Fornax A - How deep can we go? Thanks Scotty!

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Only just saw this one. Wow, what a stunner. Such amazing resolution. Look at that blue ring around the core of the smaller galaxy. Is that all new star formation going on?

Greg.

Originally Posted by multiweb

Impressive details in that bright core. Nicely done.

Thanks men I assume Greg, lots of blue stars? I can't make out any HII but that could just be a resolution issue?..generally speaking we would assume blue stars are likely to be rather cosmically young...unless, like is hypothesised in globular clusters (think Blue Stragglers), they have resulted from the merger of two big old stars...?

Mike

[Bart]

Wow Mike, that is awesome! Love the galaxy structure!

[h0ughy (David)]

What can I say, still trying to comprehend what you gathered but it looks cool

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Bart

Wow Mike, that is awesome! Love the galaxy structure!

Originally Posted by h0ughy

What can I say, still trying to comprehend what you gathered but it looks cool

Thanks guys, it's a rather unique galaxy (dance) huh?...and not imaged that often really either

Mike

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

That's awesome, astonishing, and wonderful Mike. I'm amazed that you could pull all that out in only 14 hours. The F/3.8 helped I guess.



Helps one to visualize the process of interaction between the two galaxies.

Very best,
MBJ

[codemonkey (Lee)]

Awesome job, Mike! Doesn't get any better than that. Wasn't sure on the composition until I saw the enhanced luminance with the faint tidal tail and then it all made sense... I don't remember that tail from when I imaged it. Again, awesome job!

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Placidus

That's awesome, astonishing, and wonderful Mike. I'm amazed that you could pull all that out in only 14 hours. The F/3.8 helped I guess.



Helps one to visualize the process of interaction between the two galaxies.

Very best,
MBJ

Thanks Mikey and Trishy ...certainly a mess has been created

Originally Posted by codemonkey

Awesome job, Mike! Doesn't get any better than that. Wasn't sure on the composition until I saw the enhanced luminance with the faint tidal tail and then it all made sense... I don't remember that tail from when I imaged it. Again, awesome job!

If you can't see that tail-loop in the main colour image, you ain't got yer monitor calibrated properly for brightness/contrast mate , it stands out nicely on both my monitors and the ones at work, particularly if the room isn't too bright

No, there are very few images out there that show this faint tail/loop actually

Mike

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

Definitely stunning in many aspects. Technically very informative and a visual extravaganza

[codemonkey (Lee)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

If you can't see that tail-loop in the main colour image, you ain't got yer monitor calibrated properly for brightness/contrast mate , it stands out nicely on both my monitors and the ones at work, particularly if the room isn't too bright

I'm less convinced of that than you are. I suspect you run your monitors way brighter than I find comfortable. I don't need my monitor frying my retinas every time I look at it.

If I turn my monitor up to its brightest setting, I can see a hint of that tail loop in the "main colour image", I definitely wouldn't say it stands out nicely. My monitor is calibrated with a Spyder.

I think the key is how bright our monitors are. I find it most comfortable when "white" is about as bright as a piece of standard printer paper is under the current lighting conditions; I thus adjust my monitor accordingly throughout the day. You may say I run it too dark. I think I would find yours uncomfortably bright. I have the feeling when you get prints done they probably seem way too dark too.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Ryderscope

Definitely stunning in many aspects. Technically very informative and a visual extravaganza

Thanks a lot Rod , there aren't too many galaxy tangos like this up there, certainly not many as close as 60 Million Lyrs anyway

Originally Posted by codemonkey

I'm less convinced of that than you are. I suspect you run your monitors way brighter than I find comfortable. I don't need my monitor frying my retinas every time I look at it.

If I turn my monitor up to its brightest setting, I can see a hint of that tail loop in the "main colour image", I definitely wouldn't say it stands out nicely. My monitor is calibrated with a Spyder.

I think the key is how bright our monitors are. I find it most comfortable when "white" is about as bright as a piece of standard printer paper is under the current lighting conditions; I thus adjust my monitor accordingly throughout the day. You may say I run it too dark. I think I would find yours uncomfortably bright. I have the feeling when you get prints done they probably seem way too dark too.

He he, easy solution then, when you are looking at one of my images, hey, turn your screen brightness up so you can see it more how I see it ...you can then turn it back down again, call it Mike setting

Mike

[topheart]

Well done Mike!
Very illustrative.... would have been a shame to remove the background thinking it was a gradient in the image!!

Cheers,
Tim

[Retrograde (Pete)]

Amazing image Mike!

Haven't had a chance to look at everything yet but will have a good long on the big monitor when I get home.

[John Hothersall]

Comparison with 2.2m scope shows pretty similar dust contrast although the big scope shows smaller stars as expected - the comparison is a great benchmark to how well you have done - always love these side by side. Enhanced luminance is superb.

John.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by topheart

Well done Mike!
Very illustrative.... would have been a shame to remove the background thinking it was a gradient in the image!!

Cheers,
Tim

Thanks Timbo, ha ha yeah, I am sure plenty have done this before when processing this baby

Mike

Originally Posted by Retrograde

Amazing image Mike!

Haven't had a chance to look at everything yet but will have a good long on the big monitor when I get home.

Cheers Pete and remember to have your screen brightness up and view in a darkened surrounds if possible, the faint outer tidal tails should be more obvious then

Originally Posted by John Hothersall

Comparison with 2.2m scope shows pretty similar dust contrast although the big scope shows smaller stars as expected - the comparison is a great benchmark to how well you have done - always love these side by side. Enhanced luminance is superb.

John.

Thanks John, was happy with the capture overall
How's your big 350 going? Still shooting any deep sky?

Mike

[The_bluester (Paul)]

I can see I am eventually going to have to replace my old SCT (And the camera that is attached to it) I shot the same target with that combo for 11 and a bit hours of 300 second subs (The ASI294 does not reward longer subs than that) and it just lacks that final bit of sharpness.


I can't complain too much having pressed pretty marginally suitable gear in to service, but my image is certainly not a patch on yours!

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by The_bluester

I can see I am eventually going to have to replace my old SCT (And the camera that is attached to it) I shot the same target with that combo for 11 and a bit hours of 300 second subs (The ASI294 does not reward longer subs than that) and it just lacks that final bit of sharpness.


I can't complain too much having pressed pretty marginally suitable gear in to service, but my image is certainly not a patch on yours!

Generally speaking, SCT's seem quite good for lucky imaging for planets but seem to deliver slightly under par for deep sky, with the resolution suffering and the stars tending to look somewhat blobby. Of course, like you have demonstrated, there are still many fine images taken with a SCT, they just never seem quite as crisp as those taken using their RC/Newt brethren

Mike

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Yeah, at the limits it just seems to be a bit soft, I know it was in focus as Voyager really nails focus from what I can see, and lacking a temperature sensor I have it set up to burn a bit of imaging time and do focus runs quite often (The SCT shifts focus dramatically with temperature changes)

I really can't complain, I bought it as a visual scope and that was ten years ago! Maybe time for it to retire back to putting light into squishy eyeballs again and get/make something more suitable.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by The_bluester

Yeah, at the limits it just seems to be a bit soft, I know it was in focus as Voyager really nails focus from what I can see, and lacking a temperature sensor I have it set up to burn a bit of imaging time and do focus runs quite often (The SCT shifts focus dramatically with temperature changes)

I really can't complain, I bought it as a visual scope and that was ten years ago! Maybe time for it to retire back to putting light into squishy eyeballs again and get/make something more suitable.

Just enjoy the process (pardon the pun) the challenge and most importantly the fun this game brings, there are enough imagers whose pursuit of absolute perfection in imaging consumes them to a point of losing touch with what they are actualy doing and that's capturing scenes and portraits of amazing celestial and cosmic intrigue, a half decent image can be very satisfying...it doesn't need to be perfect or a prize winner ...amen

Mike

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Just enjoy the process (pardon the pun) the challenge and most importantly the fun this game brings, there are enough imagers whose pursuit of absolute perfection in imaging consumes them to a point of losing touch with what they are actualy doing and that's capturing scenes and portraits of amazing celestial and cosmic intrigue, a half decent image can be very satisfying...it doesn't need to be perfect or a prize winner ...amen

Mike

Good point Mike. The whole activity is a lot of fun plus it gets you out in the environment looking at the night sky. The environment takes on its own beauty at night. After all we are in Australia where a lot of life only comes out at night.

Greg.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Good point Mike. The whole activity is a lot of fun plus it gets you out in the environment looking at the night sky. The environment takes on its own beauty at night. After all we are in Australia where a lot of life only comes out at night.

Greg.

+ + + + + + + ..?...yeah + more = (of course, be careful, cause all that = )