[marc4darkskies (Marcus)]

Originally Posted by IanP

It's beautiful, Marcus.
Thanks for sharing !!!


(My next target)

Cheers Ian!

Originally Posted by RickS

Still a very nice image, Marcus, but I'm looking forward to the version at 2900mm!

Thanks Rick, me too! It can't come soon enough!

Originally Posted by E_ri_k

Very nice. Love the halo around it Look forward to seeing your next shot at it at 2900!
Erik

Thanks Erik!

Originally Posted by SkyViking

That's a stunning image of one of the most beautiful galaxies in the sky, excellent work Marcus
Now you need to check how many of its globulars you picked up, I'd imagine quite a few!

Thanks very much Rolf! Yes, looks like I got a few globs ... but I think I'll let someone else count them!!

Originally Posted by iceman

That's rather stunning. The wide version really puts it in place in the universe.

Thank you Mike! I'm glad you liked it mate! BTW, this is a 50% (at least) crop. In the full frame it's positively tiny.

Originally Posted by Nikolas

Can you explain your workflow? that is a stunning image!!!

Thanks Nikolas! Explain my workflow eh ... Got a few hours! I use TheSkyX to control everything (mount, camera, guider, focusser, dome), CCDAutopilot to automate sessions, CCDStack to do my calibration, master creation and decon and Photoshop for a day or two to do final processing.

Originally Posted by Draco

amazing. this is my next target using my 4.5" reflector .. don't laugh now I know it will be tiny but just to be able to get the satisfaction that I located it with my telescope is enough of a reward for me

Thanks Niv! No laughing here - go for it mate! - but be quick it's almost out of season.

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

That is a *superb* image.

Ah you're too kind! Thanks Peter, much appreciated!

Originally Posted by alpal

That's a top image Marcus & there are plenty of other galaxies there too.
Yes - this galaxy needs long focal length but you still managed to pick
up some detail in the dust lanes.

cheers
Allan

Thanks Allan. Yes, I was pleased to get some detail, but I'm obsessed about getting more!!

Originally Posted by Larryp

Great image, Marcus

Cheers Larry!

Originally Posted by DJT

Great image again Marcus.

Thanks David

Originally Posted by gregbradley

A sensational image Marcus. Only thing was the colour splotch noise in the background is just a tad too much. Lightroom 4.4 has a very good colour noise tool.

Do you think that halo is made of stars or is the glow from the galaxy?

Greg.

Thanks Greg. You right mate - a wee bit blotchy and imperfect, but it shouldn't really be thaaat visible on a properly calibrated monitor I've just tweaked it a little bit though.

Yep, they're stars! Cool huh!

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Actually and I know you (quite rightly) have high hopes for it buuut I think you will be hard pressed topping that with the OS RC360Pro...without placing it on a high mountain in Chile

Yeh you have pushed the outer halo hard and so there is a some splodgyness I guess...but no harm IMO Great resolution in the sky around it, it's one thing to extract detail out of the dust lane but getting high res in the outer areas without ruining the look is the holy grail (I couldn't do it as well with my version) so well done there

Nice job Marcus the judges give it 9.5, 9.7, 9.4, 9.0

Mike

Thanks a lot Mike! Your score was the 9.7 right? I scored it an 8.9 myself ... but I'm my own worst critic

In practise, my current camera / scope (F11.7) combo can never resolve better than about 2.5 arcsec (thanks to Mr Nyquist). This is born out empirically via close inspection of my F11.7 images. When I'm lucky, my best local sky conditions yield 1.8 arcsec. With the RC360 and the same camera I'll be correctly oversampling on my best seeing nights and be able to resolve down to 1.8 arcsec. This means up to a 30% improvement in resolution. Sure it won't be easy - good nights aren't common - but under best local sky conditions it will certainly be better! On top of that my exposure duration will be 25-30% less!

Originally Posted by astronobob

M104 is a sight in any right, This is awesome Marcus, plenty of mind blowing plus factors throught ! Magestic details and depth, lovely ! !

Cheers Bob - glad you liked it mate!

Originally Posted by Ross G

A beautiful galaxy photo Marcus.

I love the detail and colour.

Like the wide composition as well.

Ross.

Thank you Ross!

Originally Posted by broca

Well done Marcus. It feels like you are looking at it through a portal from a ship. Nice work!

Thanks Steve - I like that thought ... "Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning. "