Dame Edna's Glasses - crunchier

[Placidus]

NGC 5426 and 5427, in Virgo, in a loving embrace. We can see a double star-bridge between the two galaxies, and lots of star formation being triggered in the spiral arms.

North is on the left. The original uncropped image (https://photos.smugmug.com/Category/Astrophotography-at-Placidus/i-VZrfcnD/0/9e6be6b9/O/Virgo%20Colliding%20Pair%20NGC%2054 26%20NGC%205427%20L%2013%20RGB%204% 20each.jpg) is 37 min arc across and 0.55"/pixel. The thumbnail is a tight crop 9 min arc across.

The larger, more face-on galaxy (2427), left hand side of the image, is about 2.5 min arc across, Mag 11.4, surface brightness 13.

We've tried to use a very light touch with sharpening and contrast, and not go too berzerk with the saturation, but we wanted to bring out the difference in colour of the cores and spiral arms, and colour in the gazillions of background galaxies showing form in the uncropped image.

Luminance 13 hours, RGB 4 hours per channel in 30 min subs. Total exposure 25 hours.

Aspen CG16M on 20" PlaneWave. Processing using GoodLook 64.

Edit: Added additional thumbnails with two levels of wavelet sharpening

Hope you like it too.

Mike and Trish

[strongmanmike]

Well helloooo Possums!...that's just lovely :thumbsup:

Probably my most favouritist galaxy pair :love: and a good target for your big bad CDK beast. The sharpening looks good and it looks good with a bit of colour too plus the faint connection/bridge and outer extensions came out nicely too guys, like ya work.

Mike

[Geoff45]

Very nice Mike and Trish. Lots of interesting detail right down to the cores. These Arp objects offer nice challenges for imaging and pay well when you nail them.
Geoff

[cometcatcher]

That's a beauty M&T. Looks like it needs a big scope though. Out of my FL range by the looks.

[topheart]

Well done M+T!!
Great minds think alike....I have been busy gathering photons on this target also in recent weeks!

I hope my version comes out as at almost as good as yours.

Cheers,
Tim

[Placidus]

Thanks Mike. We're very chuffed.



Cheers, Geoff. Hard to nail from only 666 metres above sea level, but seeing wasn't so bad and we think we put a small brad in there.



Thanks Kevin. We think the main thing the big scope did was bring out lots and lots of background galaxies, but it also helped reduce colour noise.



Hi, Tim! Looking forward to seeing the Savannah Skies version very soon.

Best,
Mike and Trish

[marc4darkskies]

Certainly an interesting pair! Love the full field. Nice work! :thumbsup:

:confuse3: Could you perhaps do some contrast enhancement on the tight crop enlargement to crisp it up a little?

[Stevec35]

Nice deep shot of what is obviously a difficult target M&T

Cheers

Steve

[alpal]

Nice picture Mike & Trish,
something that only long focal length can attempt to do.
I would have been tempted to try some HDR toning in Photoshop on the small crop.

cheers
Allan

[gregbradley]

Very nice. A difficult target and the best I can recall seeing of this one.

Boy, I would not like to be living in either one of those galaxies!

Greg.

[Placidus]

Thanks, Marcus. Yes, there does seem to be room to make the bright main subject a bit crunchier. We'll do that.



Thanks Steve. We're finding that we enjoy the results of a multi-night deep run. Even a single hour is enough to bring out most of the background galaxies, but another twelve hours more gets rid of the grit and makes them clearer in shape and colour.



Thanks, Allan. Yes, we'll have a crack at making the small crop crisper.



Cheers, Greg! Life there would need to be resistant to x and gamma rays.

[Retrograde]

Very nice Mike and Trish. The full-frame makes you appreciate how small these galaxies appear but you've picked up plenty of Ha nonetheless.

[Placidus]

Thanks, Pete!

For those who like a crunchier crisp, we've added new thumbnails to the original post (please scroll appropriately), with two levels of wavelet sharpening. Of the three, we think we probably like the middle one best.

Cheers,
Mike and Trish

[strongmanmike]

Och Aye Jock, I canni see a lot'e difference...but I tink I agree witch ya, number two :thumbsup:

[LucasB]

Absolutely Superb. Love it.:thumbsup:
Lucas

[Martin Pugh]

Liking number 3 - adds enough colour contrast to add definition to the galaxies.

Nice job.

Clear skies
Martin

[Placidus]

Thanks Mike. We'll get the hang of this sharpening business yet.



Cheers, Lucas!



Thanks Martin. That's actually very helpful.

Best,
Mike and Trish

[alpal]

Hi Mike & Trish,
I had a go in Fitswork 4 & used a Photoshop mask as well.
It came out even more crispy but I won't post it
as it would not be good etiquette.

cheers
Allan

[Placidus]

You are a good and gentle knight.

[alpal]

Thanks ,
& a knight cannot lie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tch1CuMV9M

[Paul Haese]

Cool star bridge Mike. Nice colour and epic field of background galaxies.

[SimmoW]

I'd pick bonumber two. Lovely pair this

[Placidus]

We'll have to chase up Excalibur, Allan.



Ta, Paul. Brings to mind two paramecia exchanging DNA.



Thanks Simmo.

[RickS]

Nice work on those wee beasties, M&T. It's a fascinating pair. #2 for me.

[Placidus]

Thanks, Rick.

That was a fun new moon.

[Slawomir]

I think gentle processing worked extremely well for this image. A beautifully crafted gem, or spectacles I should say :thumbsup:

[Placidus]

Thanks, Suavi. :)