NGC1291 Ring Galaxy 6.6 hours

bloodhound31 · #1 27-10-2009, 01:59 AM

Captured over 2 nights with an Orion Starshoot Pro DSI III Colour CCD, on a Skywatcher Black Diamond ED120mm APO.

Guiding on the EQ6 Pro with an Orion Starshoot Autoguider and PHD guiding.

400 minutes of 20 minute exposures captured, stacked, darks and flats subtracted all with MaxIm DL Essentials.

Levels and curves in PS Elements 6

NGC1291RingGalaxy400minutes

This little beauty is sooooo faint! The core, by comparison is quite bright and had to be masked to turn up the levels on the rest of it. This was certainly quite a challenge. I had to process the thing three times before I was happy.

When I saw the first exposure on the first night, I was wondering if my aperture was even capable of grabbing such a faint target. I think I am pretty happy with it though and ready to move on to another target.

Baz.

telemarker (Keith) · #2 27-10-2009, 04:08 AM

Good image.

The galaxy has come up a treat hasn't it. Also the 20 min subs still show the star colours nicely. Are you off for more galaxy hunting or something completely different now?

LGT150 (lucien) · #3 27-10-2009, 06:42 AM

belle galaxie très fine
Amicalement Lucien

Lester · #4 27-10-2009, 08:18 AM

Very nice image Baz. With good tracking and star colours.

All the best.

bloodhound31 · #5 27-10-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telemarker

Good image.

The galaxy has come up a treat hasn't it. Also the 20 min subs still show the star colours nicely. Are you off for more galaxy hunting or something completely different now?

Thanks everyone.

Keith, I think the hunt is on for more galaxies, but that eastern sky is starting to fill up with targets and getting richer earlier every night so who knows?

Baz.

h0ughy (David) · #6 27-10-2009, 09:15 AM

nice shot Barry - does look faint! Nice target to have caught

telecasterguru (Frank) · #7 27-10-2009, 09:54 AM

Barry,

The long subs have worked a treat and the guiding is very good.

Processed well has brought out the detail nicely.

Frank

DavidU (Dave) · #8 27-10-2009, 10:08 AM

Very nice indeed Baz ! Great guiding.

You must be happy with the ED120

bloodhound31 · #9 27-10-2009, 10:11 AM

Thanks again folks.

I have been googling NGC1291 and there seems to be a few common images repeated across the internet, with not very many outside of them. Looks like it's faintness makes it an unpopular target.

In that regard I am stoked to have captured it and added a unique image to the WWW.

Baz

allan gould · #10 27-10-2009, 10:25 AM

Great shot and so faint. Well done

CoolhandJo (Paul) · #11 27-10-2009, 10:35 AM

Great image. A real testimony to your mount and scope.

sjastro · #12 27-10-2009, 10:55 AM

Good image Barry.

I can appreciate the challenges having imaged this one myself.

Steven

renormalised (Carl) · #13 27-10-2009, 11:08 AM

Great shot, Baz, of a pretty hard target!!!

Keep looking for the obscure targets, you might crack a doozie one day!!!

Ric · #14 27-10-2009, 11:14 AM

Very nicely done Baz.

You've bagged a real beauty in that one.

Cheers

alan meehan (Alan) · #15 27-10-2009, 11:16 AM

WOW Barry well done never seen this little fella before thanks for sharring
ALAN

jase (Jason) · #16 27-10-2009, 12:21 PM

Well done Baz. You've been suitably rewarded for your efforts here. A great image of this peculiar galaxy. Keep them coming!

gregbradley · #17 27-10-2009, 05:43 PM

That's a beauty Baz. I have never seen that one before.

Greg.

Hagar (Doug) · #18 27-10-2009, 07:17 PM

Very nice Galaxy Bazz, This is a faint one and your mask of the core has worked very well.

Well done.

bloodhound31 · #19 27-10-2009, 08:15 PM

Cheers to you all for the encouragement. It's an amazing universe out there and we are privileged to be able to capture it!

Baz.

Kal (Andrew) · #20 27-10-2009, 08:40 PM

What a delightful pic Baz! For such a faint target you have really nailed it with the 120 APO