Messier 83 (NGC 5236)

[PhotonCollector]

Hello everyone,

I know the Moon is up but nevertheless I got out to see how I would go imaging galaxies in the Moonlight. Here's the image I did of Messier 83 the night before last.

The image is composed of 7 x 4-minute exposures at ISO-200 with my Ha-enabled Canon 300D on my 12" f/5 telescope. As usual guiding was done by me with the 4.5" guidescope. Images are dark subtracted, flat-fielded and bias calibrated by IRIS software with final touches in Photoshop.

The first attached image is a wide-field shot, while the second image is a 100% resolution crop of the image.

Higher Resolution Images and full imaging details are
here http://www.skylab.com.au/pmsa/ngc5236b.html
and
here http://www.skylab.com.au/pmsa/ngc5236c.html

regards to all
Paul Mayo

[tornado33]

Yes the colour balance looks great, orange center full of old cooler stars and bluish spirals full of hot younger stars :)
Scott

[PhotonCollector]

Hi tornado33,

The color balance as it turned out surprised me a little as I expected the core area of the galaxy to have more green color in it. Perhaps the Moonlight had an ill effect, so I will try this object again next dark skies.

Thanks

[h0ughy]

nice captures paul!

[Itchy]

Hi Paul
Definitey moon affected, but nice colours.

Cheers

[PhotonCollector]

Geeday Itchy,

yep, the Moon was brightly illuminating the sky that's for sure. But after just modifying my camera, I didn't care - just wanted to try out the modded camera.

I'll be looking forward to M83 again when the Moon is gone.

Thanks :D
Paul
BTW: Have you seen the Photograph of you in Sky & Telescope Magazine ?

[Itchy]

Yea, scary huh?