Devils Mask - Updated with more data

[Maurice]

Hi

Attached are a couple of images of the interacting galaxy triplet of NGC 6769-71.

One shows a full frame image at 25% full size, whilst the other is a 20% frame crop at 50% full size.

Less compressed version is here:

https://flic.kr/p/2nvQ8kL

new link: https://flic.kr/p/2nw6PA2

300min total exposure taken over the past few nights from my obs in Melbourne through a GSO RC14 + ASI2600MC camera + EQ8.

Processed with Astro Pixel Processor.
Seeing was OK & varied between 1.9" and 2.6".
A nice little galaxy cluster is visible at the 7 o'clock position near the bottom of the full frame.
This could do with a great deal more exposure time, but given the appalling skies that we have has here for a while now - I'll take what I can get.

Comments welcome

Cheers
Maurice

I have added another 9hrs of data to this one.
Total is 14hrs now.

A 60% sized 20% crop can be seen here:

https://flic.kr/p/2nw6PA2

[atalas]

:eyepop: :thumbsup: great detail.....well done.

[Dave882]

Wow that’s a really interesting field! Pretty rare image of these tiny faint beauties and some great detail revealed. Indeed with projects like these you are almost always left feeling the need for more data! Well done!

[alpal]

Nice picture Maurice and
it looks like you have also captured Galaxies IC 4845 and IC 4842


https://theskylive.com/sky/deepsky/ic4845-object


https://theskylive.com/sky/deepsky/ic4842-object


cheers
Allan

[kosborn]

Nicely done! All that focal length certainly pays off. :thumbsup:

[Spyrith]

How far away are these galaxies from one another? Are they closer to one another than Andromeda is to us?

Also, at those galactic levels, does gravity between galaxies work in a similar way between suns and their planets? Are those galaxies "trapped" in each other's gravity wells and poised to merge in the future?

[Maurice]

Thank you Louie



Cheers David.
I have added another 9hrs of data to this one.
Total is 14hrs now.

A 60% sized 20% crop can be seen here:

https://flic.kr/p/2nw6PA2



Thanks Allan.
Yes, lots of faint fuzzies in this field.



Cheers Kevin



Hi Dave.

I don't have the answers to your questions, but I do know that the radial velocity of two of the three galaxies is about the same, whereas the third is moving away at a faster rate. Seems to show that at some point it has been 'flung' around the others & is now moving away from them.

Maurice

[Dave882]

Excellent!! Really got some great colour coming through with the extra data!