NGC 253 a quick snap shot

[strongmanmike]

This was just a real quicky, to fill in a little bit of spare time while I waited for my planned target to get into position...but hey, it is a beautiful and nearby galaxy so, well worth imaging every few years I recon :D (last time I did was 6 years ago). I wasn't interested in going deep on this one this time, just a bit of fun :camera:

Anyway, unlike for my recent NGC 55 when conditions were very good, the seeing this time was perhaps only a little above average (I'll take that) but I shot this while NGC 253 was low in the sky, which I wouldn't normally do, but given it was only a time filler I wasn't after a perfect result :thumbsup:

NGC 253 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongman/31178686748/in/dateposted-public/) (click on the image and pan around with your cursor)

And as usual, for the pixel peepers, you can look at the full size, full resolution image HERE (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/168204315/original) - After having a surf, try shrinking it in your browser to fit it on your screen to take it all in :thumbsup:

Mike

[cometcatcher]

Superb time filler!

[multiweb]

That's a really nice shot Mike. Love the colors and details. Very natural and not overdone. One for the cool wall :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Placidus]

Couldn't agree more. We keep finding that we go to add a bit more to something we did before, but we've learned so much in the interim that often as not the old data goes in the shredder - moon was up, too windy, bad seeing, bad choice of sub length, low in the sky, scudding cloud, bit of dew, or going back a long way, sometimes the old gear wasn't up to it, collimation or alignment or balance was off, or there was backlash or the focus tube wasn't stiff enough. Tiny bits of all of those things, all adding up. So sometimes we've improved our technique, sometimes we're just lucky.

In this particular case, it's almost heart-breakingly good what you've achieved in a serendipidous fill-in shot.

Bravo!

[PeterSEllis]

Hi Mike,
NGC253 has scrubbed up nicely, lots of detail. I have to admit it is one of my favorites, lots to see in there.

Cheers
Peter

[speach]

that's a 'quick snap shot' hate to see you getting serious :lol:

[Ross G]

Beautiful colour and detail Mike.


...not bad for a Box Brownie Snap!.....


Ross.

[RickS]

Great detail, Mike!

[strongmanmike]

Cool, thanks Kevin, an image is an image :thumbsup:



Thanks a lot Marc :)



Thanks guys, well this is a new system compared to the one that captured it (and NGC253-dw2) a few years back, so that's my excuse :D



I agree Peter, shame it wasn't just tipped a little furether over to our line of sight. To me at least, it has always looked like it may resemble NGC 1365 if viewed face on :question:



ha ha, yeah, it's bright so easy to image :thumbsup:



Thanks Ross



Thanks Rick

[LewisM]

Crap shot Mike - discard it, chuck it away, just...oh fugg it...GREAT "filler"..

:P

[Andy01]

Looks great Mike, rich & bold - good one :thumbsup:

[AstroBogan]

Your 'Filler' makes me not want to finish my 10ish hours on this :lol:
Wonderful, vibrant shot!

[topheart]

Good filler Mike!

:stargaze::stargaze::stargaze:

Cheers,
Tim

[DavidU]

Very nice Mike, the old Holden V8 always pleases.

[strongmanmike]

Ha ha, I like to do filler images....so that'd make it Pollyfilla imaging :P :thumbsup:



Thanks Andy, bit quicker than imaging the Helix huh? :scared:



Thanks a lot Jacob but do please finish your shot :thumbsup:



THnaks Timmy



Sure does, just wish the galaxy was tilted a little further toward us....might have to wait a couple of billion years before shooting her again :question: :P

Mike

[Ryderscope]

Good idea Mike revisiting some of our old friends. Nice work indeed.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Rod...it's like M42, gotta get yer fix every now and then :P and besides, it is a lovely galaxy, nice and close so reveals lots of detail :thumbsup:

Mike

[Slawomir]

Very very nice image Mike, you make it sound like it's a piece of cake to take great astro images :lol:

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Suavi, well, not easy as such but when you have a reliable system like mine, it does feel comfortable, at least the data acquisition is very consistent. My main stumbling block tends to be the weather, if it is clear I regularly have whole nights where I get not one bad sub. If I was automated and had dome motorisation..well, then it would be easy :)

Mike