M104 Sombrero Galaxy

[cometcatcher]

It's M104 season!

Not up to the standard of Lee's amazing image, but it's a PB for me so far. Although F10 / 2000mm is way oversampled with the 183, I use binning which helps. I still think the 8" F10 works better than the 10" F4 for small, bright galaxies. At least with the 183, but still experimenting.

Deforked Meade LX90 ACF 8" F10 SCT, HEQ5 Pro guided with PHD2, ZWO ASI 183mm Pro cooled to -10C, Svbony LRGB filter set, Luminance 369 x 30 seconds, Red, 123 x 30 seconds, Blue 130 x 30 seconds, total 742 x 30 seconds or just over 6 hours of data.

Full field at Astrobin ---> https://astrob.in/405504/0/

[cometcatcher]

I think it's an improvement at least on my December 13 1991 effort taken on TP-2415 film with an 11" F5.2 Newtonian on a Samson mount hand guided with a toy motor drive. :)

[strongmanmike]

It certainly is an improvement Kev :thumbsup:. Love your 1991 shot too, aaah sigh, the good'ol Tech Pan was the bom for nebulae but I recall the more blue sensitive emulsions were a little better for galaxies..?

It's pretty similar to my 1984 shot (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/66994442) taken with Ilford HP5 film in a dry ice cold camera, through a Celestron 5, mounted piggy back on the old Oddie refractor (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/110766126) at Mt Stromlo :P

How times have changed...

Mike

[cometcatcher]

I shot Halley on HP5. Grainy as all heck. Hypered TP-2415 was the turning point for me. Unfortunately I only started using it around 1990, too late for Halley.

Jeez Mike, you must be getting old too. :P

[strongmanmike]

Ha ha ha... yeah :sad:

Yes Techpan 2415 was very fine grained, that was good.

Funny how those eggy stars were quite acceptable back then huh? :lol:...no star rounding capable under an enlarger either :doh: Btw, that was just a photo taken of a pretty scrappy worn out B&W print too, so not the best reproduction :)

Mike

[cometcatcher]

If we both could find the negs, I'm sure we could do miracles with them. ;)

[strongmanmike]

Dunno about that :question: ...if it ain't there, it ain't there :sadeyes: :)

Here's (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/156219462) my 30 year comparison: :eyepop:

Mike

[Placidus]

Once again, you've brought out the structure of the beast superbly.

Awesome.

[croweater]

Sorry for off topic guys Hi Strongman Mike. Big coincidence for me as I believe your mate Attila in the link was largely responsible for getting into this hobby. I think it must be him as in about 1987 an "Attila" gave me my first ever views through a telescope at the Canberra Observatory. It was a C14 and I nearly missed out as it was cloudy when my son, wife and I visited. He showed us the telescope then as we were outside leaving my 7yr old son said "there's a star" and Attila said "no that's Jupiter! Come back in" and we got great views for about 30mins. I was hooked from then on and saved up for a 8 inch Parks on a Samson mount. Which I still am using. I think Attila was a uni student at the time. So thanks to Attila!

[codemonkey]

Nice one Kevin, lots of good detail resolved there!



To put that into perspective, when Mike took that image on HP5 I was 2yrs old :lol:

[strongmanmike]

I have responded via PM :)

Mike

[strongmanmike]

....:sadeyes: :P

Been a hell'ava ride...and still love'n it :party: :astron::computer::bashcomp: :lol:

Mike

Sorry Kev, back to your M014 :hi:

[cometcatcher]

I don't mind lol. Thanks all. If we're around in another 20 years we can do a 50 year comparison. :P

[ChrisV]

Very nice indeed Kevin

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Chris. And it's been cloudy ever since. Not getting much astro time this year.

[Slawomir]

A great image Kevin, hopefully we will get some clear skies soon.

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Suavi. The cloudy season is sure dragging on longer than usual. Getting showers every day still, as must you be just up the road.