Ngc253

[Shiraz]

Hi. getting a bit late for this :P, but have been trying to extract as much detail as possible from varying data, without turning it all into a noisy spider's web. Used the ESO image as a guide to when the detail stopped being real. This is the best I could do with the bulk of the data, but there is some high res stuff that will need more work yet.
http://astrob.in/275078/0/

lum: 129x60s,g100 + 254x20s,g200
r: 97x60s
g: 69x60s
b: 71x90s

One interesting outcome was that a blob that I had previously assumed was small associated galaxy or glob, turns out to actually be a cluster of galaxies according to SIMBAD (presumably far distant) - got enough detail in the hi res data to make out some spots and structure - doesn't look like any galaxy cluster I have seen.
http://astrob.in/271960/0/

thanks for looking. regards Ray

[glend]

Wonderful Ray. How much time have you invested in this image? I did not notice any sub composition details in Astrobin. The histogram seems to indicate it is fairly skinny, great though.

[Shiraz]

thanks Glen. sorry, forgot the exposure details. added to original post :thumbsup: As for the total time invested, including multiple attempts with different ways of processing 600+ subs, maybe 50 hours :lol:

[clive milne]

Ray, the guiding, processing, sharpening, colour balance and composition are near to perfection.
This, is in my humble opinion, getting close to a high water mark - in terms of extracting results from a given matrix of equipment/budget/local conditions, available exposure time, etc. (compression artefacts, not withstanding) Extra exposure will get you in Rolf's domain.

But anyway, pretty much nailed it.

My hope is that you would consider turning your sights on less frequently imaged territory.

Well done.
~c

[Peter Ward]

A delightful result.

Well done :thumbsup:

[RickS]

Sharp detail and tastefully processed. An excellent 253, Ray :thumbsup:

[Camelopardalis]

Fantastic Ray :thumbsup:

[DJT]

Nice image Ray, that's a tasty little CCD.

Interesting faint stuff as well. :thumbsup:

[cometcatcher]

That's a beauty!

[Placidus]

Brilliant! Pin sharp, beautiful colour and contrast.

[Atmos]

Absolutely brilliant Ray! I have been waiting for you to post it :)

I never thought it was a galaxy cluster either, to me it looks like a starburst non-barred spiral galaxy. Learn something new :)

[strongmanmike]

Yep, excellent! Not withstanding some nice wider field shots and several other great narrow field results.....overall, probably the best 253 posted on IIS to my eye :question: maybe even pipping Marcus Davies for the title :eyepop: which is also a purler :thumbsup:...although as far as actual details revealed, a careful blink comparison of the two shows a tight race :)

You demonstrate well that under Aussie skies remarkable results are possible with pretty modest gear, throwing the excuse of "but my gear isn't expensive" well and truly into the cop-out basket...if you understand the fundamentals and have a nack for processing of course ;) and a long focal length is not required, just appropriate image scale.

Mike

[marc4darkskies]

A beautiful result Ray! :thumbsup: Top class resolution for sure!

Cheers, Marcus

[multiweb]

Great image scale and details. Awesome shot. :thumbsup:

[Shiraz]

thanks very much Clive. would be nice to get some more exposure, but there are too many other interesting things out there:).


thanks very much Peter.


thanks a lot Rick!


hi Dunk - thanks very much.


thanks David. yep, the camera works like it should. agree, it is great to see the really deep space stuff coming out of the noise a little bit.


Thanks very much Kevin!


thanks M&T. appreciated.


thanks Colin. It must be a very compact cluster, but I guess that it is one.


thanks very much Mike. well, I have always believed that seeing was the main limitation, provided that the scope is big enough. agree, focal length by itself is unimportant - seeing, aperture and image scale are the important parameters.

I used Marcus' beaut image as one of the benchmarks - if you think that I got anywhere near it that is great.


Hi Marcus, thanks for that!


thanks you Marc - appreciated.

regards Ray

[MmmmBalf]

Wonderful photo. Just amazing.

[gregbradley]

Another stunner. Nicely done Ray.

Greg.