Into the Heart of the Virgo Cluster: M86 and Friends
🌀 Into the Heart of the Virgo Cluster: M86 and Friends 📍 Target: M86 Region, Virgo Cluster 🌌 Constellation: Virgo 🔭 Imaged by: Dan Harabagiu 🖼️ The Image Annotated View Natural View 🔭 Equipment Used Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ5 Pro Telescope: TS-Optics 80PHQ (80mm f/6.8 Quintuplet APO, 544mm focal length) Camera: SVBONY SV605MC (IMX533 Mono, 3008×3008) Filter Wheel: Starlight Xpress Mini USB (5× 1.25", T2-T2) Filters: L, R, G, B Guide Scope: None – using OAG Guide Camera: veLOX 178 C (Color) Focuser: Motorized Autofocuser Software: NINA for acquisition, PHD2 for guiding, PixInsight + Photoshop for processing 📸 Acquisition Details Luminance: 40 × 180s @ gain 200 Red, Green, Blue: 20 × 180s each @ gain 200 Total Integration Time: ~5h 🌌 The Scene This deep-sky photo captures one of the most galaxy-rich regions visible from Earth — the Virgo Cluster. Dominated by elliptical galaxy M86 near the center, this field of view contains dozens of galaxies, including many members catalogued by Messier, NGC, and IC. ...