The
May Observing List motivated me to catch M53 for a second time, and M94 for my first time. Just like
last time, I used
α Com just below M53 as an anchor star to help me compose my shot in a way that would let me take multiple photos back to back while keeping the blob in frame.
![M53 messier object M53 messier object](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvGb5PsZgddc7wILIqsan7iHLBDK2ykAs4IDht5oyLiplceyuNPV-iu4Wxx3VBE_vC2hf6zWUJO3SYjDwz-sSmMMJwzaRwdWt-z5AnKZ3hY9P7umoXDUp-bKfa6E8ucC0ODmbtgi5FHc3/s1600/M53+label+crop.jpg) |
1 min 22 sec total exposure, stack of 82 subs, 71 darks, 53 bias at ISO 6400, 1.3 sec, 300mm, f/5.6 | |
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![M53 messier object M53 messier object](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFfBLszfgMp2Uf2drC6sYuZL-IatOi34-PASMtE166bGqi1ge_N7oauMCoghyctlWLjc0Jm9LyZ7-EpARlXqreiTiayyAxS5g0IcUgbcRm2rABb6_ceOJTlA5NpZUA_72GOYjEcY2p8vt9/s1600/M53+300mm+label.jpg) |
Original (uncropped) same as above |
M94 was new to me, but I located it without much trouble. There is a small asterism (6 stars, each around mag 8.5) only 1° from M94 that looks like a kite or a magnifying glass. Composing my shot based on this asterism made it much easier to ensure M94 stayed in frame while taking multiple photos back to back.
![M94 messier object M94 messier object](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjlVXQeSut0lTol2AlZHC3awzaPX533S5ODFiZ7FCmbvsncU7W50AEbJes2fwz_bvirmeb3KcSTZE5CCGO_k4Ewqcd2BP6J7gRIYnk3vGTHeojiSNfNih9Pr6IC1urc3StH_BfiyMG1he/s1600/M94+label+crop.jpg) |
Stack of 195 subs, 71 darks, 53 bias, ISO 6400, 1.3 sec, 300mm, f/5.6 |
The asterism was obvious enough for me to make note of it in my observing notes, which mostly consist of acquisition settings for my DSLR. Whenever I do a bunch of Messier Objects in the same night, I can't always tell them apart until after processing - so I started writing down the order and settings for each one
![asterism near M94 asterism near M94](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT9uRYjKY6195_Ay8GzdQvm_l1zyDNjJoyWtgxH28HSC4lI2-XmUKyLMDyoIKCirA6zkPawUTPRS45W9E4hXzPzD7nyLBVoEHiwU2fiRh4MG82KI_IfIe8o7bVM89FthcuQFVi8pR6Yfmp/s1600/Photo+May+25,+2+30+32+AM.jpg) |
My asterism reminder in my observing notes |
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M94 brings my Messier total to 63 objects!
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