Oh Yes another Centaurus A (first go with GSO RC)

[TrevorW]

Target: NGC5128 Centaurus A
Camera: Canon 350d modified Baader 2” Skyglow filter
Exposure Capture: DLSR Focus
Scope: GSO 200 RC
EFR: f/8
Mount: EQ6 Pro
Exposure Setting: Prime focus, ISO800 ICNR off Daylight WB
Exposures: 15 x 330s taken 4th May 2009
Seeing: waxing gibbous 79% moon
Guiding: Orion Starshoot Autoguider using PHD
Focus: DSLR Focus
Stacking: DSS 5 x 330s darks plus flats, no bias applied
Processing: Adjsuted curves, levels in PS7, Carboni LP removal


Note: Un-cropped some slight vignetting and collimation is not 100% I believe as can be seen by star shape, although may be focuser sag

Info: Situated in the Centaurus

Right Ascension

13 : 25.5 (h:m)

Declination

-43 : 01 (deg:m)

Distance

15000.0 (kly)

Visual Brightness

7.0 (mag)

Apparent Dimension

18 x 14 (arc min)

Discovered by James Dunlop in 1826.
This galaxy is situated in the M83 group of galaxies. It is one of the most interesting and peculiar galaxies in the sky, and is a strong source of radio radiation (therefore the designation Centaurus A); it is actually the nearest radio galaxy. It is of intermediate type between elliptical and disk (spiral) galaxies: The main body has all characteristics of a large elliptical, but a pronounced dust belt is superimposed well over the center, forming a disk plane around this galaxy.
This galaxy seems to have "eaten" at least one larger spiral in the last few billion years. However, the present author is not sure if this alone explains the unique appearance of this galaxy: It may well be that this is one of the rare "links" between "normal" ellipticals and "normal" disks.
In the radio part of the spectrum, Centaurus A exhibits two vast regions of radio emission, starting in prolongation of the polar axis of the disk of NGC 5128 and extending many hundreds of light years to each side.

[dpastern (Dave Pastern)]

Looking good so far. Plenty of detail too.

Dave

[Alchemy (Clive)]

nice write up, really nice write up

fainter details have escaped the image as it stands, i still think its going to be hard with a non cooled DSLR to go really deep. i see youve gone 330 secs how much more do you feel you could go, as this will i feel determine the effectiveness at f8 with a large central obstruction.

watching.......

clive

[TrevorW]

Originally Posted by Alchemy

nice write up, really nice write up

fainter details have escaped the image as it stands, i still think its going to be hard with a non cooled DSLR to go really deep. i see youve gone 330 secs how much more do you feel you could go, as this will i feel determine the effectiveness at f8 with a large central obstruction.

watching.......

clive

The longest I've gone so far is 8 minutes with the camera attached to the ED80

Once I've sorted the focuser and collimation issues I probably try to go 10 minute subs