This was just a real quicky, to fill in a little bit of spare time while I waited for my planned target to get into position...but hey, it is a beautiful and nearby galaxy so, well worth imaging every few years I recon (last time I did was 6 years ago). I wasn't interested in going deep on this one this time, just a bit of fun
Anyway, unlike for my recent NGC 55 when conditions were very good, the seeing this time was perhaps only a little above average (I'll take that) but I shot this while NGC 253 was low in the sky, which I wouldn't normally do, but given it was only a time filler I wasn't after a perfect result
NGC 253 (click on the image and pan around with your cursor)
And as usual, for the pixel peepers, you can look at the full size, full resolution image HERE - After having a surf, try shrinking it in your browser to fit it on your screen to take it all in
Couldn't agree more. We keep finding that we go to add a bit more to something we did before, but we've learned so much in the interim that often as not the old data goes in the shredder - moon was up, too windy, bad seeing, bad choice of sub length, low in the sky, scudding cloud, bit of dew, or going back a long way, sometimes the old gear wasn't up to it, collimation or alignment or balance was off, or there was backlash or the focus tube wasn't stiff enough. Tiny bits of all of those things, all adding up. So sometimes we've improved our technique, sometimes we're just lucky.
In this particular case, it's almost heart-breakingly good what you've achieved in a serendipidous fill-in shot.
That's a really nice shot Mike. Love the colors and details. Very natural and not overdone. One for the cool wall
Thanks a lot Marc
Quote:
Originally Posted by Placidus
Couldn't agree more. We keep finding that we go to add a bit more to something we did before, but we've learned so much in the interim that often as not the old data goes in the shredder - moon was up, too windy, bad seeing, bad choice of sub length, low in the sky, scudding cloud, bit of dew, or going back a long way, sometimes the old gear wasn't up to it, collimation or alignment or balance was off, or there was backlash or the focus tube wasn't stiff enough. Tiny bits of all of those things, all adding up. So sometimes we've improved our technique, sometimes we're just lucky.
In this particular case, it's almost heart-breakingly good what you've achieved in a serendipidous fill-in shot.
Bravo!
Thanks guys, well this is a new system compared to the one that captured it (and NGC253-dw2) a few years back, so that's my excuse
Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterSEllis
Hi Mike,
NGC253 has scrubbed up nicely, lots of detail. I have to admit it is one of my favorites, lots to see in there.
Cheers
Peter
I agree Peter, shame it wasn't just tipped a little furether over to our line of sight. To me at least, it has always looked like it may resemble NGC 1365 if viewed face on
Quote:
Originally Posted by speach
that's a 'quick snap shot' hate to see you getting serious
Very very nice image Mike, you make it sound like it's a piece of cake to take great astro images
Thanks Suavi, well, not easy as such but when you have a reliable system like mine, it does feel comfortable, at least the data acquisition is very consistent. My main stumbling block tends to be the weather, if it is clear I regularly have whole nights where I get not one bad sub. If I was automated and had dome motorisation..well, then it would be easy
(last time I did was 6 years ago). I wasn't interested in going deep on this one this time, just a bit of fun 
