NGC253 Sculptor Galaxy under Smoke Haze

[Startrek]

A couple of clear moonless nights presented themselves last week in Sydney so took the opportunity to do some galaxy imaging. Chose NGC 253 as its well placed later into the evening when that retched Sydney Skyglow reduced a bit Unfortunately one of the nights had fine smoke haze drifting across Sydney but struggled on regardless ( my 2600MC camera had small specs of ash on the red housing )

Same deal
Bortle 8
Sky conditions, poor to average
No moon
8” f5 Klaus Helmerich Carbon fibre Newt
EQ6-R pro mount
ZWO2600MC cooled to -10C , Gain 100
No filters ( just internal UV/ IR cut protective window)
210 x 60 sec subs ( dithered every 3rd )
40 x Flats
60 x Bias
EQMOD and Stellarium
APT
PHD2 Multistar guiding ( 0.50 to 0.60 arc sec total ) guiding was superb on this lowish end mount , guiding dropped down to 0.40 to 0.45 for a while. I’ve had a couple of these EQ6-R mounts now and they just do the job. Best performing value mount in their category ( 20kg )
Stacked in DSS
Processed in Startools v1.8

Link to Astrobin below for improved resolution

https://www.astrobin.com/dbf8vk/

Synthetic Luminance version
Colour version

Thanks
Comments welcome

Martin

[petershah]

Nicely done :thumbsup:...It just pops up briefly in Spain... I've been meaning to get it for a long time

[Startrek]

Thanks Peter,
At my City / Suburban location this image is grossly underdone on data but still happy with the outcome with only 3.5 hrs.
I just wanted to compare past images taken with my old 6” Newt compared to my new 8” Newt
Thankfully this Galaxy is around for the next few months so I can always add more data during the next new moon period ( if it’s clear that is )

Cheers
Martin

[Dave882]

Nice work Martin. That’s come out really nice and good depth and detail. Great colour too! Is there something funky happening with the brighter stars, like an internal halo or something?

[Startrek]

Thanks Dave,
Pretty stoked to pull out some reasonable detail with only 3.5 hrs under B8 , definitely going to add data next new moon if it’s clear
Yep larger stars is my fault , to heavy handed using SV Decon and didn’t apply the apodization mask correctly
Fix it up on the next version

Cheers
Martin

[strongmanmike]

Love that it is NGC253/Sculptor season again :D ...looks incredible in the 18" Dob up here, plenty of detail and dust lanes visible, its awesome :thumbsup:

Hope you get to dark skies to reveal the outer halo.

Mike

[Startrek]

Thanks Mike,
I drove down the coast this arvo to my Dome
Haven’t imaged here since late April plus I was OS for 2 months
Imaging Sculptor again tonight this time with my 10” under B3, 1st quarter moon should bugger off by 10.30 pm
Going to start at 10pm and run through to 4am
Little bit of dew in the air you can feel it ,but so far seeing is ok
See what we can capture
Cheers
Martin

PS: Oh not one spider web or bug in the Obs , can’t believe it ??

[strongmanmike]

Moon wont be gone until after midnight.

Good luck mate, showing that faint outer halo is the go ;) :thumbsup:

Conditions up here are excellent too, dry, little wind crystal clear and FWHM = 1.7"-2.0"..and dropping, shooting Ha on a galaxy..bluudy Moon! :sadeyes:

Mike

[markas]

Nice result:thumbsup::thumbsup: Considering the light pollution it is pretty spectacular.


Mark