M64 sans IFN

[Ryderscope]

Messier 64, the Black Eye Galaxy. For the presentation of this image I have cropped down my 1.5d FOV by almost half to focus on the galaxy. To present the surrounding IFN in all its splendor will require lots more subs and longer exposure times. A good project for next year.

It was challenging processing this with the heavily cropped field. Also, looking at the number of images of M64 on the web we see many different colour presentations so it is hard to tell whether there is a correct approach or not. Anyway, this is what I finished up with or more to the point - where the data led me :)

Link to image on Astrobin here. (https://astrob.in/415859/0/)
Click on image in Astrobin for larger version.

Cheers.

[strongmanmike]

You are right Rod, there are some variations in colour of this galaxy out there but yours looks ok to me, with some nice detail coming through too :thumbsup:...it's a strange almost unique..?.. looking bugger huh? Yes, would be cool to capture the band of galactic cirrus that runs nearby this galaxy, should fit in your full frame easily.

Mike

[Placidus]

Rodney, the galaxy, its core, and the stars are achingly good. And so far to the north, too.

What might we hope to see with our 20" behemoth, should we ever get it up and running again? We'd expect to see some tiny background galaxies, but short of going to the Atacama, we'd see no more detail than you've captured. The colour looks very plausible.

[Ryderscope]

Thanks MnT and Mike. It is a strange and enigmatic beast I must say. Its northerly declination provides some challenges in data collection as well. I started this one a little late in the season so I was lucky to get one to two hours of data per night. My approach was to work on M64 immediately after astronomical twilight and then move on to another target (currently NGC6334 which is almost done). Still, I managed to get 13.5 hours worth of data over the past few months to contribute to this image.

All of the sub lengths (LRGB) were 300 seconds and I think that to do the IFN justice I will need to take a number of longer exposures (15 - 20 minutes or so) and combine them with the shorter exposures. Not quite sure how I am going to do this yet but it will be interesting to give it a shot.

What would also be interesting would be to see a version taken through the Orion 12" AG or the "20 inch behemoth" :D

[multiweb]

Top shot. Such an interesting galaxy. One of my fav. :thumbsup:

[codemonkey]

Great work, Rodney!

[Ryderscope]

Many thanks, it is certainly a good fun target to explore.

[Slawomir]

Fantastic image Rodney :thumbsup:

[Ryderscope]

Thank you Suavi. Appreciate the thought.

[willik]

Lost for words a beut image Rodney
Martin

[Ryderscope]

No words necessary. Thanks Martin :)