The centre of the Milky Way

[strongmanmike]

What does the region around the centre of the Milky Way look like?

I've always wanted to image this piece of sky in Sagittarius :)

The invisible object located at the centre of the image is called Sagittarius A or Sgr A and this is a direct reference to the powerful radio sourch located there at a distance of some 26 000 Ltyrs .

Located on the Sagittarius-Scorpius border it is a lovely stary field with some faint nebulosity but it's not a visually mind blowing region and don't expect to actually see Sgr A, as there is 25 magnitudes of extinction of the optical component but it is a very important area of sky!

Wide field view (1.6deg X 1.6deg) (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/128344055/original)

Narrow field view (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/128344423/original)

Mike

[ballaratdragons]

Mike, I love it!

No special object of popularity. Just the location of the centre of the Galaxy!
Excellent!!!

I also like the top right hand corner of the widefield image. Look at all the stars just like our sun in that area :clap:

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Ken, I recon there's a few sun like stars in there :eyepop:

Mike

[h0ughy]

awesome shot, should really make a x marks the spot ;)

[Lester]

Top image of an important area of our sky. Thanks for the view Mike.

[Alchemy]

Nice image mike, there's not anything in there I instantly recognize as a familiar object which is a real plus, the composition is good, it's crisply presented. In a strange way a very calming image to look at,

[strongmanmike]

Cheers Clive but the composition was a no brainer as I had to put Sgr A near the centre aaand it's a square chip, so doesn't leave too many framing options :question: :lol:

Mike

[strongmanmike]

Ok...now lem me see...???? where could it be...? :rolleyes: :lol:

[tornado33]

Beautiful star colours too, I can see subtle changes in colours due to redenning by interstellar dust.
Just think in the old days something like the UK Schmidt telescope, and hours and hours of exposures on RGB plates, then all the darkroom work would be required for such an image. Who would have thought medium format image sensors would come along with high QE and big bit depth:)

Gee you will go beserk catching photons when you get your new scope, a very fast one I imagine :)
Scott

[h0ughy]

thanks mike is there buried treasure there?

[gregbradley]

I guess we've all been curious at some point about the centre of our galaxy. Not much to see but interesting nonetheless. The dust must really be thick and its a shame because no doubt it would be a very bright and very interesting area otherwise.

When is the new scope expected to arrive?


Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Sgr A suffers from 25mags of extinction in optical wavelengths :eyepop:
The AG12 depends as much on the timing of the Atlas focuser as anything else, if it gets to them on schedule Orion have tentatively said late Oct.

Mike

[gregbradley]

Late Oct - ooh, that is pretty soon.

Exciting.

Greg.:)

[strongmanmike]

Yeh that's an amazing animation. I am sure I can see those stars in the centre 1" X 1" of my image though :question:.... :P

Mike

[Tom Davis]

Sweet, Mike!!

Tom

[SkyViking]

Glorious image Mike, my favorite targets are indeed those that capture the imagination. I have often contemplated doing a shot of the galactic centre myself, but given the area's rather limited splendour (particularly with my pathetic 640x480 resolution!) I just haven't got around to it. I'm glad to see such a beautiful presentation of this fascinating area, your amazing skills and equipment certainly gives it justice, as always. Thank you for sharing yet another of your wonderful deep images.

[strongmanmike]

Thanks Rolfarooney :thumbsup:

Yes it is certainly not a "Pow" area of sky visually but it is a nice star field (plenty in that area of sky) and has significance, I thought you might like it actually ;)

Mike

[Bassnut]

Nice

[strongmanmike]

Way to wide field I know with far too many stars and becasue of this makes me a bluddy woose. :lol:

nice.....

[Bassnut]

Yep

[strongmanmike]

Watch it buddy or I'll hit you with this!

[Bassnut]

Gaud, any more of that, and I will turn gay, I will :thumbsup:

[irwjager]

Well said. I just finished reading Carl Sagan's 'Contact', which takes you right to this very spot. Awesome to see a great image pop up on IIS right after :)

[p1taylor]

really nice.

peter

[tornado33]

LOL I think that would not be covered by warranty :)
Scott

[Garyh]

Ouch!:P that would be one expense bump on the head....
that camera would weigh the same as my whole setup!

Nice image by the way Mike! never knew about that faint nebulosity near the galactic center.. :thumbsup:

[glenc]

This wikisky.org image shows the bright star 3 Sgr near the top and the bright nebula Sh2-16 near the bottom.
SgrA* is at the bottom of the yellow line, between Sh2-16 and Sh2-17. North is at the top.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=58404&d=1243451120

[strongmanmike]

Cool! Yep, that's smack in the middle of this image (http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/128344423/original) :thumbsup:

Mike