[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by renormalised

I have a feeling that yellowish galaxy is nowhere near NGC6744. That tidal stream is just a matter of juxtaposition. But then again, I maybe wrong as I don't know how far away that small galaxy is.

There is a tidal stream there, though. See the companion above the main spiral (the "bar" running perpendicular to the spiral...it's a Magellanic Class barred irregular), there's a definite trail of stars and (most likely) gas there. As a matter of fact, if you look closely, you can see very faint OB associations in the stream. There's most likely also a degree of very distorted spiral arm from the main galaxy mixed in there as well.

Yes looking at it again I think you are right. But I just saw an R Jay Gabany 20 hour image of M83 which has been imaged to death and it had huge loopy tidal streams. I'd say these streams are pretty common but they just need super dark skies and very long exposure.

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Here is a contrast enhanced view of 4.5hrs worth - can't see much there other than galactic cirrus

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Here is 3hrs 40min worth and again enhanced but this time taken from pristene dark skies at 1000m elevation, once again lots of faint cirrus everywhere but nothing else really..?

Mike

It seems there is a very faint longish spiral arm going out the bottom part like the top half has or am I seeing something out of nothing?

Originally Posted by Alchemy

I've been watching with interest how this new scope will perform, the detail within the core is pretty much on a par with mikes much longer exposure certainly at a quick look at a lower res. However being as mike has put up his as a comparison....... The colors in the two are very different, if I had to make a choice I'd say his were on the money, and I cant see that all that extra exposure would make that much difference in the color dept..... Smoother yes, push it harder for faint detail yes but color ........ Hmmmm.
On a positive note I myself haven't done an image which in retrospect couldn't be improved. I get to a point after a couple hours of processing where you've got so many versions Im not sure just what it should look like.

Hmm, very hard to say at this early point. So far the CDK picks up more detail compared to other images I have taken of the same thing. Looking at my image again it really does need the extra hours. Tonight is shaping up pretty well. I'll take some more exposure and see how it works out. Also my southern skies could be a tad darker here. I am picking up a bit of light pollution also. I did fight against a green bias in the colour and that usually means light pollution. Perhaps there was some high cloud as well. Tonight seems very clear so far.

I mainly put it up as a work in progress. I was happy to get that much out of 3 hours on this rather faint galaxy.

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Just to clarify, I wasn't putting mine up as comparison at all, rather just referencing a deep enhanced negative and B&W version to show there was no tidal stream, that was all. I wasn't directly comparing my colour image to Gregs at all and didn't link to that version .

Mike

yep I realised that.

Originally Posted by renormalised

There's no tidal stream to where Greg mentioned...it's the cirrus, but there is one if you look at the NGC6744A and the distorted spiral arm and stream of stars from the main galaxy. It's faint and you have to know what to look for, but it's there

Also it seems to extend a bit past that irregular companion galaxy.