Galaxies from Wallaroo

[strongmanmike]

Over the past 2 years at Wallaroo outside Canberra, I've managed to collect deep full colour images of 22 different galaxies or galaxy clusters with the AG12 and while this may just be a drop in the ocean number for supernova hunters, I am quite happy with the achievement - actually includes two supernovae even :)....so I decided to put them all in to one flickr album and thought some of you might like to riffle through them for a looksee :)

Here is the album: Galaxies from Wallaroo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongman/sets/72157649654118762/)

Hard to pick a favourite really... but probably "The Devils Mask (https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongman/9426527942/in/set-72157649654118762)" :question:

Mike

[alpal]

They are all top notch Mike -
but where can you go from here?

Is there a 20" RC with adaptive optics in your astro dreams?

cheers
Allan

[barx1963]

Mike that 1365 in that gallery is astounding.

Malcolm

[strongmanmike]

Ha ha, yeah wouldn't that be nice :D...got a spare $100K :question: :doh:



Thanks Mal, yeah it's one of my favourites too :)

Mike

[cometcatcher]

A wonderful accomplishment Mike. :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Yeah well considering I'm not automated and still had to setup much of my kit early on and was plagued with winds for some 6 months before erecting the dome (the first time) mid last year and was out for 3 or 4 months while building the second observatory this year...I done ok huh? :)

Mike

[Stevec35]

An excellent collection Mike!

Steve

[atalas]

Wow!what a great collection dude....been two years since you moved back to dark skies?damn time flies!

[strongmanmike]

Thanks guys and yes hard to believe it is already (over) two years enjoying this little slice of heaven Louie :eyepop:

Mike

[RobF]

I salute you sir. Some really nice "galaxy awesomeness" there to kickstart the day :thumbsup:

[suma126]

great image.there all excellent :thumbsup:

[marc4darkskies]

A very impressive portfolio & accomplishment Mike - you should be proud!! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[RickS]

A great collection, Mike, especially for an un-automated setup. How many hours is that altogether? About enough for two or three megadata images? :lol:

Cheers,
Rick.

[White Rabbit]

Wow, thats an achievment and a half. Great stuff.

cheers.

[multiweb]

+1 Great collection. Dark skies win. :thumbsup:

[AstroJason]

Mike, a wonderful collection of images there mate, VERY hard to pick a favourite amongst them all! Love Abell 805, the Fornax Cluster, NGC 289, 1365... Just brilliant mate! Keep em' comin!

[rogerg]

Stunning images, you know I could drool over these for ever :lol: Just wish I could get more nice colour shots like this myself ;) I need a second telescope so I can multi-task :)

[strongmanmike]

Thanks so much for all the great responses, it's good to be able to share stuff like this on IIS and have people see it in such a positive light, ahhh, one big happy family :thumbsup:

All started here 12 Oct 2012: Night of first Wallaroo image (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/146652329/original) :P

Thanks again guys :)

Mike
PS I have a nebula on the boil now :D

[gregbradley]

A great collection there Mike. Lots of wonderful images there.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Greg, been an interesting 2 years :)

[Octane]

Beautiful collection, mate.

NGC 1365 is my favourite.

H

[Geoff45]

All great shots Mike. (Otherwise why would you be showing them?) I think I'd go for NGC1512 as my favorite, just because of the good work you've done in revealing the faint outer arms.
Geoff

[strongmanmike]

Hey thanks H, cool to see'em all in one lot :)



Just a bit of fun putting them into one batch :)

Yeah 1512 us quite unusual huh?

Now to get me one of these (http://ast.noao.edu/facilities/future/lsst) probably get a few more galaxies under my belt with this :question:

Mike

[tilbrook@rbe.ne]

That's one eye popping collection of galaxy images!!!:eyepop:
Inspiring Mike.:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Cheers,

Justin.

[Leonardo70]

Wonderful Mike

All the best,
Leo

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
I want a 32" Chilean advanced robotic telescope:

http://www.chart32.de/index.php/recent


cheers
Allan

[strongmanmike]

On Ya Justin :thumbsup:



Grazie Leonardo :thumbsup:



Yeah would be nice, a veeeeery expensive 32" telescope, mount and observatory at one of the best places on Earth for astronomy...buuuut hey, sadly t'will never happen huh? :sadeyes: soooo in the end we need to make the most of what we got and get the best from it in the conditions we are handed and be happy with that :)

Chart 32 are producing some awesome images, I have spent plenty of time ogling at the astronomical vistas consistent sub arc sec seeing allows a 32" scope to reveal.

Mike

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
nothing can beat the thrill of taking your own pictures
with whatever equipment you can afford.
The amateur pictures are getting better as the envelope is pushed.

cheers
Allan

[strongmanmike]

Totally agree Al, as you know I have been imaging the heavens since 1982 and I could never in my wildest dreams, even as little as 10 years ago, imagine I could ever capture THIS (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/158285996/original) for myself with just a 12" scope (let alone at F3.8) :)

In fact until relatively recent years the idea of taking 6hrs worth of exposure (let alone the 20, 30 or indeed 120 Rolf hrs taken these days :eyepop: ) as in the above image would have sounded like pure science fiction

Mike

[h0ughy]

nice little assortment Mike - I hope to see you get a lot more photons just like these

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Houghy, plenty more photons on their way I'd say ;)

Mike

[Ross G]

What a great collection of excellent photos Mike.

Looking forward to the book!

Ross.

[strongmanmike]

Hmmm? a book, yeah maybe...maybe....?

Cheers Rossco :thumbsup:

Mike

[Shiraz]

Thanks for putting them all together in one Place Mike. An outstanding collection of uniformly high quality.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Ray, I imagine you would have a similar stash yourself by now too :thumbsup:

Mike

[stevous67]

Hello Mike,

Just had to write to say this is without doubt one of the net's best collections of galaxies [and I am soooo jealous of your location :thumbsup::lol:].

A testament of one's commitment and passion [I am soooo jealous!].

Steve

[strongmanmike]

Hmmm thanks Seve...I'm not sure but sounds like you are jealous mate :shrug: :lol:...nah seriously, although I know there is some effort involved (been there done that for bloody ages myself!), you seem to make do quite nicely with what you have been dished up ;) :thumbsup:

Merry Christmas dude :)

Mike