NGC 5426 and 5427, in Virgo, in a loving embrace. We can see a double star-bridge between the two galaxies, and lots of star formation being triggered in the spiral arms.
North is on the left. The original uncropped image is 37 min arc across and 0.55"/pixel. The thumbnail is a tight crop 9 min arc across.
The larger, more face-on galaxy (2427), left hand side of the image, is about 2.5 min arc across, Mag 11.4, surface brightness 13.
We've tried to use a very light touch with sharpening and contrast, and not go too berzerk with the saturation, but we wanted to bring out the difference in colour of the cores and spiral arms, and colour in the gazillions of background galaxies showing form in the uncropped image.
Luminance 13 hours, RGB 4 hours per channel in 30 min subs. Total exposure 25 hours.
Aspen CG16M on 20" PlaneWave. Processing using GoodLook 64.
Edit: Added additional thumbnails with two levels of wavelet sharpening
Hope you like it too.
Mike and Trish
Last edited by Placidus; 23-06-2017 at 12:30 PM.
Reason: Sharpening
Probably my most favouritist galaxy pair and a good target for your big bad CDK beast. The sharpening looks good and it looks good with a bit of colour too plus the faint connection/bridge and outer extensions came out nicely too guys, like ya work.
Very nice Mike and Trish. Lots of interesting detail right down to the cores. These Arp objects offer nice challenges for imaging and pay well when you nail them.
Geoff
Probably my most favouritist galaxy pair and a good target for your big bad CDK beast. The sharpening looks good and it looks good with a bit of colour too plus the faint connection/bridge and outer extensions came out nicely too guys, like ya work.
Mike
Thanks Mike. We're very chuffed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoff45
Very nice Mike and Trish. Lots of interesting detail right down to the cores. These Arp objects offer nice challenges for imaging and pay well when you nail them.
Geoff
Cheers, Geoff. Hard to nail from only 666 metres above sea level, but seeing wasn't so bad and we think we put a small brad in there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cometcatcher
That's a beauty M&T. Looks like it needs a big scope though. Out of my FL range by the looks.
Thanks Kevin. We think the main thing the big scope did was bring out lots and lots of background galaxies, but it also helped reduce colour noise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by topheart
Well done M+T!!
Great minds think alike....I have been busy gathering photons on this target also in recent weeks!
I hope my version comes out as at almost as good as yours.
Cheers,
Tim
Hi, Tim! Looking forward to seeing the Savannah Skies version very soon.
Nice picture Mike & Trish,
something that only long focal length can attempt to do.
I would have been tempted to try some HDR toning in Photoshop on the small crop.
Certainly an interesting pair! Love the full field. Nice work!
Could you perhaps do some contrast enhancement on the tight crop enlargement to crisp it up a little?
Thanks, Marcus. Yes, there does seem to be room to make the bright main subject a bit crunchier. We'll do that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevec35
Nice deep shot of what is obviously a difficult target M&T
Cheers
Steve
Thanks Steve. We're finding that we enjoy the results of a multi-night deep run. Even a single hour is enough to bring out most of the background galaxies, but another twelve hours more gets rid of the grit and makes them clearer in shape and colour.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alpal
Nice picture Mike & Trish,
something that only long focal length can attempt to do.
I would have been tempted to try some HDR toning in Photoshop on the small crop.
cheers
Allan
Thanks, Allan. Yes, we'll have a crack at making the small crop crisper.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gregbradley
Very nice. A difficult target and the best I can recall seeing of this one.
Boy, I would not like to be living in either one of those galaxies!
Greg.
Cheers, Greg! Life there would need to be resistant to x and gamma rays.
Very nice Mike and Trish. The full-frame makes you appreciate how small these galaxies appear but you've picked up plenty of Ha nonetheless.
Thanks, Pete!
For those who like a crunchier crisp, we've added new thumbnails to the original post (please scroll appropriately), with two levels of wavelet sharpening. Of the three, we think we probably like the middle one best.
For those who like a crunchier crisp, we've added new thumbnails to the original post (please scroll appropriately), with two levels of wavelet sharpening. Of the three, we think we probably like the middle one best.
Cheers,
Mike and Trish
Och Aye Jock, I canni see a lot'e difference...but I tink I agree witch ya, number two
Hi Mike & Trish,
I had a go in Fitswork 4 & used a Photoshop mask as well.
It came out even more crispy but I won't post it
as it would not be good etiquette.
Hi Mike & Trish,
I had a go in Fitswork 4 & used a Photoshop mask as well.
It came out even more crispy but I won't post it
as it would not be good etiquette.
and a good target for your big bad CDK beast. The sharpening looks good and it looks good with a bit of colour too plus the faint connection/bridge and outer extensions came out nicely too guys, like ya work.
Could you perhaps do some contrast enhancement on the tight crop enlargement to crisp it up a little?
