NGC4038/39 Spiral Pair

[Robby]

Saw this interesting object at SPSP, and was known as the Antennae Galaxy to those that viewed it. Made a mental note to image it one day. Also known as the ring-tail and comma galaxy.

Found out that it is actually an interacting spiral pair. And at ~60 million light years distant, now takes the record for my most distant object imaged! Mag is ~10.7.

Taken from my light polluted back yard.
6x4mins shots with 300D. Webcam guided using ST80 & K3CCDTools. Star-mate for guide interface & exposure control.
C8 @ f/10. I had guiding errors as I was only guiding at f/5.

[rowena]

nice pic robby!

what ISO were you using on the 300D?

[stringscope]

Great image Robby.

I was privileged to spend some time looking at this pair on a night of excellent seeing in February using a 20" dob complete with a set of Naglers. It was a facinating sight with significant mottling and detail similar but not quite up to your image, and without the colour. This detail was visible using direct vision ....... remarkable. Using averted vision there was also a hint of one of the "tails".

Your image above looks like you might just have picked up both tails. Are they clearer on the original image?

[Robby]

ISO1600. Also did dark frame subtraction to reduce noise.
Cheers

[Robby]

Ian,
The originals don't show up anymore of the tails unfortunately. This is basically due to the high light pollution I have here. Should really image out of town.
I'll definately have another go at this object next time I'm at a dark site. Should be able to get the tail detail then. Watch this space!
Cheers

[Mick]

That’s an amazing image Robby, jump in The Time Machine 60 million light years and counting.

[Robby]

It's hard to fathom that the light entering the 300D chip began it's life some 60,000,000 years ago! Basically at the same time the Dinosaurs became extinct. Simply staggering.
Also consider that this galaxiy is travelling away from us at a rate greater the 1,000km/sec! No wonder it's had to track!...!:D
Cheers

[ballaratdragons]

Wow Robby, That is amazing. And I was getting excited about finding a tiny Globular tonight. Yours takes the cake. Well done!

[iceman]

Really nice shot Robby! But you know it goes in the DeepSpace forum! :)

The views of this galaxy through the eyepiece at the SPSP in my 10" were good, but nothing like this picture. More aperture is needed, clearly :)

[Robby]

Where did I put it Mike? It was late, so sorry! :(
Cheers

[seeker372011]

Nice shot of a challenging object.
well done!

[Robby]

Thanks Seeker.
I'm seriously thinking about going bush tonight and getting some inky black skies and try an pull out more detail from the tail. The challenge has got me....
Will keep you posted!
Cheers

[atalas]

Hay wait a minute ! you reprocessed an image of two prawns and tried to trick us ! shame on you Robby !:rofl:

Louie :thumbsup:

[westsky]

Nice Robby , you have just given me another target for this weekend :-))
How about you try M57 or M27 if you can get them from your location, it would be interesting to see an image of these with the 300D

David

[ving]

nice one!@
I was hunting for it last night and didnt find it :(

[Robby]

Ving,
I couldn't find it visually either in the 8" SCT. I knew I was in the right spot from the stars, and I think I could just make it out with averted vision, but I may have been fooling myself as well..!
I reckon astrophotography turns my 8" into a 25". That's after vieiwing through the 25" at SPSP. I reckon the views were similar to my photos bar the colour.
Cheers

[Robby]

Hi David. They don't rise till about 3am.. Maybe I'm too old, but I'm normally tucked up by then. Good targets for mid winter! I keen then in mind. I do need to get a decent dumbbell image.
Cheers

[westsky]

Ah- comon Robby, on the weekends if the sky is clear and the moon is gone I don't go to bed till around 4am, plenty of time to get them shots :-))

David.

[Rodstar]

Nice shot Robby. With averted vision (or is that imagination?) it looks like a pair of spectacles!

Putting aside the imaging, how does it look through your scope as a visial object?

Rodstar

[Robby]

Roddy,
Can barely see it thru the scope visually. Needed averted vision & I still wasn't sure my mind wasn't playing tricks on me. Probably would have been easier to see with better dark adaption. That's one thing with Astrophotography, your eyes never really get dark adapted.
Cheers

[Rodstar]

Robby, I'll try it out on Saturday night at Kulnura and report back on what I saw.

Roddy Rodstar