M58, 87, 89, and 90 – Galaxies in Virgo

Telescope: ES Comet Hunter MN6 at f/4.8, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: Baader modified Nikon 610

Filter: High Point 2” IR Blocking Filter

Guide scope: Williams Optics 50mm, ASI290MM mini, PHD

Exposure: 31x120sec, ISO 200, saved as RAW

Darks: Internal (Long Exposure Noise Reduction On)

Flats: 32×1/4sec, tee shirt flats taken at dusk

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

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

Stacking: Mean with a 2-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Backyard Nikon, Nebulosity, Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop

This wide field image taken near the center of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster includes M89 near the center of this field, M58 to the lower left, M90 to the upper left, and M87 (Virgo A) to the right. Below M89 is a nice pair of galaxies; NGC 4551 (upper left) and 4550 (lower right).

The Virgo Galaxy Cluster is currently well placed in the evening sky low in the east after sunset and rising high overhead by midnight.