Small Galaxy in Lepus NGC 1784

[PRejto]

This pretty and not often imaged galaxy in Lepus, NGC 1784, has been a challenge from light polluted sky. It is ca 3 arc-min in size and magnitude 11.7. Even with 8.3 hours of luminance and 8.3 hrs RGB the images are too noisy for display at full frame. At 50% it might be just "OK." I'm not sure it is worth any more time given how few clear nights are on offer. I used my TEC180 for luminance and a Trius-c for RGB on my TEC140 as well as FocusLock on both scopes. Luminance exposures were 12 min and RGB a mixture of 15 and 12 minutes.

The best comparison image I could locate is from the Carnegie-Irvine Galaxy Survey:

http://cgs.obs.carnegiescience.edu/CGS/object_html_pages/NGC1784.html

There is an unusual looking object at ca 4:00 o'clock that I believe is a galaxy identified as PGC 958447, magnitude 16.

Thanks for having a look!

Full frame at 50%: http://www.pbase.com/image/162206074

Peter

[Somnium]

very nice image Peter, well done

[strongmanmike]

I know how you feel re the amount of data...comes a time when you have had enough and want to move on to the next object :)..heck the near 17 hrs you have here is almost my record exposure time with the AG12 :)

The galaxy is a cool shape, nice work.

Mike

[Placidus]

A fine photo of a pretty galaxy. Nice gentle colour.

[RickS]

That's a very nice little galaxy, Peter. Haven't seen that one before.

Cheers,
Rick.

[PRejto]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments. I've messed around some more with the background and I think it's a little better. It doesn't seem to matter how much data I collect; the LP and gradient just make things so hard I feel often defeated right from the start of processing. Even when I get rid of the gradient the remaining colour data is horribly noisy and splotchy. Short of creating an artificial background is there something I might try?

Peter

[Shiraz]

very pretty image Peter.

Not sure if the following will be any use, but I find that ACDNR in PI can help to control blotches - use it with a mask to deselect the bright bits and use a large kernel scale with moderate strength. If you have colour splotchiness in the background, have also found that masking to select only background, followed by desaturation can help

[PRejto]

Thanks Ray,

I will give that a try! I have resorted to your 2nd suggestion on this very image in fact. I feel a bit like I'm cheating but really I guess with severe LP one has to do what is necessary to "save" an image. I'm tired of this. I want to move!!!

Peter