What can be done with a 24" and excellent seeing

[strongmanmike]

This amazing image was captured last year from Crete in Greece by some amateur astronomers.

The link to the raw Hubble version is astonishing too,

http://www.capella-observatory.com/ImageHTMLs/Galaxies/Abell2218.htm

A red shift z of 2.515 is nearly 13 billion light years by my calculation, is that correct??? :eyepop:

Mike

[spacezebra]

I agree, excellent image OMG! :eyepop:.

Cheers Petra d.

[AlexN]

Utterly amazing!
I believe z=2.515 would be heading towards 13b light years yes... so that photograph is pretty much showing the dawn of time...

I can't recall exactly what the Hubble ultra deep field image's most distant galaxy measured in at, but i believe it was much the same..

Incredible work, especially the overall sharpness and detail, given both the distance of the target, the >4m focal length and indeed, the use of gravitational lensing. Amazing effort for amateur astronomers...

[sheeny]

Lovely. Thanks for posting Mike.

Al.

[Lester]

Awesome deep field.

Thanks.

[Alchemy]

first gravitational lensing ive seen with an amatuer instrument ...... if you can call 24 inches amatuer:whistle:.

so mike, challenge for a 6 inch scope, can it be done ?????

[Gama]

Check out the seeing, holly mosses, its 0.77 FWHM.
The garbage we have been getting around these here woods is making me cry.:(

Theo

[Hagar]

0.77 in my dreams. I would kill for seeing that good. Then I'd stuff up the focus I suppose.

Wonderful image.
Thanks for posting it Mike.

[strongmanmike]

If you go to the observatory site info they have seeing as good as 0.3" :eyepop:And all the while, in Crete, in the Mediterranean, drinking Oozo, eating Dolmadis and Kalimata olives....aaaaaah Kala Zorba! :)

[shane.mcneil]

That is a great photo. Hasn't the Hubble taught us a lot?

Regarding amateur scopes I saw this video on Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXMHASJquV4

I think he said that he reckons he has seen Einstein's Cross. Either way you should see what he has built. Wish I had the money.

Shane.

[batema]

I just watched the seven parts to the youtube video and that guy is one serious amateur astronomer with an incredibly understanding wife. Thanks for the link.

Mark

[Peter Ward]

I'm sorry, I don't understand.

It's all Greek to me.

[renormalised]

Very good image...they're lucky on Crete:D. Island air is always more stable than continental air. Far less temp differences and surrounded by stable airmass over the water.

Ouzo...no thanks, don't like aniseed:D

[renormalised]

Just had a look at the site for the scope. It's near a mountain called Psiloritis....sounds like a disease!!!!:eyepop::P:P:D:D

[DavidU]

Yeh makes me sick!! 0.3 !!!!!:scared2:

Suuuuuperb image

[Gama]

Isnt ya Misses Greek Peter ?..:question:

Theo