies (Mag 14 to 20) in the background.

Date/Location: March 8, 2021; Gainesville FL
Telescope: Takahashi Epsilon-130D
Camera/Filters: QHY600M/ QHYCFW3 with Astrodon RGB gen2 filters
Mount: Astro-Physics 1100GTO
Guider: Altair 60mm f/3.75; Lodestar X2
Acquisition/Guiding Program: N.I.N.A. / PHD2
Image processing: PixInsight/Photoshop

Photograph of Imaging Setup