M101 with SN 2023 ixf 'Quickie'

[Mike Lewis]

So firstly, thanks to Jim for getting me over to this target when this supernova was popping off, it was fun to have documented it myself. That being said, this is an image that I would have normally spent more time on, but I ran up against the necessity to have my remotely located set up torn down for a week or so while my friend went on a trip, so I could only manage a few nights on this, so after editing out some problematic frames and the like this is a little more than 3 hours of integration. There are a few other somewhat strange issues with it to my eye, but with all that it is still vastly better than my previous M101 'close-up' image taken back in 2018 with a not perfectly collimated 8 inch scope and dealing with some tracking issues. In any case, here it is:

I still perhaps see myself coming back to this wonderful galaxy in the future to try to get an even deeper result. I will add all the collection details for this version soon and thanks for looking.

ML

 

[Mike Lewis]

...And as soon as it is posted I see some cropping issues along the top edge. Here is a slightly more aggressively cropped version then:

ML

 

[JimFox]

Hey Mike,

Well I have to say that your hastily put together M101 with the Supernova out shines many of our non hasty, and long captured and processed M101's. I know this is way better then mine.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Hey Mike,

Well I have to say that your hastily put together M101 with the Supernova out shines many of our non hasty, and long captured and processed M101's. I know this is way better then mine.

Well thank you, you are too kind. In your case, if the seeing supports it the larger aperture scope can really make a difference. I think the EdgeHD scopes are just really hard to beat when cost/performance/weight are considered. That 8" if the weight worked out for your mount - it could be a killer combo, especially since from what I can tell I think you got a cherry copy of the mount you are using.

I do still think this target could benefit from a little more data but most importantly it does improve upon my previous version I had from 2018 taken with the 8" EdgeHD. I think that is much less about the scope differences and much more about how well this 9.25 is collimated versus that 8" I originally had, plus some guiding issues I was having back then. And also I suppose likely some improved post processing techniques and skills acquired since then too.

And lastly, a big thank you once again for getting me on to this. I am not sure why but I just wasn't thinking to image the SN until you got me onto it - much appreciated!

ML

 

[Jameel Hyder]

To my untrained astro eye, this looks pretty good.