NGC1097 and the elusive 4th jet

RickS (Rick) · #1 27-11-2013, 08:00 PM

Here is NGC 1097, a nice barred spiral galaxy in Fornax, recently imaged beautifully by Mike Sidonio and Martin Pugh. I was about to post my original version when Mike posted his. I decided I needed to have something special to add, so I managed to get another night of data with some long luminance frames and I believe I have managed to show the elusive 4th jet, at least in a heavily stretched inverted image. Mike's inverted image also shows traces of this jet, but I reckon it's much easier to see in his after looking at mine

This is a LRGB image taken at Leyburn, 4/5 October and Glen Aplin 1 November, 2013.

Scope: Ceravolo C300 @ f/9 = 2760mm FL, Atlas focuser
Mount: AP900
Camera: U16M
Filters: Astrodon E series Gen 2 LRGB
Guiding: Lodestar / MMOAG
Image scale: 0.67 arcsec/pixel
Exposures: 41x900s + 1x1800s + 10x1200s Lum, 11x900s R, 11x900s G, 11x900s B (total: 22.3 hrs)
Image capture: ACP, MaximDL
Processing: PixInsight

NGC 1097 aka Arp 77, is a very weird galaxy. It contains a small elliptical galaxy, NGC 1097A, which is in the process of merging with 1097. It also has four faint jets in an "X" pattern which are the largest visible jets of any known galaxy. According to the research papers, these jets are made of stars and are probably the remnants of a dwarf galaxy which has been torn to pieces. One of the brightest jets, R1, has a strange right-angle at the end of it which is called the "dogleg."

NGC 1097 is also a Seyfert galaxy with a supermassive black hole at its center surrounded by a ring of active star-forming regions. It is a strong radio source and bright in the far infrared indicating the presence of warm dust.

R4, the dimmest jet, has a surface brightness of 27.6 mag/arcsec^2. That's really, really, dim.

Hope you enjoy the images and constructive criticism is always appreciated.

Higher res images...
NGC1097: http://www.astrobin.com/65880/
Inverted image with jets: http://www.astrobin.com/65881/

Cheers,
Rick.

Rod771 (Rod) · #2 27-11-2013, 08:08 PM

Top shelf Rick!

Even all the little fuzzies in the background are prominent.

Well done.

Larryp (Laurie) · #3 27-11-2013, 08:10 PM

Lovely image!

Shiraz (Ray) · #4 27-11-2013, 08:13 PM

Wow, what a wonderful image Rick - really excellent detail and colour. really nailed that one. regards Ray

RickS (Rick) · #5 27-11-2013, 08:13 PM

Thanks, Rod!

I just noticed that I meant to post the Astrobin image, which is full res, instead of the Smugmug one. It is here: http://www.astrobin.com/65880/

Cheers,
Rick.

RickS (Rick) · #6 27-11-2013, 08:14 PM

Thanks, Laurie & Ray!

Ray: I could have done it quicker with an ICX-694 and my scope at f/4.9 but I got there in the end

Rod771 (Rod) · #7 27-11-2013, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickS

Thanks, Rod!

I just noticed that I meant to post the Astrobin image, which is full res, instead of the Smugmug one. It is here: http://www.astrobin.com/65880/

Cheers,
Rick.

Liked on Astrobin, lets see if you can get "image of the day" ....

Looks great!

Peter Ward · #8 27-11-2013, 08:22 PM

Good to see the Ceravolo is capable of producing such excellent results. I think the F9
has produced more details than previously posted efforts.

Wow. Very impressive.

Shiraz (Ray) · #9 27-11-2013, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickS

Thanks, Laurie & Ray!

Ray: I could have done it quicker with an ICX-694 and my scope at f/4.9 but I got there in the end

I wouldn't think about changing anything at all if you can get images like that

strongmanmike (Michael) · #10 27-11-2013, 09:45 PM

As already discussed Rick, great job

.. and nicely presented, there can be no dispute now about the 4th jet

..now please image NGC 1232 and prove that I have cloths on (or not). I am glad I spurred you on too

getting the extra data was certainly worthwhile

Mike

ozstronomer (Geoff) · #11 27-11-2013, 09:51 PM

Great Image Rick, the extra data really adds to the image

RickS (Rick) · #12 27-11-2013, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rod771

Liked on Astrobin, lets see if you can get "image of the day" ....

Looks great!

Thanks very much for that, Rod!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Good to see the Ceravolo is capable of producing such excellent results. I think the F9
has produced more details than previously posted efforts.

Wow. Very impressive.

Thanks, Peter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiraz

I wouldn't think about changing anything at all if you can get images like that

There's always room for improvement, Ray

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

As already discussed Rick, great job

.. and nicely presented, there can be no dispute now about the 4th jet

..now please image NGC 1232 and prove that I have cloths on (or not). I am glad I spurred you on too

getting the extra data was certainly worthwhile

Mike

Thanks, Mike. Happy to have a go at NCG 1232 if we get some good weather this summer

John Hothersall · #13 27-11-2013, 10:02 PM

The core is stunning and that bright star with the colourful diff spikes is amusing. The galaxy jets and background galaxies are great details. All in all a wonderful result.

John.

alpal · #14 27-11-2013, 10:29 PM

That's a great image - as good as the many APODs of this galaxy
which show the jets..

ChrisM · #15 27-11-2013, 11:31 PM

Great image Rick. Those jets that you have captured are amazing.
I dream of getting 30 minutes of data, let alone 22 hours!
Chris

RobF (Rob) · #16 27-11-2013, 11:47 PM

Glad to see you've finally hatched this one Rick, and wonderful work for all the hard work I know you've put into it. How many photons per minute did you say that 4th jet was putting out??

RickS (Rick) · #17 27-11-2013, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Hothersall

The core is stunning and that bright star with the colourful diff spikes is amusing. The galaxy jets and background galaxies are great details. All in all a wonderful result.

John.

Thanks, John. I didn't notice colour in my diffraction spikes before the Ceravolo. Hubble does that too so I'm in good company

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpal

That's a great image - as good as the many APODs of this galaxy
which show the jets..

Thanks, Allan.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisM

Great image Rick. Those jets that you have captured are amazing.
I dream of getting 30 minutes of data, let alone 22 hours!
Chris

Ta, Chris. We had some decent weather over winter which was conducive to longer projects. Doesn't look so great now, though

RickS (Rick) · #18 28-11-2013, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobF

Glad to see you've finally hatched this one Rick, and wonderful work for all the hard work I know you've put into it. How many photons per minute did you say that 4th jet was putting out??

Thanks, Rob. Between work trips away and dying SSDs and HDDs it took me a while. I have another couple of images still to finish. Better get cracking!

I was only getting a couple of electrons per pixel in a 20 minute exposure from jet 4. Pretty amazing that you can pick that up at all. It certainly wouldn't be possible without overscan calibration and long exposures.

Cheers,
Rick.

gregbradley · #19 28-11-2013, 09:27 AM

A beautiful image Rick.

That's very nicely done and lots of exposure has really brought it out.

Top work. You are very patient which is a good virtue for an astrophotographer.

Greg.

RickS (Rick) · #20 28-11-2013, 12:14 PM

Thanks very much, Greg. I don't feel that patient