The Sombrero Galaxy - NGC 4594 - Messier 104

[PhotonCollector]

Geeday everyone,

Here's one of my latest pics, the Sombrero Galaxy. There are two versions from the same image. The first is a 100% resolution image (11' wide) and the other is a wide-field image (50' wide).

Messier 104 - NGC 4594 - "The Sombrero Galaxy"
65-million light years away in the direction of the constellation Virgo is this fantastic looking galaxy with a very prominent dark lane tracing the circumference of the galaxy. Appropriately nicknamed the "Sombrero" galaxy due to it's Mexican hat like appearance this 8th Magnitude spiral galaxy is easily found in amateur telescopes. According to NASA/Hubble, the centre of this galaxy harbours a compact core emitting strong X-rays indicating the presence of a black hole with a mass of 1-billion Suns.

higher resolution closeup: http://www.skylab.com.au/pmsa/ngc4594b.html
higher resolution wide field: http://www.skylab.com.au/pmsa/ngc4594c.html

Image Details
Telescope: 12-inch f/5 GSO Newtonian on Samson GEM.
Camera Canon: EOS 300D Digital Rebel (not modified).
Exposures: 5 x 6 minutes @ ISO-200.
Total Exposure time: 30 minutes.
Filter/equipment: Used Baader Coma Corrector (MPCC).
Sky Conditions: hazy, patchy high cloud,
Seeing: 6/10 Wind: 2/10 Moisture: 1/10.
Ambient Temperature: 20°C.
Date Taken: 2006-02-25
Processing: Photoshop CS, one of the exposures was used to mask the core.

clear skies...
Paul

[ving]

oh man, your pictures are always so drool worthy!!!! :D

[PhotonCollector]

Oh Ving, now your just being too kind.

Paul

[h0ughy]

Very Nice Paul. One day when I grow Up I might be able to do that! I am still wet behind the ears, and have yet to gain the experience to get a shot like that!

[Striker]

I really like that wider field shot Paul.....

Another impressive shot.

[PhotonCollector]

That's good - if you liked looking at the image - i'm happy.

best regards

[ving]

what? you dont like it?
I recon your work is great :D

[PhotonCollector]

Hi Ving, yeah I do like it. Sorry I didn't mean to confuse.

thanks mate, Paul.

[tornado33]

Thats a great image Paul, great to see those long ISO 200 intigrations :) It shows the yellowish core area well. you must have stayed up late to catch it? I take it the image was taken on Sat night? The cloud patches were a pain in the bum later on.
Scott

[danielsun]

Great shot Paul!!!! ;)
The Sombrero has always been one of my favorite targets.

[robin]

I like the wide field one better Paul.Are you auto guiding(if so how?) & what do you do to achieve good focus?

[PhotonCollector]

Hi Scott,

yeah late Sat. night and yes those cloud patches new I was trying to image M104 - they hung around it for quite some time.

It was late, I'd only fell outside into the observatory when I saw the skies were clear. :-) I couldn't find the object I intended on imaging, so rather than waste the night I thought I'd catch up with M104. It was around 1:00AM by then. At least one of the images I did was though the light cloud - i noticed my guide star suddenly getting fainter.
It was very hazy night though - Jupiter was rising and you could see just how hazy it was.

cheers mate

[PhotonCollector]

Hi Robin,

no I'm not auto-guiding, I guide the telescope manually with hand control adjustments while tracking the guide-star visually through a guide-scope. There's a pic of it and the chair I sit on to guide right here http://www.skylab.com.au/pmsa/equip.html

Paul

[PhotonCollector]

It's always been one of my favourites too, the sight of it never ceases to amaze me.

Paul

[Itchy]

Nice work Paul

This one is on my list.

Cheers