A magnificent cluster of galaxies in Pavo, including the beautiful spiral IC 4769 about half way toward the top.
Big one here
New moon. Aspen CG16M on 20 inch PlaneWave. The region was perfectly positioned for an all-night session on Luminance 9.5 hrs, and a second night on RGB 3 hrs each. Seeing (2 sec arc) good for our location.
We've increased the saturation quite a bit, but only to the point where the colour differences between the huge, pendulous, featureless orange ellipticals and the multi-coloured spirals (with their orange-pink central regions and blue OB star forming regions in their spiral arms) becomes clear.
There are very few other images of this area that we can find. The best in our view is by
Mike Sidonio.
Strong Mike was interested in the interstellar flux nebulosity, and so his image emphasises the background. Ours is more contrasty. Otherwise, the two images are remarkably similar. As (retired, but card-carrying) scientists, that is a very pleasing result.
Another Aussie (mono) shot is by
Roger Groom.
We want to say a special Thank You to the NRMA road-side assist telephone officer who totally left us in the moonless pitch dark, temperature 2C, on 100 KPH Burrendong Way, with no mobile reception and no advice other than "Contact your insurer", when NRMA protocol was to forward the call to the insurer and to order a tow truck. Hope you sleep warm and cosy. We did not. But we do thank the farmer who put away his shotgun and called the tow truck for us. We dedicate this image to him.
Very best,
Mike and Trish