Markarian’s Chain

In Astrophotography by Matt Shetzer

Markarian’s Chain

Markarian’s Chain is a stretch of galaxies that forms part of the Virgo Cluster. When viewed from Earth, the galaxies lie along a smoothly curved line. Charles Messier first discovered two of the galaxies, M84 and M86, in 1781.

The bright members of the chain are visible through small telescopes. Larger telescopes can be used to view the fainter galaxies. Near the center there appear the pair of interacting galaxies NGC 4438 and NGC 4435, about 50 million light-years away, known to some as Markarian’s Eyes.

 

ObjectMarkarian’s Chain
Link
Wiki Linkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markarian%27s_Chain
HemisphereNorthern
ConstellationVirgo
Other Names contained in image M84, NGC 4374, M86, NGC 4406, NGC 4477, NGC 4473, NGC 4461, NGC 4458, NGC 4438, NGC 4435
Imaging telescopes or lensesTakahashi FSQ -106ED4
Imaging camerasQHY268M
MountsSoftware Bisque Paramount MYT
Focal reducersNone
SoftwareSoftware Bisque The Sky X, N.I.N.A., PHD Lab PHD2, Viking,  PixInsight, Photoshop, Lightroom
FiltersAstrodon LRGB Gen2 E-Series Tru-Balance  36mm unmounted. Chroma Technology Narrowband 3nm Ha, SII, OIII – 36mm Unmounted
AccessoriesMoonlite NightCrawler 35 focuser, Maxdome II, Digital Loggers Pro Switch, Sky Alert Weather Station, Pegagsus Ultimate Powerbox v2, Starlight Xpress filter wheel, Alnitak Flip-Flat
Guiding Telescope or LensesOrion 60mm Guide Scope
Guiding CameraZWO ASI290MM Mini
Imaging Dates4/6/22 and 4/7/22
FramesLuminance: 20×300″  (1.6h)  Gain 25, Photographic Mode, Temp -25C, Bin 1×1
Red: 12×300″ (1.0h) Gain 25, Photographic Mode, Temp -25C, Bin 1×1
Green: 12×300″ (1.0h) Gain 25, Photographic Mode, Temp -25C, Bin 1×1
Blue:11×300″ (0.9h) Gain 25, Photographic Mode, Temp -25C, Bin 1×1
Integration4.6h
Darks50
Flats20 per Filter
Flat Darks40
Bortle Dark-Sky Scale:2
RA center186.95487
DEC center13.20588
Pixel scale3.76
Resolution6280 x 4210
LocationsSirus 3.5m Observatory, Carbondale Colorado
Data sourceBackyard
SeeingAverage
Post Processing TechniquesPixInsight to Photoshop to Lightroom
Markarian’s Chain was last modified: January 23rd, 2023 by Matt Shetzer