🔭 May Imaging Plan — Switzerland (46°N)

Optimized for your 400 mm, 700 mm, 1000 mm, 2000 mm rigs (APS‑C, color + narrowband)

🌄 400 mm f/5 — Widefield Virgo & Coma Galaxy Fields

APS‑C FOV ≈ 3.2° × 2.1°

🎯 Best May Target: Virgo + Coma Galaxy Fields (widefield)

Why this target fits 400 mm May is peak visibility for the Virgo Cluster. At 400 mm you capture dozens of galaxies in one frame — a true galaxy safari.

Filters

• RGB only — galaxies don’t benefit from narrowband.

Exposure strategy

• 120–180 s RGB

• 6–10 h total integration

Expected result A rich galaxy field showing the large‑scale structure of the Virgo–Coma region.

Secondary May target: M63 (Sunflower Galaxy) widefield

🌌 700 mm f/7 — M63, M94, Whale & Hockey Stick

APS‑C FOV ≈ 1.8° × 1.2°

🎯 Best May Target: Sunflower Galaxy (M63)

Why this target fits 700 mm M63 fills the frame nicely at 700 mm, revealing its flocculent spiral structure.

Filters

• RGB main

• Optional Hα for faint emission regions

Exposure strategy

• 180–240 s RGB

• 8–12 h total integration

Expected result A detailed spiral galaxy with textured arms and a bright core.

Secondary May targets:

• M94 (Croc’s Eye Galaxy)

• Whale + Hockey Stick pair (NGC 4631 + NGC 4656)

🌠 1000 mm f/4 — Whale & Hockey Stick Close‑up

APS‑C FOV ≈ 1.2° × 0.8°

🎯 Best May Target: Whale Galaxy (NGC 4631)

Why this target fits 1000 mm The Whale Galaxy is large and detailed — 1000 mm resolves its dust lanes and warped structure beautifully.

Filters

• RGB main

• Optional Hα for faint emission

Exposure strategy

• 180–240 s RGB

• 8–12 h total integration

Expected result A crisp, high‑contrast edge‑on galaxy with visible warping and dust structure.

Secondary May target: Hockey Stick Galaxy (NGC 4656)

🌑 2000 mm f/10 — Compact Galaxies in Canes Venatici

APS‑C FOV ≈ 0.6° × 0.4°

🎯 Best May Target: Compact galaxies in Canes Venatici (NGC 4449, NGC 4244)

Why this target fits 2000 mm May offers many small, bright galaxies that benefit from long focal length to resolve internal structure.

Filters

• RGB main

• Optional Hα for star‑forming regions

Exposure strategy

• 300–600 s RGB

• 10–15 h total integration

Expected result High‑detail dwarf or edge‑on galaxies with visible star‑forming knots and dust lanes.

Secondary May target: Virgo compact galaxies (NGC 4216 companions)

⭐ Your May Master Plan (Summary)