This is my fourth galaxy image in a row now (actually fifth, my last FSQ shot was the SMC
), hey it's that time of the year
(just call me Lee Borsboom
)...maybe time to shoot something new
...I was going to hit a PN
....but I just loooove galaxies
Anyhoo...conditions were clear but the seeing was only fairly average for my site (still, not
too bad) but still got some decent detail, considering...plus the transparency was certainly affected by the NSW bushfires (I won't complain though, the affect on astroimaging is of little consequence, considering the devastation caused
) and some annoying high thin, almost invisible to the naked eye, cloud at times.
At a distance of about 40 million light years, in the southern constellation of Columba, NGC 1808 is undergoing a significant period of star birth with an active bright core and as such, is classified as a Seyfert spiral galaxy.
It has a modest apparent size of 6.5' X 3.5' and while the active inner regions are quite bright, the outer spiral arms are diffuse and relatively faint. Overall it has an apparent magnitude of 10.8
NGC 1808 (click on image and scroll around with your cursor)
For a surf around the full size image looking for faint fuzzies (there are some beaut ones), go
HERE
For a good overall view, try shrinking the full size image in your browser to fit it all on your screen
Mike