NGC2903

NGC2903 is a very luminous barred spiral galaxy seen on an oblique angle in the direction of the Constellation Leo approximately 20-22 Million Light-Years distant. It has immense gas and dust clouds all the way to the galaxy core, and large HII regions are forming stars at a high rate. There are many giant globular clusters of young blue stars even near the galaxy core. Star formation is most active within a 2,000 Light-Year area surrounding the core. NGC2903 is similar in size to the Milky Way.

Object: NGC2903
Constellation: Leo
Distance: 20-22 Million Light-Years
Magnitude: 9.0
Date: April 2009
Location: Fort Davis, TX
Exposure Details: LRGB:550:180:180:180 unbinned

Processing: MaxIm DL, CCDStack, Photoshop CS3, RegiStar

Optics: 12.5" RCOS Truss
Focal Length: 2908mm @ f9
Mount: Paramount ME
Camera: STL6303E
Focuser: RCOS
Guiding: Off-Axis SBIG Guide Camera
Filters: Tru-Balance GenII 2" LRGB