IC4633 and Mandel-Wilson 9 (from Astrofest)

[RickS]

IC4633 is a small, face-on spiral galaxy in Apus. By itself it isn't that exciting, but it is embedded in Mandel-Wilson 9, a large integrated flux nebula. Only a small part of MW9 is shown in this field.

Data captured at Astrofest this year over several nights. Maximum altitude was only a little over 30 degrees, so this was in the light-polluted Southern soup every night as well as close to the pole and challenging for guiding. Fairly happy with the result anyway...

Scope: AP140EDF/27TVPH reducer = 875mm FL
Mount: AP900
Camera: STL11K
Filters: Astrodon E series Gen 2 LRGB, 3nm Astrodon Ha
Guiding: Lodestar / Borg 50mm guide scope
Image scale: 2.12 arcsec/pixel
Exposures: 28x1200s L, 11x600s R, 13x600s G, 16x600s B (16 hours)
Processing: PixInsight 1.8.5

Bigger version on Astrobin: http://www.astrobin.com/full/311338/0/

Constructive criticism is always appreciated. I did push the colour pretty hard, as is my wont ;)

Cheers,
Rick.

[Martin Pugh]

In the soup alright Rick! But despite that, you have used your PI skills to bring out that IFN nicely. I remember Mr Mandel talking about his discovery at an AIC a few years ago.

It does appear in the image as if the IFN 'curves' around the outline of the galaxy. Intriguing.

cheers
Martin

[Atmos]

Very interesting Rick, not one that I've seen before. The IFN has a colour that I'm not used to, possibly because you've actually put in the time RGB :P

[RickS]

Thanks, Martin. I would have liked to hear that talk!

It's funny how it looks like the IFN and galaxy are interacting. I think that NGC7497 gives a very similar impression: http://www.astrobin.com/full/272652/0/. Same with M81 too. I assume it's just our brains filling in patterns that don't really exist.



Thanks, Colin. The IFN colour is pretty much as PCC painted it so I think it's real :)

[peter_4059]

Beautiful image as always Rick. It's interesting how the IFN is the real feature in an image like this when most of us wouldn't go past the galaxy. Makes Earth seem even smaller in the scheme of things.

[RickS]

Thanks, Peter! It's certainly sobering to realise there are dust bunnies bigger than our solar system :lol:

[Ryderscope]

I was taken by the colour in this image as well Rick and was wondering about the PCC tool because it is a particular tone that I have not seen in Astro images. Very very impressive I must say. It's making me excited about chasing down some IFN fields with my TSA120/.75x reducer combination.

[Placidus]

What a difficult and challenging target! Well done.

Impressive to see at least three distant galaxies through the veil of the IFN.

[RickS]

Thanks, Rodney. Look forward to your IFN shots! I'd like to have a go at the Chameleon Cloud next.



Thanks very much, M&T!

[vlazg]

Brilliant Rick, so much to see. :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Well we haven't had a dust specialist since Thomas Davis posted here a lot.
Perhaps you have a new lease on astro and can become the new official dust buster Rick!

Wonderful image. Its great to see the AP140 strutting its stuff as well.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Great scene that Rick and nice work from a star party too mate, great scope too :thumbsup:

This region of galactic cirrus dust has a special significance (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/sarahs_nebula) for me too and I plan to re image it for Sarah with the FSQ106, as we approach the 10th anniversary of her tragic death, oh how time flies...embrace each day :)

Mike

[atalas]

Very cool Ric :thumbsup:

[RickS]

Thanks, George!



Thanks, Greg. Big shoes to step into :) I'd love to do more with the AP140 but finding time under dark skies has been hard this year.



Ta, Mike. Didn't realise you'd done this one or the tragic circumstances. My very belated condolences!



Thanks, Louie.

[batema]

Interesting to be there and watch that first test sub come in and to see the final result. Beautiful photo Rick.

Mark.

[strongmanmike]

Thank you Rick....my sister has worked tirelessly at all levels of government and among other achievements, has been successful in implementing a national code of practice for the horse riding school industry, where incredibly...there was none before.

Now back to your image... lovely! :D

Mike

[RickS]

Thanks, Mark. How are your images from AF coming along?



Thanks again, Mike. Glad to hear that some good came of it.

[ozstronomer]

Good image Rick, amazing amount of dust in that FOV

Great processing

Cheers Geoff

[RickS]

Thanks, Geoff!

[topheart]

A beautiful and fascinating object, captured very very well!
Cheers,
Tim

[Slawomir]

Very nice image Rick :thumbsup: Speaking of seeing things, for me it resembles a fisherman's net with some fish (galaxies) in it :fishing:

[RickS]

Thanks, Tim & Suavi. It's an object I have always wanted to go after and I'm pleased that I gave it a go.

[Paul Haese]

It's well collected dust there Rick. It's incredible how much dust is located there. It maybe looks a little red to me, but an interesting composition and quite odd how the dust near the galaxy appears to get quite thin.

[multiweb]

Cough... cough... need to clean that lens mate. Top shelf. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Retrograde]

Dustbuster time for sure!

Great image Rick. :thumbsup:

[RickS]

Thanks, Paul. I think the dust colours are fairly accurate though emphasised just a little ;)



Ta, Marc. I'm saving up for a microfibre cloth :)



Thanks, Pete!

[rustigsmed]

Amazing stuff Rick, fantastic work getting that much dust :thumbsup:

[RickS]

Thanks, Russ!

[markas]

Great image, Rick. Intriguing subject, beautifully caught.

Mark

[MortonH]

Looks like you spilled hot chocolate over a star field! Great image.

[RickS]

Thanks, Mark.



I guess it does :lol: Thanks, Morton.

[willik]

What a image that's great RIck
Martin

[Stevec35]

Thought I had already commented on this one Rick but apparently not. It looks great! Wish I could do IFN that well.

Cheers

Steve

[RickS]

Thanks, Martin & Steve!