Galaxy NGC 1300

[rogerg]

Hi all,

I've been scheduling some galaxy shots amongst supernova runs over the last week or so. This is one of the galaxies. Very nice galaxy I think :)

I would have LRGB if it wasn't for a mistake I made in the script both nights and only now just realised (have G but B&R is of a different galaxy!).

I like the detail in this considering the FL :)

Details:
- 12" LX200 OTA on PME
- Fl=2943mm
- SBIG ST8-XME @ bin2x2 (1.26 arc sec/pixel)
- 20 x 5 minute exposures (unguided)

Regards,
Roger.

[blink138]

ah thats what it looks like!
i took a few shots of this a few nights ago and could just make out its beautiful shape but when i looked at the pics i seemed to have elongated stars so i gave up!
nice pic roger, i will have to give it another crack
is yours at f10 roger?
pat

[jsmoraes]

Nice photo. 5 minutes unguided: excellent polar alignment !

I will try this galaxy as soon the clouds let me do. It is very beautiful, really.

[rogerg]

Hi Pat .. Yes, f/10. I would prefer my old f/7.5 ratio but with the chip size of the ST8 with the Meade reducer optics I was getting distortions :(



I think my alignment is about 70 arc seconds off perfect, so could be improved. ProTrack I think takes care of such issues as drift due to polar alignment, as good as it can based on the Tpoint mapping run. I should be able to do 10min subs under good conditions but my OTA has too much slop for that I think :(

It is a really nice galaxy :)

[strongmanmike]

Great and deep snap shot of a very cool looking galaxy Roger :thumbsup:

Mike

[prokyon]

Great work! So many details, a pretty galaxy.

[rogerg]

Thanks Mike :)



Thanks, yes it is a nice looking galaxy, would be great to get a higher megapixel shot of it :)

[Ross G]

Great looking galaxy photo Roger.

Great unguided exposures with such a long focal length.

Ross.

[Martin Pugh]

Very nicely resolved, just lacking a little colour ;)

cheers
Martin

[rogerg]

Thanks Ross, it is a challenge now and then :) I do intend to run the scope at a shorter focal length again, it was at 2180mm until I got the ST8 meaning the previous reducer no longer worked. Hoping an AP reducer will let me bring it down again soon. 0.62 arc sec/pixel is unmanageable and it's a shame to waste bin 1x1 as unusable.



Thanks Martin ... you may be very surprised to hear I did actually include capture of colour shots in the scripts (rare for me!) but alas, I incorrectly scripted one colour so am waiting for moon and weather to improve before capturing the rest of the colour... so, stay tuned :) I promise it will come this time :)

[David Fitz-Henr]

Some nice detail in there Roger! I look forward to seeing the colour version after you collect the blue and red data.