All Wound Up - Polar Ring Galaxy 2685

[Ken Crawford]

I hope everyone here is doing well . . .

It has Been a long time since I had a processing run. I have long been interested in this galaxy with it's amazing rings of stars, gas, and dust that wind around the core creating a unique view of a Polar Ring galaxy.

Processing choices were to dig out as much detail as possible of the loops and ring structure. It has been years since I messed with PI so I thought this image would be a good one to mix it up with PS CC.

Don't forget the full screen button while click to zoom and pan around the details.

Thanks for taking the time to look . . .

http://www.imagingdeepsky.com/Galaxies/NGC2685/NGC2685.htm

Kindest Regards,

Ken Crawford

[nandopg]

Ken,
This image is purely a state of the art of this object imaged from Earth. There is no words to express the feeling to hover over the galaxy and the surrounding deep sky, full of dim galaxies. The physics behind this merging is something very serious to be faced.
Wow... I have already seen this same object imaged by you but without all of the detail you have captured in this current one. Then, if you don't mind, I have the following questions:
1- Your capture of luminance accounts for 880 minutes total. How long time for each individual sub frame?
2- Did PixInsight actually help more in which phase: pre or post processing ?
Please feel free if you don't want to answer the second question.
Best Regards,
Fernando

[strongmanmike]

Great result Ken! Some serious exposure time there too, what a crazy (but cool) galaxy :thumbsup:...we do live in a strange Universe huh? :screwy:

Mike

[allan gould]

What a weird galaxy! It looks like a lozenge that's been rolled around on it's axis. Thanks for posting Ken and as usual, great processing.
Allan

[rally]

Ken,

Definitely a great Galaxy and beautiful image
Arp sure knew how to find em - but I bet he would have wished to have had you and your gear at his disposal !

I look forward to the animation !!! (ie the rotating tubular shell of galactic debris). Someone will do it one day and I reckon your image will be a reference point for one of the starting frames.

Cheers

Rally

[Ken Crawford]

Thanks for the kind words - I have always enjoyed this group very much!

Answer to the questions:

(1) 20 minute sub frames (44 total)
(2) All of my calibrations are done in CCDstack (I like very much to see what is being rejected) and most of the finish work is done is PS CC. This is the first image in many years that I tried PI and I used it to scale color and to mess with the contrast. There is a swath of IFN in the image that I used DBE on to help remove as I did not want it to distract.

Kindest Regards,

[Ken Crawford]

You are spot on Mike!! As for the exposure time you have to love automated imaging - I can't stay up anymore! I am always sleeping my 11:00 pm :shrug:

[astroron]

Thanks Ken ,Beautiful and interesting :thumbsup:image as usual.
Cheers

[alpal]

Hi Ken,
what a great image.
It's such an unusual galaxy & you have presented an almost 3D look.

cheers
Allan

[gregbradley]

A stunning image Ken. What a great find. I have never seen or heard of this one before. I take it that its extremely faint?

A beauty.

Greg.

[atalas]

Awesome galaxy!

[Shiraz]

wonderful image of a fascinating object Ken - thanks.

[pvelez]

That is super - simply stunning

Pete

[seeker372011]

:bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:

Woo what a spectacular object.

[rogerg]

Wow, check that out! Geepers. :thumbsup: