NGC 5248 (Caldwell 45)
April 16, 2026
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NGC 5248 is a beautiful galaxy in the Boötes constellation 59 million light years from Earth. This galaxy is very small from our point of view and is at the limit of what I can do with my biggest rig in Santa Fe.
Caldwell 45 is filled with starburst regions where stars form at a much higher rate than usual. Even more unusual is the copious rate of star formation within 3,000 light years of the galaxy’s core. You can get a taste of the starburst regions looking at the pink hydrogen-rich areas in the image. The two spiral arms are extensive, but become very faint as they extend from the galaxy’s main body.
Telescope
Planewave CDK12.5
Finding Chart
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Image Capture
Location:
Deep Sky West
Camera:
Total integration: 50h 32m
Integration per filter:
- Lum/Clear: 7h 30m (150 × 180")
- R: 5h 9m (103 × 180")
- G: 5h 12m (104 × 180")
- B: 5h (100 × 180")
- Hα: 17h 20m (104 × 600")
Coordinates: 13h 37m 5s · +8° 53′ 49″
Moravian C5a-100M
Awards
