NGC 1808 a Seyfert spiral galaxy in Columba

[strongmanmike]

This is my fourth galaxy image in a row now (actually fifth, my last FSQ shot was the SMC :P), hey it's that time of the year :xmas::reindeer::drink: (just call me Lee Borsboom :D)...maybe time to shoot something new :question:...I was going to hit a PN :question:....but I just loooove galaxies :shrug: :)

Anyhoo...conditions were clear but the seeing was only fairly average for my site (still, not too bad) but still got some decent detail, considering...plus the transparency was certainly affected by the NSW bushfires (I won't complain though, the affect on astroimaging is of little consequence, considering the devastation caused :() and some annoying high thin, almost invisible to the naked eye, cloud at times.

At a distance of about 40 million light years, in the southern constellation of Columba, NGC 1808 is undergoing a significant period of star birth with an active bright core and as such, is classified as a Seyfert spiral galaxy.
It has a modest apparent size of 6.5' X 3.5' and while the active inner regions are quite bright, the outer spiral arms are diffuse and relatively faint. Overall it has an apparent magnitude of 10.8

NGC 1808 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/strongman/49127018781/in/dateposted/) (click on image and scroll around with your cursor)

For a surf around the full size image looking for faint fuzzies (there are some beaut ones), go HERE (https://pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/170110777/original)
For a good overall view, try shrinking the full size image in your browser to fit it all on your screen :thumbsup:

Mike

[alpal]

Great picture Mike,
you picked up the wild center of the galaxy and yes there are so many other galaxies showing too.


cheers
Allan

[John Hothersall]

I had my eye on this galaxy because of its fantastic core dust detail which you captured well. Great bright star colour contrast too.

John.

[codemonkey]

Awesome work, Mike. This is one of my favourite galaxies and you've done a great job on it. I would never have guessed that the seeing was fairly average; resolution is great! Oh and this is vastly cooler than a planetary neb :p

[Retrograde]

Another gorgeous galaxy image Mike.
The core of this one is really interesting - great job on bringing out the details.

[Andy01]

Superb image Mike! :party2:
I counted at least 2 dozen teeny tiny galaxies in the BG as well :D
Not a huge fan of bunging the target right in the middle of the frame, but
that's probably nit picking - as there's so much to explore around the target.

Tis a great image! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Bart]

Stop it Mike, you're hurting me! Five in a row! :rofl::P;)

Simply gorgeous, lovely processing, lots to see in the background and wonderful star colour! :eyepop::thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Big Al :)



Cheers John, you going to have a crack at it?...so many galaxies to choose from this time of year :thumbsup:



Ah, Lee, thank you sir :thumbsup: yes thank goodness for DDP, USM and... decon (did I say that..? :eyepop: :lol:) ...but no tiny sharp intense dots, spider web strands or thin wiggly worms to be seen :D Some PN's are pretty cool though...:question: :D



Thanks Rod, yeah the core on this one is great :thumbsup:



Thanks Andy :thumbsup: In many cases, I agree on the bunging bit, especially nebulae...but galaxies and most PN's are small and circular so unless there is something else you can fit in your field that is genuinely interesting, like an asterism perhaps or another significant galaxy, there isn't much that can be done but put it in the sweet spot (middle). Off setting the galaxy in the frame, just for the sake of it, can look a little odd in itself..? :question: Of course I can always crop the frame in a certain way to perhaps create a more interesting composition, but the plethora of background galaxies are just as interesting as the composition I recon :thumbsup:



Thanks Graham :)

Mike

[marc4darkskies]

What a sweet little galaxy! Nicely done Mike! :thumbsup: Lots to look at and very pleasing colour, depth and detail.

[multiweb]

Really nice galaxy. Superb processing. I'm amazed at the amount of details in the fain fuzzies as well. One for the poolroom. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[topheart]

Congratulations Mike on another gorgeous galaxy!

Cheers,
Tim

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Marcus, she's a beaut galaxy....but then again, most galaxies are special in some way, they are just so..?..(extra) galactic :D



Thanks a lot Marc :thumbsup:



Thanks Tim :thumbsup:...you working on any data at the mo? :whistle:

Mike

[gregbradley]

Sweet image mike. I imaged that one a while ago also but I like your rendition.

You can see dust rising near the core. Great colours too.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Greg, Yeah, it was those rising dust tendrils that persuaded me to shoot it when deciding between the long list of galaxies available this time of year :thumbsup: the cool background galaxies are always a bonus too :)

Mike

[Placidus]

The detail in the core is exquisite, Mike. Superbly done. Inspiring.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks a lot :thumbsup: you still shooting 253?

Mike

[Placidus]

Still getting used to the new gear. Very smoky too. We did half a night of L and half a night of RGB. Looks ok but not very deep. Then at new moon we did 5 hours of L on 1365, which was sharper and clearer than our 2016 effort so coming together :)

[Paul Haese]

Nice main target and the diversity of back ground galaxies are very nice too. I like that one on the upper left and those two that appear to be interacting not far from that.


I think I can see two very faint extensions to the faint arms. The top on appears to go over that distant spiral just above the galaxy and the other looks like it juts out near that small face on barred spiral below. Perhaps resulting from a merger in the past.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Paul and yes, there are definitely two short outer arms where you say :thumbsup:

Mike

[glenc]

Another great image of a James Dunlop galaxy.
He discovered 53 galaxies in 1826 using a 9" telescope at Parramatta.

[strongmanmike]

And to think, he didn't even know what it actually was, that he was discovering...just some arbitrary smudge :)

Mike

[peter_4059]

Great stuff Mike, there is so much to take in. I really like the processing - crisp but not to over the top.

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Pete, glad you think so, I tried to do a natural looking job on it :thumbsup:

Mike

[marco]

Fantastic shot Mike! as usual excellent color balance and overall look, really a cracker :thumbsup:
Well done mate!:cheers:
Cheers
Marco

[strongmanmike]

Thanks a lot Marco :)

Mike