A billowing galaxy in Leo

[strongmanmike]

Cobbled together over 6 nights from 19 March to 17 May in varying conditions, this was a challenge to collect and put together....

NGC 3521 is a beautiful colourful and glowing galaxy in Leo that is often overlooked for the more famous Leo Triplet of galaxies. The galaxy has a faint but complex system of billowing outer star clouds and if you look closely, a deep exposure like this also reveals a very faint extended halo arching out to the right and above the galaxy, with shell structure evident and well noticeable in a high contrast stretch. The galaxy seems to have a two tiered spiral structure (like a spring) too...?

NGC 3521 (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/160117658/original)

Faint Extended Halo (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/159584411/original) (High contrast stretch)

Cheers

Mike

[Rod771]

Wow! That galaxy looks like a monster! Definitely looks like its double stacked.

Incredible view, Mike! Great job! :thumbsup:

[Warhen]

Super job Big Mike!

[Stevec35]

Great job on this one Mike. Looks like a R J Gabany galaxy shot.

Steve

[Logieberra]

That's a beauty Mike. I esp like that little galaxy at 9 o'clock - being drawn into the big guy?

[RickS]

Lovely work, Mike! It's a very cool galaxy and you captured and processed it masterfully.

[Placidus]

Twenty years ago we would have had no idea that so much was going on around a galaxy like this. Much turmoil.

Stunning impressive amazing. A shot to come back to many times.

[sjastro]

Very nice Mike.

Steven

[gregbradley]

Nice work Mike. 13.5 hours is a lot of exposure at F3.8.

Greg.

[Paul Haese]

Great detail, good colour and very nicely processed Mike. It has now gone onto my imaging list. Well done.

[DJT]

Nicely done Mike.
Colurs and detail are excellent. :thumbsup:

[Meru]

Wow Mike, looks almost 3D. Great job of post processing too, oodles of information in those subs. Must have had great seeing!

[astroron]

Well done mike,love all those little fellas;) floating around the big guy.
I observed this galaxy only a few days ago,it's good even visually.
Cheers:thumbsup:

[jase]

Well done Mike. Lovely colours. Could do with some more focal length but its a pleasure to see the faint halo that would likely take quadruple the exposure time to extract with a slower scope.

[LewisM]

What, no jet?

Not liking it 'til I see a jet.

:poke:

[Ryderscope]

Nice catch Mike. Agreed that this object is worth more attention.

[marc4darkskies]

A beautiful image of a fascinating galaxy Mike!! :thumbsup: I like your colour saturation as well! :P:lol:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers everybody :thumbsup:

Steve, yeah I just had a squiz at RJ's actually and while his is a little grander (20" scope and all) I see what you mean (nice compliment)...but I notice the features in his billowing star clouds don't really match mine completely :question:....not sure why but I did almost exclusively global adjustments only to my data so I am confident the shapes and structures visible around my version are true and not manipulated, ie they are real.

Logan, I think all the other galaxies in the frame are background ones :question:

Meru, actually the seeing wasn't really that good any night and when it was, it was only for short periods...one of the reasons I would love to live in the Andes :D being image time starved and not automated I tend to need to use my less than optimal data :sadeyes:

Ron, Yeah I had a look at it a few times through the 12" dob while imaging was chugging along...can't say the view was anything like this image though :D

Jase, yeah wouldn't we all...and a better site, and AO and automation etc ;)...but in the end we do what we can with what we have. My image scale is pretty perfect for galaxies at 0.83"/pix so that's as good as a bigger pix camera on a longer focal length scope anyway, so 6 of one really :shrug:

Lewis, (you idiot :rolleyes: :lol:)....those two really faint outer arcs are almost like a jet, ie can't see'em on any other image of this galaxy out there :D

Marcus...come on, you looove saturation, I know I have turned you, I know I have :scared2:....:evil:

Cheers again everyone :thumbsup:

Mike

[Geoff45]

Very nice Mike, but I would prefer a tone down of the red inner regions and a saturation boost to the blue outer ones. Nice job on the halo.
Geoff

[LewisM]

Now the insults. Fine. No jet.. OK... so where is the fluoro pink then? This is a plagiarised image if there is no signature Sidonio Pink.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Geoff, yeah? maybe (I did try several variations of course :computer: :bashcomp:)....ok then, t'is a free and open sky up there sooo hammer it for yourself and show us ;)

Mike

[Geoff45]

It's on my to-do list.

[strongmanmike]

How long is yours?..mine is about 37 items long now :question:...so at my current rate of progress I should have them bagged by the end of the decade :P

Mike

[LewisM]

My list is realistically short... seeing I never get to finish a target, it has to be :)

[DrWho]

Outstanding shot, Mike, with a lot of "stuff" all over the frame.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Time Lord :thumbsup: It is such a cool looking galaxy, I can't believe I waited this long (over 33 years of astrophotography) before imaging it :eyepop::screwy:

Mike

[Phil Hart]

Nice one Mike. A pleasing view.. not one I recognise but galaxies aren't my speciality :D.

Levels and colour balance on this are good.. better than the Corona Australis image.. I agree with other comments about magenta cast not enough black on that one. In this case the background looks good. And yes.. it is saturated ;)

Phil

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Phil it's a great looking galaxy that I am surprised doesn't get imaged more, the outer halo is uber faint though....and yes, I do agree on the Corona image...just haven't been bothered adjusting it yet...but probably will, funnily enough I seem to just like it with the magenta cast :shrug:...I must be crazy :lol:...well I did image it while working on a total of just 12hrs sleep over 4 days AND a sprained ankle :P :thumbsup:

Mike

[astronobob]

Sorry to hear bout he ankle Mike, did mine a while back, must be a Joint thing :rofl:
so you captured this galaxy huh, spose Id better 'cast' my opinion then ey ;)
well, , Man i like this target, check that structure out :atom: freeking magnificent :evil:
Totally Grouse job on the Imaging side of things there too Mike :thumbsup::thumbsup:
Re: Spiral screw type formation ; has me wondering, just wondering, im no expert, but I wonder if at all, millions of years ago whether this system may have had a 'merger' ? possibly formed a double nucleus, which may have, by now, (as in, the light we're seeing now) had before the necleus's joined, but the outer arms will always be kinda separated as they look in the image of yours ? weird trying to explain & Not needs an answer,, but a very captivating Image none the less :cool2:

[Joshua Bunn]

Beautiful rendition Mike, And I do like the colours!

[strongmanmike]

Ooo-k, well after using my trusty Google Bob-Translator :lol:...I recon a merger could well be in the mix here, or maybe a by pass..?

Joint thing...aaah IIII get it (astronomers - very funny people) :help:

Cheers Mate :thumbsup:




Glad to hear it Josh, they are not for everyone :painting:

Mike

[LewisM]

Could you share the Hippy Stroin Translation please Mike :)

OK, besides all my tom-foolery, it IS a delightful image. Really.

[strongmanmike]

Actually, I'm getting better at Bobbish, I can almost read full sentences now :P (we luv ya Bob)



Aaah the'ol Tom foolery, terrible, just terrible, this imaging game is after all such a serious game, heck, our lives depend on it :)

Thanks Lewis :thumbsup:

Mike

[LewisM]

gawd, if life depended on it, I'd be well and truly bankrupt :)

[Jerry_Lodriguss]

That is really sweet!

Jerry

[Leonardo70]

Wonderful Mike ... great image and great galaxy to see.

All the best,
Leo

[marco]

Excellent image Mike :eyepop:!!
Great details, great color and perfect blend of bright core details and faint periphery halos :thumbsup:

Your speedy ota and the small pixels of the camera marry very well in your hands, cardinal Sidonio :)

Ciao
Marco

[Ross G]

A beautiful galaxy photo Mike.

The detail, the colours...excellent!

Sharp and well composed with the bright star above the galaxy.

One of your best!

Ross.

[strongmanmike]

Thank you Jerry



Thanks Leo



Grazie Marco

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen :prey: :lol:



Glad you liked it Ross and yes it is one of my favourite images of mine too :)

Mike

[alpal]

Hi Mike,
excellent picture.
I am amazed at the results you're getting.
I would have decreased the blue saturation but that's all.

cheers
Allan

[strongmanmike]

So, the opposite of what Geoff recons:question:..can't win in this game :help: :lol:

Thanks Al :thumbsup:

Mike

[xelasnave]

Come on Mike own up, you have downloaded this image from NASA..
It is excellent.
I know what's going on it is NASA who is downloading your images.
Well done good work well rewarded.

[alpal]

That's right Mike,
it's all subjective in the end.
What matters is that your data is excellent. :)

cheers
Allan

[Bassnut]

clever processing Mike, the sharpness and saturation make it pop.

[cometcatcher]

That's just fantastic Mike! On my imaging list now too. I'm going to get a shot of it through your finderscope with 30 second subs. :)

[strongmanmike]

Ha ha, I wish....:rolleyes:

Cheers Alex :thumbsup:



I am quite happy with how this turned out Fred, it wasn't an easy one to capture or process, so I'm glad you liked it :)

Mike



Go for it Kevin :thumbsup: and thanks :D

...my finderscope...very funny :)

Mike