SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
Rod Pommier
Location of Photo:
Pommier Observatory, Portland, OR, USA
Date/Time of photo:
2024-03-16 through 2024-03-17
Equipment:
PlaneWave CDK17 with L500 mount, SBIG STL 11000M CCD with Baader Planetarium LRGB filters.
Description:
M63 is a class Sb spiral galaxy. Unlike grand design Sb galaxies with 2 spiral arms, M63 is of the rarer "flocculent" design with arms that cannot be traced. It is this property that suggests its nickname of The Sunflower Galaxy. The sigmoid whisp below the bright star at upper right is irregular galaxy UGCA 342 which may be a satellite analogous to one of our Magellanic clouds. Numerous faint background galaxies are visible, including an edge-on spiral shining through M63's outer halo. Exposures: L:R:G:B = 525:80:80:80 minutes = 12 hours 45 minutes total exposure, completely unguided.
