Bode’s Galaxy M 81 and Cigar Galaxy M 82

Stopped posting shoot by shoot astrophotography pictures quite a while ago and rather than working my way through a full year’s worth of stuff, I’ll just pick up where I started in 2026.

First up this year was Bode’s Galaxy M 81 and Cigar Galaxy M 82. I had back-to-back clear nights early in January, so I shot the two galaxies over two nights and got nearly 17 hours of total exposure time.

249 stacked 120 second subs - 01-11-2026 - 8 hours 18 minutes
260 stacked 120 second subs - 01-12-2026 - 8 hours 40 minutes
509 stacked 120 second subs - total

Total 16 hours 58 minutes

ZWO ASI585MC-Air Gain 200
Askar V w/ 80mm objective lens + reducer 344mm f/4.8
Optolong 2" L-Quad Enhance Filter
ZWO AM5N Mount

PixInsight processing using HLP, SetiAstro and RC Astro tools

This first image is this year’s picture.

Bode’s Galaxy M 81 and Cigar Galaxy M 82 taken with a dedicated astrophotography rig.

I shot the same set in February 2025 using my Canon EOS M6mkII with the Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 A022 lens at 600mm.

30 120 second subs for a total of 60 minutes total exposure.

I don’t have the rest of details readily available.

Bode’s Galaxy M 81 and Cigar Galaxy M 82 taken with a Canon EOS M6mkII with the Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 A022 lens at 600mm.

Quite a step up in capabilities and willingness to leave things out all night long. Extra exposure time and a dedicated, air-cooled camera on a real telescope gets you much more data and my processing has gotten much better.