Pinwheel Galaxy, M101
James says: “I captured this in my back garden near Witney, where we have skies that measure 4 on the Bortle scale (a nine-point scale that measures the night sky’s brightness where 1 is the darkest). I’ve always liked the Pinwheel Galaxy, with its nebulous edges and complex core, and was glad to to it justice with one of the largest datasets I’ve gathered on a single target.”
Equipment: ZWO ASI 183MM Pro mono camera, Sky-Watcher Explorer 200P Newtonian reflector, Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro mount
Exposure: 6 hours RGB, 1 hour Ha Software: PixInsight
James’s top tips: “Accurate focus is key for detailed galaxy images, so take your time and refocus regularly as temperatures change. I mostly used five-minute long exposures as a balance between getting a good signal-to-noise ratio, not overexposing the core of the galaxy and avoiding blur due to guiding and mount motion. Experiment to see what works best on your setup. Spend time experimenting with different guide tools and settings – and avoid windy nights if you’re using a large telescope like a Newtonian!”