NGC300 20 hours

[gregbradley]

I have taken lots of images in the last year. About 20.

This is one I took fairly recently, about 3 weeks ago.

NGC300 is a favourite of mine.

I have CDK17 data for this one I took in the past I may add to it.

AP RHA 305, QHY600m photographic version, PME mount, ASI290 guide camera. Taken at my home observatory in Kurrajong NSW (semi-rural skies).

9 hours 20 minutes all 1x1 binned RHA data plus 11 hours of CDK17/FLI Proline 16803 data for a total of 20 hours and 20 minutes of data.

https://pbase.com/image/171964610/large regular size

https://pbase.com/image/171964610/original large size

Greg.

[Bassnut]

Very nice Greg, but its a bit blown in the middle
In PS I curved down a bit and then applied shadows/highlights (toning down hightlights), suddenly a whole lot more colour and tiny nebs popped out!.
And a lot more detail in the core

[gregbradley]

Good catch Fred.

I've done that and you are right it is a nice improvement.

Greg.

[Ryderscope]

NGC 300 certainly makes for a fine display Greg. You’ve done well producing 20 images over the past year. This last new moon period has been good but generally we’ve been covered in clouds in the Central West of NSW.

CS,
Rodney

[gregbradley]

Thanks Rodney.

I've had a few periods of several clear nights that help accumulate data.

Sometimes when you go to process the data you find some issues that stop the completion of the image until you get some replacement good data.

Greg.

[PRejto]

Nice work, Greg! NGC300 isn't easy.

Peter

[markas]

Splendid image, Greg. This low surface brightness galaxy ain't easy:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Mark

[gregbradley]

Cheers Peter. Yes its funny one and a bit hard to get to look good.



Thanks. The CDK data helped a lot there.

[marc4darkskies]

Lovely detail & depth Greg! :thumbsup: Well done!

[Retrograde]

Very nice rendition Greg. :thumbsup:

[Placidus]

Excellent work Greg! The level of faint detail is shown by the tiny tidal tail on the distant galaxy toward 10 o'clock.

[multiweb]

Gorgeous shot Greg. Superb colors and fov. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Thanks Marcus. It pays to keep earlier data.



Thanks very much.



Cheers. Oh yes I can see that. Gee its quite a long tidal tail.



Thanks Marc. The CDK data really lifted it.

Greg.

[JA]

That's a lovely image Greg and 20hours WOW:thumbsup:

Maybe you did it to show the clear border between your 2 data sets, and please ignore my comment if that's the way you wanted to go, but if it were me, I would try to meld the "diagonal" border somewhat. I did a quick check in PS (here's me suggesting to you -sorry :D) and you could use something as simple as the black point eyedropper in Adjustments> Levels area by say setting the black point in the inner framed image in the black surrounds of the galaxy by sampling the black point eyedropper with the darkness in the 1-2 o'clock zone. Doing this quick adjustment really integrated the surrounding space without any penalty that I could see to the galaxy detail, in fact it punched it out more contrast wise.

PS Greg: All suggested with the greatest of respect - I would have no hope of producing something similar gear and experience wise, so feel somewhat vexed in putting this suggestion forward.

Best
JA

[gregbradley]

Thanks for the tip JA. I didn't know that trick, very handy as the 2 data sets had different image orientations hence the diagonal zone having a different background.

I used that and it worked really well. Same links.

Greg.

[Andy01]

Nice work on a challenging target Greg, it's come up very well! :)

[strongmanmike]

Such a cool, photogenic galaxy, close enough to show some real internal structure and details, including HII regions, plus there are plenty of varied background fuzzies too :thumbsup:

Mike

[PRejto]

Thanks for this tip!! I tried it on the small thumbnail image in the first post and it works amazingly well!

Peter

[gregbradley]

Thanks Andy. It is a surprisingly difficult galaxy with its less than bright core and dim arms.



Cheers Mike. Large aperture at dark skies is a pretty unbeatable combo.

Hmm, perhaps I should get a mobile mount and make some offers so I can image at eagleview for a few nights!!




Yes it is an excellent tip.

[JA]

Guys, it amazed the hell out of me ! :D

Best
JA

[rustigsmed]

very nicely done Greg - so much going on there.

[gregbradley]

Cheers Russell.

Greg.