An interim image

[Paul Haese]

This is an interim image of Centaurus A. It contains 80.7 hours of data. I will resume collecting data on it early next year as I have run out of time to collect data on it now. The data is very clean with no noise control needed at all.

Of note you can see the relativistic jet which can be seen in the Ha (red) data at the lower right. Interestingly running parallel along side the jet is a faint trail of blue stars. The dust shells are also just starting to be resolved and hence why I need more data. I also urge you to look around for the background galaxies. There are some interesting shapes ones in the field.

Click here (http://paulhaese.net/NGC5128AG12.html) for the larger image.

[madtuna]

What an absolutely stunning image!
I'm still going through the large one and it will keep me occupied for a few more hours yet.

Looking forward to the completion.

[gregbradley]

Fabulous work Paul. Some objects are really worth a super long effort and Cent A is definitely one of the best for that.

Greg.

[multiweb]

Very deep and smooth. That's a lot of hours. :eyepop::thumbsup:

[Atmos]

Very deep Paul, so smooth!
How much of that 80 hours has been dedicated to Ha? The jets certainly do extent out quite some distance.

[Paul Haese]

Thanks everyone for the comments.



It will require a lot more yet to drag out all the shells I think. I have seen two images now one which was entered this year in the ROG competition which had about 70 odd hours in broadband which was showing the shells well. The other of course is Rolfs 130 hours on it. I think the secret is a lot of hours in the single colours which also dictate how the shells are shown. There is also a lot of IFN within the field too which is quite disruptive to showing the shells; it is a careful balance.



Colin, there is 40 hours in Ha so far. I have found the Ha to be quite light sensitive, so when I go back to this I will need to collect the Ha in moonless conditions. I'll filter out some of the hours I have collected so far, so that I get the jet coming out brighter. The jet extends much further than what you can see in this image. I have cropped this image for effect but could if I have all the jet included I'll need to use the full frame of the 11002 to include it all. I found that the jet became quite faint further out and would not come out in the image as a result.

[Peter Ward]

Remarkably deep Paul and well on the way to a new benchmark. Nice see you haven't made noise look like faint signal as in other clumsy efforts ;)

Good one :thumbsup:

[strongmanmike]

Another deep Cen A on the build, cool :thumbsup:

Showing the whole hockystick shape of the galaxy, the extensive galactic cirrus across the feld, the extent of the jet in Ha aaaand the massive bulbous halo of the galaxy, is becoming a mandatory requirement for a good Cen A image these days...how things progress :) I think showing the shells is more of a processing approach than the amount of exposure?

Mike

[marc4darkskies]

Excellent Paul! :thumbsup: Very deep and the extent of the jet you've revealed is wonderful!

PS: This is only an interim critique! :D

[Retrograde]

Amazing depth and detail (& the jet is beautifully displayed).
If this is the interim image then I really look forward to seeing the final rendition. :thumbsup:

[LewisM]

Interim image...meh, hold my beer


:P :lol:


(30 glorious minutes under a full moon with an FSQ-85ED 4 years ago)


I thinks I beated you. Malin move over!

[Paul Haese]

Hmm not sure about a new benchmark but I think I will thoroughly examine the possibilities here. Certainly no noise present in the data now, maybe in the very dark areas perhaps.



I don't doubt that the processing approach has an effect. I have tried several types of reveal masks to provide more detail in the shells. I do think that the fainter stuff seems to show up more once one has more solid data. I think my colour is a bit thin at this stage and that might be contributing to the problem. However, I may well not have a handle on how to reveal this detail yet and searching the internet for possible procedures. Any tips gratefully received.


Thanks Marcus, I'll accept the interim critique. ;) The jet and the shells are part of my curiosity here, hence my persistence to continue onward.

Thanks Pete. It is a good image on its own for sure but this object is one that has always called to me to go deeper. Time will tell what the image will look like with perhaps another 100 hours on it.



Still a respectable image in any discussion Lewis. I recommend a few more subs though. :P

[LewisM]

I said HOLD my beer, not drink it...you must be drunk :P

[gregbradley]

i’d consider doing Ha in 3x3 binning.
There is also a rarely shown jet at the other end.
Greg

[rustigsmed]

love that jet Paul - can't wait to see the finished product.

cheers

russ