Ngc 134

[marc4darkskies]

The weather here has been pretty poor for the last couple of months with only small windows of opportunity to image in between anti-astrophotography weather systems. Lately there have
been a few clear nights so here's the latest from Bells Observatory!

This is the spiral galaxy NGC 134 (angular dimensions 8.4 x 1.8 arc minutes) in the constellation of Sculptor. It's apparent size is small so it's not the most photographed spiral galaxy. However, it definitely presents an interesting and beautiful vista with it's companion galaxies, spiral arms and distinct dust lanes. Combined with the bright foreground stars and faint background galaxies, it's as pretty as a picture!

It lies about 60 million light years away in a group of galaxies. NGC 134 is actually larger than the Milky Way, spanning around 150,000 light years. Note the faint extensions on either end which hint at possible gravitational encounters in the past with neighboring galaxies. There are also many HII star forming regions (pink dots) in the spiral arms. At this distance they appear as dots only but up close they would be vast nebulae. We can only imagine that the astro-photographers in that galaxy must be pretty happy with there lot!

The small galaxy to the lower left is NGC 131 and is part of the same galaxy group.

SBIG STXL 11002M, FW8G, AO-X
Officina Stellare ProRC360

This image has been cropped from the full frame for composition purposes.

This is an LLsRGB exposure comprising 18 hours of data (L=360, Ls=180, R=180, G=180, B=180 minutes of exposure)
FOV: 25.5 x 16.8 arcmins @ 0.59 arcsec/pixel

For full res see: https://pbase.com/gailmarc/image/171217497/original

For screen sized see: https://pbase.com/gailmarc/image/171217495/original

For zoomable version see: https://www.flickr.com/photos/marc4darkskies/50607831441/in/dateposted-public/

[Joshua Bunn]

Gorgeous looking natural colours in the galaxy Marcus, not overly done, I like it!

[strongmanmike]

Huh, well there you go, this is what you've been tinkering away at collecting huh? ;)... a very nice galaxy image that Marcus, nicely done :thumbsup:

Some strong colour there too (for you anyway :whistle:)...I like! :)

Went looking for those fainty wainty stars too...;) :lol:

Mike

[Ryderscope]

A great catch Marcus and intriguing field to wander around in :thumbsup:

[The Mekon]

Marcus,
Thanks for this image. Last night I was observing NGC 134 from my backyard. I could just pick up 131 as well. At the time I thought - "this is a pretty good galaxy, I wonder what a photo will show". I came to this group topic ready to search and found this at the top! A wonderful image.

[codemonkey]

Superb! Without doubt one of the best NGC 134's I've ever seen. Congrats, Marcus!

[Andy01]

Nothing to complain about here Marcus, well framed and composed to include the surrounding starfield and minor galaxies to accompany the hero. :)

This is a great example of not just lazily plonking the target in the middle of the frame - instead you have carefully considered it's surrounds in context to make a wonderful composition.

Oh and it's beautifully processed, colour balanced, sharp, clean - ya de ya de ya high technical marks too etc... very well done! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Placidus]

Beautiful Marcus. As others have said, full marks for colour, composition, sharpness. The colour is especially pleasing.

There are two cute little interacting galaxies to the right of the big one.

[strongmanmike]

I could be wrong Andy, buuut I'm betting the galaxy is centred in the full frame ;)

Mike

[Peter Ward]

Yep. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[marc4darkskies]

Thanks Josh!



Cheers Mike. Yes, I gave it some colour punch but it's still well within the bounds of my stringent aesthetics! :D

The fainty stars are there but seeing scrubbed any chance of glimpsing the really wainty ones I'm afraid. :lol:



Thanks very much Rodney!



Thank you John - you looked at just the right time! :) Very glad you like it!!



You're too kind Lee. Thanks! Your rendition is excellent also and I used it as one of my reference points.



Much appreciated Andy! That means a lot.



Thanks very much M&T!



Let's just say we're all at the mercy of guide star location - not many choices for this one. In any case, cropping is a perfectly valid way of achieving good composition.



Cheers Peter! I consider two thumbsup high praise indeed! :)

[strongmanmike]

Annnd that was my point... ;) :thumbsup:

I am lucky, not using AO, I am never at the mercy of the guide star :D, can frame to my hearts content, I have never had to change framing (not ever) to facilitate a suitable guide star, there is always one or more suitable, every time :D

Mike

[gregbradley]

That is a sensational image. Love it. Great detail and terrific colour. Superb.

Greg.

[alpal]

Hi Marcus,
that's a great image.
It seems like everything you've striven for has come together -
high end equipment in your own countryside observatory.


cheers
Allan

[marc4darkskies]

Cheers Greg! I'd have gotten more detail if the seeing had cooperated more! <sigh> Very pleased with the result though!



Thanks very much Allan! Yep, I have pretty much everything I ever wanted - so I'm a lucky bugger. The only thing missing now is 32" RC on top of a desert mountain in Chile! :lol:

[alpal]

Hi Marcus,
there's always a bigger telescope somewhere better.
If you look here:
http://www.chart32.de/group
I think there are dozens of people involved in CHART32.
And surprisingly it's not an RC but a
32" Astrooptik Keller corrected cassegrain.
http://www.chart32.de/

I would imagine that it's worth many $millions and the
maintenance costs alone would be 100s of 1000s per annum
but there is nothing said about that?


cheers
Allan

[h0ughy]

Oh dear that's so cool, better than Mikey's blob, but I didn't say that....

[JA]

That's a cracker Marcus.:thumbsup:

Best
JA

[marc4darkskies]

I'll take it!!! Where do I sign??!!! :P



Thanks very much JA!



Thank you Dave!

Ah yes, I remember The Blob (the original and the best with Steve McQueen)! :D

[strongmanmike]

Blobular Cluster :)

[alpal]

I had a bit of a Google around yesterday.
I can't find any evidence of an Australian group
of amateur astronomers that are attempting
a consortium to put a large - say 32" robotic telescope
at Cerro Tololo in Chile.

It seems that only the Federal Govt is getting involved:
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/anu-welcomes-261-million-for-access-to-chilean-telescopes-20170510-gw1ae6.html
in very large Government telescopes.


If I was wealthy with plenty of money to spend I would certainly be interested
in setting up a Robotic telescope in Chile - but I'm not.
Some of the telescopes used to take pictures that are posted
on this forum would be great in Chile.
As examples of types with long focal length and professional quality:
Imagine yours or, Peter Wards Alluna or Mike and Trish's 20" PlaneWave!
You'd be getting every penny's worth of that focal length's resolution.:eyepop:

cheers
Allan

[marc4darkskies]

I think quite a few of us (including me) fantasize about such things but, if truth be told, my hobby is a modest yet worthy telescope housed in my own backyard under reasonable skies that I use a handful of times a month. I'm not particularly motivated to make it much more than that. Having a few million bucks in the bank might make a difference, but my astronomy goals are modest and there are too many other things I'd do in life with that kind of money. Especially so as I cruise into my golden years! It IS fun to think about though! :D

[alpal]

Hi Marcus,
it is fun to think about a telescope in Chile.
I'm sure it will happen one day before long.


cheers
Allan

[multiweb]

Excellent shot Marcus. Lovely colours. There's a lot going on in the background in that field too. One for the cool wall. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[topheart]

Fantastic capture, Mark!
A very nice galaxy.
Cheers,
Tim

[marc4darkskies]

Thanks Marc! That wall's getting pretty full now! ;) Too bad I didn't have excellent seeing - I'd have gotten more depth in the background and detail in the galaxy. Maybe next time!



Thanks a lot Tim! It's a small but very photogenic 'little' galaxy. :)

[DavidTrap]

Beautiful detail - something to aspire to!

DT

[marc4darkskies]

Thanks very much David! I'm pretty happy with the detail achieved on quite a small target.

[marc4darkskies]

Another AAPOD2 (Amateur Astronomy Picture Of the Day)! Me=happy chappie!

https://www.aapod2.com/blog/ngc-134-and-companion