Ngc 2997

[DiscoDuck]

An attempt at NGC 2997 from a dark sky site (in the Flinders ranges in South Australia).

21 x 20 minutes with QHY8 and RC8 on an EQ6 grabbed in patches over 3 nights. Had to battle cloud and wind for most of that and most subs were not great, but stacking more of them, even the poorer ones, helped to get the noise down. Add to that one or two other problems (one of my idiotic own making – having my CCD cooler voltage set on low on a night when it was still over 32 degrees at midnight!!) and I’m pleased to have got anything!

Higher res (though don't look too close!) on Astrobin (http://www.astrobin.com/290257/).

Comments welcome.

Regards,
Paul

[strongmanmike]

Excellent image of this galaxy Paul, love the orientation too and the overall processing is really good...dare I say, it's rather Ray-Shiraz-esque! :eyepop:

Looks like the conditions at your site might have been pretty good? :thumbsup:

Mike

[Bart]

Top stuff Mr Duck! Looks like you had a bit of a struggle to get any data at all and that makes it all sweeter! :thumbsup:

[RickS]

Looks great, Paul. Not perfect up close but still a fine job!

[gregbradley]

A very nice image of one of my favourite galaxies. I like the processing of your image as well.

Greg.

[Stevec35]

Very pleasing image of this galaxy. It's not a particularly easy one and you have done quite well.

Cheers

Steve

[clive milne]

It needs way more blue in the mid tones Paul... otherwise, creditable.

[alpal]

Hi Paul,
that's a cute galaxy there.
I'd like to image it one day.

cheers
Allan

[Placidus]

Really good stuff. Sharp and just the right amount of contrast.

With the degree of sharpness you've achieved, you should be able to resolve the very core into four separate blobs, which are special for NGC 2997. These are just barely hinted at in your image. You might be able to see them in a less stretched version. If so, you could mask them in.

Lovely work!

[DiscoDuck]

Thanks Mike. Flattered to be even mentioned in the same breath as Ray.



Well, when the clouds weren't there and in between gusts of wind, it was quite good. And very dark - nice to be in a place where the clouds are just black patches!



Thanks Master Simpson. Indeed. Was dreading what might emerge! :)



Thanks Rick.



Thanks Greg.



Thanks Steve. Yes, it seemed quite faint when I took a few subs in light-polluted Adelaide a week earlier.



Thanks Clive. Will try to see if I can tweak that.



Thanks Allan.



Thanks Mike n Trish.

Wow. Just looked at the unstretched image and I see what you mean about the four blobs. I'll see what I can do with it. :thanx:

EDIT: added new revision to Astrobin (http://www.astrobin.com/290257/B/).