NGC 2841 – Spiral Galaxy in Ursa Major

Telescope: Meade 12” LX850 ACF @ f/8, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: ZWO ASI071 MC Pro, -10C, Gain 200

Filter: Orion Imaging Skyglow Filter

Guide scope: Astro-Tech 60mm, ASI290MM Mini, PHD2

Exposure: 27x240sec, saved as FITS

Darks: 32x240s, saved as FITS

Flats: 32×0.2sec, Tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, Bortle 8, poor transparency, haze

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.3 mag/arc-sec^2

Stacking: Mean with a 2-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Nebulosity, Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop

NGC 2841 is a delicate, tightly wound spiral galaxy in western Ursa Major. Like many galaxies, only the core is readily visible from suburban skies, but even that can be quite beautiful. As I relax at the eyepiece and study the field the core takes on a soft glow resembling pearl; the combined radiance of millions of suns.

NGC is currently well placed high in the northeast during the early evening high overhead before midnight.