The Spanish Dancer and her supernova

[strongmanmike]

Named after its resemblance to the flowing dress of a spinning Spanish dancer, I have never imaged this beautiful galaxy in Dorado before... so it was a pleasant bonus and very cool to realise, after I had started this image, that there was in fact a supernova discovered in it on 11 Sept this year and it is still very bright! I thought the two stars very close to the nucleus, as I inspected the early Lum subs, looked too good to be a fluke, so I looked it up and voila! fancy that! :thumbsup:

Although quite crap for the RGB, the seeing was good to excellent for much of the Lum soooo, mini data not withstanding, this has allowed some good detail to be revealed :) (No deconvolution used)

All capture details under the image:

NGC 1566 (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/158387035/original)

Full Frame (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/158387034/original)

The Supernova (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/158387480/original) (only about 9 arc sec from the nucleus)

I'm quite happy with the result and it is now my second galaxy image with a supernova in it :D so I hope you like it too :thumbsup:

Mike

[cometcatcher]

Best image of this galaxy and the supernova I've seen so far. Clear as a bell.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Kevin, cool huh?...just looks like an ordinary Milky Way star...buuut we know otherwise :D

Mike

[Placidus]

Gorgeous galaxy even before the added bonus. And so easy to have burned it out and missed it! Brilliant work, Mike.

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
that's a nice one to add to your collection.
It's great to get a supernova - still shining after such a long time!
I like the rainbow colour - sharp diffraction spikes & there are also many other faint galaxies as well.

cheers
Allan

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

Great work Mike!:thumbsup:

Remarkable to see 1566 at this resolution.

Cheers,

Justin.

[multiweb]

Nice catch. Great shot. Gorgeous colors and details. :thumbsup:

[atalas]

Excellent Mike!

[RickS]

Very attractive image, Mike! The best one of NGC1566 I have seen so far.

[astroron]

Great image Mike :thumbsup:
I was not able to observe the Supernova at it's brightest with the 16" as it is way to close to the nucleus and the 12.5 star close by.
Alex (mentalforastro) was not able to see it in his 18" either.
The bright nucleus overwhelmes it which is a pity.
It is a great galaxy with high power. :D
Cheers:thumbsup:

[graham.hobart]

Ach! one of my fave galaxies. A beautiful shot Mike. Thanks for sharing.
Graz:thumbsup:

[Rod771]

Cool! Lovely detail and colour. Nice work Mike! :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Mikey and yes it is gorgeous huh? :)



Yes, my galaxy collection is growing huh? :)



Glad you like it Justin and I was happy with the details too.



Cheers Marc



On ya Louie :thumbsup:



Thanks Ricki, I think attractive is a good word for this galaxy too



That's surprising actually, the SN is some 9" from the core if I am correct, so you would have thought that pretty easy for an 18"...hmm?..as you say, must be the faintness compared to the bright core huh? :question:



Glad you like it Gaz and I agree it is up there with 1365, M51 and M74 et al in the list of lovely looking galaxies



Thanks Roddles :D

[gregbradley]

Nice dancer Mike. This is one of my favourite galaxies and good to know its around again to add to last years image.

The subtle sweeping arm is particularly nice. I like your stars as well.

Greg.

[AstroJason]

Beautiful image Mike, love the vibrant colours and details you have captured mate.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers boys...I know it will surprise you buuuuut I think I will have a tinker with it when I get home, not sure I am completely happy with the colours :confuse3:looking at it on three different screens at work through the day in three different lighting surrounds, I am umming and R'ing now :scared: .....of course I could just start chasing my tail too :rolleyes: gotta love this processing game :)

Mike

[Bassnut]

Its a cracker Mike, your processing is as always appropriate IMO, striking and poppy, I cant see how you could better it with stuffing around with it.

[astroron]

Mike the core is mag 12.5 the star close by the SN is 13.5 and the Supernova was 14.5,now 15.2 so the chances of observing the Supernova visually were rather slim,needing a 20" IMHO to be certain of an observation.
When it was at it's brightest I couldn't split it with a 3.5 nagler magx522 in my 16" on a good night.
Cheers:thumbsup:

[LewisM]

1566 is one of my absolute favourites Mike - you've done her justice!

Here was my piddly, insignificant effort :P

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=115073&highlight=NGC1566

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Fred and yes you are probably right re reproing...but I'll have a tinker anyway but may not post it :)



Ahhh I see, the two stars just seemed brighter than that but reflecting now it does seem about right what you say :)...seems imaging wins this time round ;)



Glad you like it Lewis and it is probably worthy of anyones top ten galaxies as far as imaging goes, not sure for visual though, I know NGC 1365 is hard to beat in that dept as its two distinct arms can even be seen by some novices through as little as 8" under dark skies :)

Mike

[gregbradley]

[QUOTE=strongmanmike;1137039]Cheers Fred and yes you are probably right re reproing...but I'll have a tinker anyway but may not post it :)


My only very minor nitpick is the central area seems a tad harsh. I know its common to sharpen the central area of galaxies but just a little little bit unnatural there.

Greg.

[Leonardo70]

Great image Mike, congrats...

All the best,
Leo

[marc4darkskies]

BOOM! (pun intended) That's a rippa Mike! :thumbsup:

Cheers, Marcus

[strongmanmike]

[QUOTE=gregbradley;1137061]

Fair enough and I know what you mean Greg, however in this case I guess I went for the detail in there so as to reveal the SN better...of course if I was trying to kowtow to Monseigneur Malin :rolleyes: I would have processed it a little differently ;) :lol: ...although I did try and keep it bright so the galaxy didn't have that hole in the centre look :D



Grazie Leo :thumbsup:



:rofl: :lol: :) :rofl: :lol: :rofl: ;)................:question:....... ...:stupid:

Ole'!

[h0ughy]

great result Mike

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Houghy not quiiiite what a dedicated longer focal length larger apperture ODK, RC or the like could get but for a 12" F3.8 rich field newt, hey, I'm happy enough with it :thumbsup:

Mike

[John K]

Fantastic shot Mike - great resolution.

And one of the reason I am always inspired by the images I am seeing on IIS including your to upgrade from my ageing DSLR set up!

[Stevec35]

Nice one Mike. Beats mine hands down.

Cheers

Steve

[strongmanmike]

Cheers John, yes one can always upgrade but one is seldom totally happy...there's always something better you could have..:question:..unless you are Greg Bradley that is...he has (or has had) the best gear on the planet (although he's trying to sell off one of these masterpieces in the For Sale section) :P



Well not sure about that Steve but I'll take that as a "nice image" comment :lol:

Mike

[andyc]

I think I'll add a 'beats mine hands down' (and hands tied behind back) comment too! You can take that as a 'nice image' :)

[Geoff45]

That's a nice looking galaxy Mike and you've done a great rendition of it. Another one to add to my list.
Geoff

[strongmanmike]

Ahh fankyou very much Andy :D



Cheers Geoff :thumbsup:

[SkyViking]

That's a wonderful image of a wonderful galaxy, Mike. And getting the SN is a nice bonus! Nice one for the collection for sure :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Rolf, I am loving imaging galaxies, so far from my new site I am getting a few nights of reasonable to good seeing so that helps but I am ready to image a nebula again I think...perhaps in narrowband :question: :)

Mike

[Ross G]

Another beautiful galaxy photo Mike.

I love the wide full frame view.

As I get used to the to excellent colours, detail and sharpness of all your photos, I am starting to notice more and more how well composed they are as well.
Sometimes, as in this photo, the excellent composition stands out even more then the technical quality.

Ross.

[strongmanmike]

Thankyou, once again, for your considered (and kind) comments Rossco :)

Mike

[Shiraz]

what a cracker of an image and a beautiful object as well. Lovely to look at.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Ray, have to say it is a beautiful galaxy, now one of my favourites.

Mike