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Astrophoto of the month
June 2023
Our astrophoto of the month is that this stunning image of the brand new supernova SN 2023ixf within the Pinwheel Galaxy, also referred to as Messier 101 (M101), captured by astrophotographer R. Mark Lilienthal from Constance Bay, Ontario, Canada.
SN 2023ixf has been making headlines because it first burst into view on May 19, 2023, when supernova hunter Koichi Itagaki from Yamagata, Japan spotted a brand new shiny spot within the Pinwheel Galaxy. The supernova was confirmed the next day by the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) in California.
Equipment used:
— Sky-Watcher Equinox 80 Pro on iOptron CEM26 with ZWO ASIAir
— ZWO ASI533MC Pro (gain 100)
— Total of 75 x 60-sec lights, 10 darks
— Stacked and processed with AstroPixelProcessor
Lilienthal began astrophotography almost two years ago and in that point has upgraded his equipment and learned stacking and processing, using AstroPixelProcessor because the principal workhorse.
“This past Christmas, I acquired a previously enjoyed Sky-Watcher Equinox 80ED Pro refractor but took one other couple of months to purchase the iOptron CEM26 mount,” Lilienthal told Space.com in an email.
It took several attempts to get the proper setup that produced the stunning image of the M101 supernova.
“Frustration with finding a sublime solution to drive all of this led me finally to accumulate a previously enjoyed ZWO ASI533mc Pro camera, after which I went the last mile and acquired a ZWO ASIAir to drive all the things (and a ZWO ASI120mm guide camera). After all, through most of this time, our weather here had been lower than ideal for astrophotography!”
Lilienthal’s “sunrise” image with this recent setup was of M101 on May 14.
“Every part worked well…although I did only get about 45 minutes price of subs. I used to be still quite proud — round, sharp stars and good detail within the galaxy’s arms,” Lilienthal wrote.
But as everyone who dabbles in astrophotography knows, things aren’t at all times straightforward.
“With 22 May promising to be the subsequent clear night, I used to be looking forward to getting one other hour’s price or more of subs so as to add to the previous,” Lilienthal wrote.
“I even resolved the meridian cross which had stopped me on the 14th. After all, that wasn’t to be. By May 22, SN2023ixf was shining in all its glory, the results of which I’ve shared.”
“Suffice it to say that I used to be extremely pleased with the result.”