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Imaging M63 During Moonlight

Acquisition Deep Sky M63 Messier Objects Galaxy
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Jerry Gerber avatar
Jerry Gerber avatar
I started imaging M63 last week while the moon was gone.   Clouds rolled in and I had to stop imaging for several nights  and now the moon is at first quarter.   The angular distance between M63 and the  waxing moon is about 54-48 degrees.  

My strategy has been to begin shooting in Ha and then RGB.  As soon as the moon goes below the horizon I start shooting in luminance.   This strategy isn't working now as the moon is growing full and it's setting later each night.   Should I begin shooting the galaxy in SHO or is that going to prove futile?    Or, should I forget the luminance and continue shooting in Ha and RGB?   My scope is 7500 feet in elevation under Bortle 1 skies.  What's the best approach to get more subs other than wait for the moon to disappear?

Thanks for any tips!
Jerry
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andrea tasselli avatar
andrea tasselli avatar
You are imaging (now) in the same conditions that I experience when the going is really good and there is no moon around, but normally is much worse than that. That hasn't stopped me imaging, Moon or no Moon. Luminance or otherwise, it makes no matter. Keep 3 hours away and use filters, Ha and OII in the worst case scenario. Avoid RGB. Luminnace if you fell up to it. Which is exactly what I'm going to do tonight, although on a different subject, if the omnipresent haze keeps away (btw, I image basically at sea level, sea being the North Sea).