NGC 5128 Centaurus A Galaxy from Obs

[Startrek]

First light capturing this galaxy from my dark site Obs with the 2600MM
Location: South Coast NSW Australia
New Moon
Conditions : average seeing
Captured over 2 nights ( first night had annoying local passing cloud which resulted in less imaging time window of opportunity)
NexDome Obs
10” f5 Klaus Helmerich carbon fibre Newt
Skywatcher EQ8-R Pro mount
2600MM Gain 0 , cooled to -10C
Antlia 2” Pro LRGB filters
TS Optics GPU coma corrector
ZWO 7 x 2” EFW
Orion 60mm guide scope with helical focuser
ZWO 290MM guide camera
Lum 60 x 120 sec subs
Red 32 x 120 sec subs
Green 32 x 120 sec subs
Blue 32 x 120 sec subs
Dithered each sub
Flats for LRGB filters
Bias frames from Library
Dark frames from Library
Total integration 5 hrs

Tracking and Goto EQMOD and Stellarium
Captured with APT
PHD2 Multistar Guiding ( 0.60 to 0.65 arc sec total )
Exposures evaluated in ASTAP
Analysed , Calibrated and Stacked with ASTAP
Post processed in Startools version 1.7 ( data set loaded via Compose , Luminance / Color set to L + Synthetic L from RGB, RGB

Fairly pleased with my first broadband LRGB galaxy image from the 2600MM at my dark site , certainly a big improvement from my 2600MC , with less noise and more fidelity and fine detail.

Link to Astrobin for full resolution…….
https://www.astrobin.com/fclofu/

Attached original frame size and Crop version 200Kb

Comments welcome
Thanks for looking
Martin

[floyd_2]

I was wondering how you went with this one Martin. Marvellous result mate. There's plenty of detail to pour over that's for sure. The outer halo is really delicate too and fades nice and gently into the background. Excellent core detail. I can see that I have a long way to go on my journey lol.

[glend]

Martin, great image. I had a look at the full size Astrobin gallery version. Well done.:thumbsup:

[Retrograde]

Great image Martin. The high-res version is deep and detailed & even shows some of the relativistic jet! :thumbsup:

[kosborn]

Great image. Newtz rulez!!

Nice round stars too. Just wondering if you have any guiding problems with that setup? I use OAG on my 10" f/5 Newt both to save weight and to guide more accurately.

[Dave882]

Stunning shot Martin. Lovely clear detail through the core and those faint dusty extents. That halo is quite extensive too. Gotta love some clear dark sky! Well done mate

[Craig_]

Great result!

[Davidpmcadam]

Fantastic image Martin.

[Startrek]

Thanks
Your imaging if fine !!
I could never produce a broadband image like this in Sydney under that massive Bortle 8 light dome. I’d need +50 hrs of data ( using 20 to 30 sec subs ) and even then the results wouldn’t be as good
For only 5 hours of data , Dark skies win every time
Cheers
Martin

[Startrek]

Thanks Glen

[Startrek]

Thanks Pete

[Startrek]

The guide scope works ok but most EQ8-R have their issues , mainly Dec backlash. Definitely not an “Observatory Grade” mount as Skywatcher advertised when it hit the market back in 2018 /2019
Mine guides around 0.50 to 0.60 on stable nights , 0.60 to 0.70 on average
I dare not fiddle with the worm gears as many folk have done this and found it made things worse as the worm gears were manufactured with poor longitudinal tolerances.
My payload is only around 20 or 22 kg and this mount is rated for up to 50kg , so no issue with having to save weight
If I had my time again I would have opted for a different mount but it does the job
It tracks beautifully and Goto is super accurate , slewing is nice and quiet
It’s actually a really nice looking behemoth of a mount and they did improve some design issues from the old EQ8
Cheers
Martin

[Startrek]

Thanks Dave

[Startrek]

Thanks Craig

[Startrek]

Thanks David

[strongmanmike]

Holy crapoly Martone ...it's Cen A season again :eyepop:..which is great :thumbsup:

Very tidy job there too

Mike

[Startrek]

Thanks Mike
Sounds like a excerpt from the corny 60’s Batman TV series
Robin “Holy Gravity Batman I can’t keep my feet on the ground”

Yep it’s an early Cent A , she didn’t get high enough until 10.30pm
I haven’t done a decent Broadband New Moon LRGB yet with my 2600MM so gave it a whirl
Under Sydney’s heavy LP its almost a waist of precious clear sky time to shoot Broadband unless your happy and have the patience to wait a year to collect enough gradient infested data to work with plus have plenty of storage space to store hundreds of 10 , 15 30sec 50MB files

Nothing beats dark skies !!!

Cheers
Martin

[glend]

Martin, now that you have that nice mono camera, have you considered adding an Ha filter to your wheel. I suggest this as the gas filaments are easily captured in Ha. In processing just bring it in as a Red layer. Just a suggestion. Glen

[Startrek]

Thanks for the suggestion Glen,
I have a full compliment of filters in my wheel and have posted a few SHO nebula images through February on this site and my Astrobin account
Yes I’m aware that Cent A has some nice Ha accents , however I sacrificed a clear Sunday night to return to Sydney Sunday arvo for a family celebration. I would have captured some more Lum and definitely Ha on that Sunday night if I had no commitments and stayed at my Dome.
Oh well maybe next time
Startools has a neat slot for Ha accents in its Compose module where you load your data sets and when you hit the colour module , bingo your Ha accent is there in all its glory !
My permanent residence is still Sydney and my wife and I spend probably 3 to 4 months of the year at our holiday home on the South Coast where I have my Dome. I’m retired but my Wife is still working part time ( Teacher ). They can never give it away but she loves it, besides the education system in NSW both private , state and catholic are absolutely desperate for teachers both young and old. They’re even asking retired teachers to come back ( madness)

Thanks again
Martin