Leo Triplet Galaxies with a version showing integrated flux nebulas

[gregbradley]

I took my TEC180FL to my dark site over Easter. Clear skies every night despite rain in Sydney. It was quite windy 2 nights and I lost one night because of a silly dither plugin that became active in CCDSoft. I did not even know it was there. It somehow became active after a power failure and restart. Guiding then went bad. Anyway I eventually found it.

I got nearly over 5 hours before the moon came up but only could use 4:40 of it.

This is quite low in the northern sky but you can still see the tidal stream of stars on NGC3628.

TEC180FL, TEC Flattener, FLI Proline 16803, Tak NJP mount, Astrodon Gen 11 filters.

LRGB 130 30 60 60 (30 minutes of red was no good and was lost) all 1x1, 10 minute subs and -35C.

http://upload.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/134270783/original


http://upload.pbase.com/image/134286870 (http://upload.pbase.com/image/134286870) Leo Triplet showing galactic integrated flux nebula (interstellar nebula).


http://upload.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/134287375 (http://upload.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/134287375) inverted image


Greg.

[marc4darkskies]

A pretty shot Greg. I quite like the wide perspective. Did you use a reducer?

Cheers, Marcus

[richardo]

This turned out excellent Greg!!
Superb flat background and smoothness, lots of faint galaxies.. and great that you picked up the tidal stream for a bonus.
This is a tree topper for me.. and probably only a little better for, so well done.

Wow, a 180mm apo for a traveling scope.. mm gotta love that!!

All the best
Rich

[gregbradley]

Thanks Marcus. No that's native focal length. I was surprised too that it took in so much real estate.



The 180 is relatively easy to handle for its size. It comes in a very handy case as well which makes it easier.

I am happy with how it turned out although of course it would always be good to have more exposure time. Its quite low in the sky and I would not normally image that low but its a great target.

[strongmanmike]

Yeh great shot and excellent field Greg :thumbsup:

It's nice and wide, is this the full frame?

Seeing the tidal tail is madatory to make a truly great Leo triplet image in my opinion so on ya :thumbsup:

Maybe the galaxies look a bit blue though..?

Mike

[gregbradley]

Thanks Mike. I'll check out the blue. Then again blue is the new white isn't it? hehehe

Greg.

[jjjnettie]

:rofl:


Fantastic work Greg.

[TrevorW]

Nice perspective Greg

well done

[gregbradley]

Thanks Trev. I was surprised the setup took up so much territory. Its been a while since I used the TEC. Such a lovely scope. I also used it visually with binos and also a 8mm Ethos eyepiece. The Ethos was the best view. The binos are pleasant but they rob a tad of the valuable brightness. Saturn looked great.



Thanks JJ. I fixed up the blue hehehe:lol:

[gregbradley]

I processed this one some more to bring out the interstellar nebula referred to as the integrated flux nebula. I noticed it when I did the processing that it was there in the background so I did a version to bring it out. Also the tidal stream has been brought out more. Its pretty spectacular. I hope the Milky Way isn't losing stars like NGC3628 is!

http://upload.pbase.com/image/134286870 Leo Triplet showing galactic integrated flux nebula (interstellar nebula).


http://upload.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/134287375 inverted image
highlighting the flux nebula as well as the star tidal stream coming off of NGC3628. Something is robbing it of stars. Perhaps just out of view of the image.

There is also an interesting dual stream of nebula coming off that bright star in between the 3 galaxies.

Greg.

[sadia]

Nice one Greg, I haven't seen the mentioned interstellar nebula before on this. Definitely something that will inspire me in the future.

[Ric]

Lovely work Greg.

A wonderful area of the night sky to image.

[allan gould]

Greg
Your processing really has brought out the interrelationships between these galaxies. Really excellent shot and I thought you would have to go deeper to bring out the extention but I can see it clearly in your first posting.
Really love it!

[gregbradley]

Thanks Sadia. Its partly the very sensitive 16803 chip and partly the fabulous fluorite lens Yuri makes. I think this is why you pay the premium for the fluorite. It picks up just that little bit extra that gets lost through scatter. As you will find out with your fabulous TEC160FL, one of the best APOs ever made. We're lucky we got these large fluorite scopes. Yuri has already been told by Schott that they can't supply large fluorite blanks for the time being due to lack of orders. Hopefully they supply him in the future. This is what I always thought might happen. No 200ED, no 200 fluorite, no 160ED and now no large blanks for the 160 and 180 fluorite. They may end up being a very rare telescope like an AP180.

The dark skies are also indispensable.

I think a Paramount MX would be a good match for this scope or at least off axis guiding. The NJP is guiding great but the guide scope flexure is letting it down. I'd like to go 15 minute or 20 minute subs to reduce noise and go even deeper.



Thanks Ric. I was happy there was more in the image. Its hard to get the mega hours with work and weather so the dark skies and the scope's great lens makes it possible.




Thanks Allan. To get the flux to stand out a good flat and an even background is vital otherwise it gets lost in gradients and uneven backgrounds fluctuations and you can't tell what is what.

[Fabiomax]

Nice triplet Greg, the trail on 3628 l is still visible despite your problems during acquisition. Processing very natural, congratulations.
Cheers,
Fabiomax

[multiweb]

Real nice details in there. Sharp as. That jet is interesting. What is it caused by?

[gregbradley]

Thanks Fabio. I plan to go all off axis guiding in the future.



Thanks Marc. There is a tidal stream of stars coming off NGC3628 (the hamburger looking galaxy). Not sure what is causing it though.

Greg.

[RobF]

Great work Greg. Fascinating to see the flux neb coming through. You sure must have great skies out there. :thumbsup:

[gregbradley]

Thanks Rob.

I think overall they are very good skies. Often clear which is a big plus and almost zero light pollution. It can be windy at times. Seeing seems to be good and sometimes superb (especially in the cooler months).

Greg.

[sadia]

Will you have enough back focus for an OAG from the flattener? I was thinking of an OAG as well but my initial calculation indicates I wont have enough space for a custom adapter to fit a MMOAG with STL11k + FW8. But you setup is different and I think TEC180FL field flattener has 85mm backfocus over TEC160FL's 78mm backfocus.

My sky at the moment limits me to 5min exposure unless doing narrow band. Sooner or later I will have to think joining a local astro club which will give me access to dark sites.

[gregbradley]

I think I will have enough, yes. I may need yet another adapter though!
The MMOAG is only about 25mm thick + adapters to make it fit both sides.My current adapter from the flattener to the filter wheel is about 60mm. I can measure it tomorrow if you want. I don't think 10mm difference would stop it from working.

I have several adapters for the MMOAG. Hopefully one will work with my setup but chances are it won't.

Not a particularly clear photo of the setup but here is one I have:

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/108063152

I'll play around with what I have and let you know. I have a lot of adapters and its a matter of checking them all out. The Proline chip is about 31mm inside the camera so that would be different to an STL.

Greg.

[Ross G]

Hi Greg,

Amazing photo...you have shown me something new!

Thanks.

Ross.

[gregbradley]

Thanks Ross. The TEC180FL often surprises me with what it will pick up at my dark site.

Now to get the off axis guiding going for it.

Greg.

[Paul Haese]

Nice image Greg. On my list of things to image but missed it again this year. Other projects need completing or starting first. Thanks for the view.

[gregbradley]

Its still around. I only took this image last week. But it is pretty low in the north, depends on your available view.

Its a bit of a risk imaging something so low.

Greg.

[atalas]

Great looking shot Greg...nice neutral background too.

[gregbradley]

Thanks Louie. My dark site can have some pretty dark skies so it takes one big variable out of the equation usually.

Greg.

[John Hothersall]

That is amazingly deep, did not realise IFN could be glimpsed in Leo. Have seen a hint near 3628 in other images but thought it was part of the galaxy but great so see it stretched its full extent.

John.

[gregbradley]

Thanks John. The fluorite lens coupled with the dark skies and sensitive camera are a good combo.

Greg.

[Hagar]

Very nice Greg. Lots of little galaxies in the background and some as sharp and detailed as the foreground galaxies.

Lovely work. Well worth the trials. Detail is great.

[gregbradley]

Thanks Dougie.

Greg.