Geeday everyone,
Here's one of my latest pics, the Sombrero Galaxy. There are two versions from the same image. The first is a 100% resolution image (11' wide) and the other is a wide-field image (50' wide).
Messier 104 - NGC 4594 - "The Sombrero Galaxy"
65-million light years away in the direction of the constellation Virgo is this fantastic looking galaxy with a very prominent dark lane tracing the circumference of the galaxy. Appropriately nicknamed the "Sombrero" galaxy due to it's Mexican hat like appearance this 8th Magnitude spiral galaxy is easily found in amateur telescopes. According to NASA/Hubble, the centre of this galaxy harbours a compact core emitting strong X-rays indicating the presence of a black hole with a mass of 1-billion Suns.
higher resolution closeup:
http://www.skylab.com.au/pmsa/ngc4594b.html
higher resolution wide field:
http://www.skylab.com.au/pmsa/ngc4594c.html
Image Details
Telescope: 12-inch f/5 GSO Newtonian on Samson GEM.
Camera Canon: EOS 300D Digital Rebel (not modified).
Exposures: 5 x 6 minutes @ ISO-200.
Total Exposure time: 30 minutes.
Filter/equipment: Used Baader Coma Corrector (MPCC).
Sky Conditions: hazy, patchy high cloud,
Seeing: 6/10 Wind: 2/10 Moisture: 1/10.
Ambient Temperature: 20°C.
Date Taken: 2006-02-25
Processing: Photoshop CS, one of the exposures was used to mask the core.
clear skies...
Paul