Ngc4945

[iceman]

Ok probably not a good idea to post this after Peter's effort :doh:

Here's my first image of NGC4945, "presented looking like a fly spec on a sheet of A4". :lol:

This was captured on the 4th or 5th of March, I can't remember - it's all a blur from the clear skies and sleepless nights I had back then.

I don't have the exposure details on me, they're on the other laptop - i'm pretty sure it was around 12 exposures @ 4 minutes each, ISO800. ICNR and flats applied.

Diffraction spikes created from 2 pieces of wire.. probably not the best choice due to the rainbow colours it produced. It was an interesting experiment, but not something i'll use on every image.

Unmodded 350D + ED80, autoguided with DMK/PHD.

1200px wide, less compressed version:

NGC4945 (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/mygallery/displayimage.php?pos=-633)

Thanks for looking.

[EzyStyles]

well done again mike. sooo smooth with that shot. would like to see you using the 12" soon so you get that in your face view of it! :)

[Rob_K]

Peter's was an amazing image for its detail, but I actually prefer the scale you've presented at Mike. :thumbsup: Shows the galaxy as an "island universe" perched way beyond the bright curtain of Milky Way stars, and really makes you sit and think about the distances and scales involved. Well done!

Cheers -

[Garyh]

That is a excellent result mike!
I think you have done a even better job on this one than the M83!
Beautiful widefield shot :thumbsup:

[erick]

Mike, thanks. That wider field is just what I need to be able to target that adjacent NGC 4976 on my next observing session! As far as I can work out, Stellarium shows it as a 6th mag orange star?? Any image I can find does not agree that there is any such star nearby.

I agree - I'm not sure those "diffraction spikes" add much to the image.

Eric :)

[Peter Ward]

Mike,

Nice result. All the technical elements well handled.

Cheers
Peter

[Tamtarn]

That looks real good Mike. The less compressed version shows the image off nicely. Often images taken with small aperture scopes are ruined because of over cropping so sometimes the scale has to be kept down.

David

[jase]

Good result Mike. The old basic formula of aperture and long focal lengths applies to galaxy imaging. Wide field images are great to show a perspective, but if you want the intricate details, you need some power. Well done. Look forward to seeing more.:thumbsup:

[Ric]

A very nice image Mike, closeups or widefields they all have their place and they all look great.

Cheers

[theodog]

I'd be happy with that.
Nice wide-field image Mike.

[citivolus]

Actually I'd compare it more with an insect on a windscreen :lol: It has a bit of that drawn out smear look to it. :rofl:

[skeltz]

Nice image mike ,but a larger image would be a good choice to maybe?

[iceman]

Thanks for your comments guys.. I know that these galaxies aren't the best targets for an ED80, but since i'm so new at DSO imaging, I haven't imaged any of these "favourites" before.. so I just had to get them out of my system.

Plus, there was no big nebula complex for me to see.. tarantula is behind a tree or 3, I've done eta (still processing), and Sagittarius hasn't risen high enough yet.. I'll get to them :)

I think my next DSO imaging scope will be an 8 or 10" fast newt.. that'll give me the focal length I need for a more "in your face" view.

I've almost finished processing more data from the last 2 weeks.. at least I've got a break now with moon staying up later each night. :)

[dcalleja]

Its a really fantasic field and backdrop. I like the comment about the island universe - sums it up very nicely.

[Satchmo]

Mike

I reckon a 10" F3.75 Newt with a Baader coma correcter would be the instrument of choice on an Eq6.

Use it with 2" 1.6X and 2X barlows for F6 and F7.5 for coma free high resolution work. Who needs an RC then...

[strongmanmike]

Yep I agree......I seem to recal I had someting like that once?? :doh:...:mad2:

[strongmanmike]

This is a great wide field view of this galaxy field Mike. I like your composition too - very important in an image like this :thumbsup:

Mike

[tornado33]

Yep that ED80 works well.
Scott

[goober]

Nice, looks a lot like my sketch from a couple of weeks ago (sans spikes!).

[Bassnut]

Guiding, diffraction spikes, colour balance, its all there Mike, well done. FL is lacking tho, fast newt?, bring it on :D.

Moon?, balls, go NB, you know you can do it (mod yr cam 1st:P)