The Grus Quartet and thousands of distant galaxies!

strongmanmike (Michael) · #1 19-08-2009, 01:39 PM

This has been the project over the last two imaging sessions. Although it is a relatively popular target I haven't done a colour image of this group since 2005. I managed to get 6hrs over two nights and went reasonably deep (for a 6" anyway

) and the seeing finally was better than average for a change, not great but not bad at least

The wide field view is actuallu about a 50% crop of the original full chip image, would have just got lost in the frame otherwise, still I think the resolution holds up ok..? I think there may even be more galaxies in this image than stars

If you are on dial-up or have a low usage BB account, when the image starts to download from the links below scroll down to the bottom of the page and hit "large" in the other sizes menu, this will open a much smaller version so you can decide whether you wish to open the "original" and much larger size image

I'm happy with how these turned out so I hope you enjoy looking at them, again I recomend hitting F11 on your keyboard for a more unobstructed full screen view when you open an image

Here is the low res but full frame "fits perfectly on a 21 inch monitor" version (1.3meg)
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...49824/original

Well worth a detailed scan, here is the full size full res version - with many galaxies and galaxy clusters in the background (3.4meg):
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...49827/original

Here is a zoom in on the three main galaxies and again showing lots of background galaxies (1 meg):
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...49829/original

Lastly this is a close up of the outer member of the Quartet - NGC 7552, I love the shape of this galaxy

(300K)
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...49821/original

In a small section of the frame I found these distant galaxy clusters too, if anyone can identify these would be cool, cropped from top left corner of full image:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike20...53840/original

Mike

Rod66 (Rod) · #2 19-08-2009, 01:46 PM

This is from a 6inch??

I have got to get me some of this photography gear..

I am in awe..

DavidU (Dave) · #3 19-08-2009, 02:43 PM

What can I say?
stunning work Mike
Whats next ,a TEC 180?

beren · #4 19-08-2009, 03:59 PM

Top work Mike

multiweb (Marc) · #5 19-08-2009, 04:27 PM

Wow!

That's a lot of galaxies in the field. How do you process them? Independently and mask to sharpen? Top pic.

renormalised (Carl) · #6 19-08-2009, 04:48 PM

Brilliant bit of work....as usual. Great shot, Mike

Dennis · #7 19-08-2009, 05:01 PM

Lovely work Mike! I’m pleased to see that you’re still putting your strongman talent to good use by hauling all that gear to your dark sky site!

Cheers

Dennis

strongmanmike (Michael) · #8 19-08-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rod66

This is from a 6inch??

I have got to get me some of this photography gear..

I am in awe..

Wish I could take all the credit Rod but fact is a good 6" APO with medium FL punches above its weight and constantly surprises all I gotta do is drive it

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidU

What can I say?
stunning work Mike
Whats next ,a TEC 180?

Thanks Dave, I couldn't afford a TEC 180

besides not enough of a jump I don't think anyway

Quote:

Originally Posted by beren

Top work Mike

Cheers Beren

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Wow!

That's a lot of galaxies in the field. How do you process them? Independently and mask to sharpen? Top pic.

Hmm?The gbackground galaxies were just there. My basic processing for the lum is: align and sum subs, apply DDP and sharpening, apply log stretch and noise contro if necessary. For the RGB it's: sum subs, apply DDP, saturate to taste, blur RGB, perform LRGB combine in Astroart4 then tweek colour sharpening more noise work etc in PS and that ma friend is just about it, me a simple cook and the galaxies spring out at ya

Quote:

Originally Posted by renormalised

Brilliant bit of work....as usual. Great shot, Mike

Cheers Carl, not sure about brilliant but I was pleased to finallly get a night of good seeing

The details revealed in there well and truly hold there own against a 12.5" F9 RCOS (no AO) image by Steve Crouch actually

(Steves image is excellent though). My dark sky site outside Newcastle is reasonably dark but the seeing is often ordinary or bad...I think the Yerkes 40" suffered the same problem due to its location though

strongmanmike (Michael) · #9 19-08-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis

Lovely work Mike! I’m pleased to see that you’re still putting your strongman talent to good use by hauling all that gear to your dark sky site!

Cheers

Dennis

ah yes well...?

I run the Gauntlet occassionally and if the weather is pretty certain I will leave it all setup under a bag for a few nights in a row, this has happend twice now in the last two new moons which is amazing

nerve raking but saves plenty of time when trying to do a multiple night project

but yes still have to bring it all back eventually

Mike

gregbradley · #10 19-08-2009, 05:38 PM

Fantastic image Mike. I love it.

You're right your AP152 does punch above its weight and a TEC180 whilst a stunner wouldn't be different enough.

Maybe an Orion Optics UK 12 inch F3.8 astrograph though hehehehe.

Greg.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #11 19-08-2009, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Fantastic image Mike. I love it.

Great glad to hear

Quote:

Maybe an Orion Optics UK 12 inch F3.8 astrograph though hehehehe.

Greg.

Ya know It would be difficult to ever go with an untested product again in that price bracket, just not worth the heartache..besides no money now anyway

Mike

Peter Ward · #12 19-08-2009, 05:56 PM

Cool. Nicely done.

AP refractors are, well, sublime.

Wish I could use mine....but sadly

camera-less until the new imaging toy arrives next month

renormalised (Carl) · #13 19-08-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Fantastic image Mike. I love it.

You're right your AP152 does punch above its weight and a TEC180 whilst a stunner wouldn't be different enough.

Maybe an Orion Optics UK 12 inch F3.8 astrograph though hehehehe.

Greg.

Nah....how about this...

http://www.discmounts.com/gallerys/N...s/IMG_3588.jpg

or this....

http://www.discmounts.com/gallerys/N...s/_MG_5478.jpg

or this...

http://www.discmounts.com/gallerys/N...s/_MG_5473.jpg

BerrieK · #14 19-08-2009, 07:45 PM

Just fininshed waddling around the full size full resolution version (gotta love broadband)...so many galaxy-lets in the background - or are they tiny little spaceships? or was there some muck on the filters?

Amazing pic. Whats the blue haloed star in the top left corner? I cant see such a halo around any other stars in the field (I'm not an imager - 'please explain'?).

(surely this one must have hurt just a little bit!!

)

Kerrie

strongmanmike (Michael) · #15 19-08-2009, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Cool. Nicely done.

AP refractors are, well, sublime.

Wish I could use mine....but sadly

camera-less until the new imaging toy arrives next month

Cheers

What did you do with the STL Peter? A trade-in perhaps?

Mike

Peter Ward · #16 19-08-2009, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Cheers

What did you do with the STL Peter? A trade-in perhaps?

Mike

Nah...would have like to have kept it, but discovered how much a dual plate racing clutch on a certain red car costs ...

And...bugger ...50mm square filters don't help

Jen · #17 20-08-2009, 01:46 AM

wow Mike all that with a 6" what the .........
beautiful pic as always you make it look so easy
I love your work and dedication
cheers

strongmanmike (Michael) · #18 20-08-2009, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Nah...would have like to have kept it, but discovered how much a dual plate racing clutch on a certain red car costs ...

Yes Postman Pat has the same issue with his vehicle

Quote:

And...bugger ...50mm square filters don't help

Yes having to up to a bigger filterwheel and filters is so far preventing me from moving into bigger CCD acerage for the PoLine too

would just be a simple chip switch for me too, in the same body I think?

....maybe I just replace the clutch?

strongmanmike (Michael) · #19 20-08-2009, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BerrieK

Just fininshed waddling around the full size full resolution version (gotta love broadband)...so many galaxy-lets in the background - or are they tiny little spaceships? or was there some muck on the filters?

Amazing pic. Whats the blue haloed star in the top left corner? I cant see such a halo around any other stars in the field (I'm not an imager - 'please explain'?).

(surely this one must have hurt just a little bit!!

)

Kerrie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen

wow Mike all that with a 6" what the .........
beautiful pic as always you make it look so easy
I love your work and dedication
cheers

Thanks ladies, it is always nice to receive comments from you guys, makes me feel...?..complete

Kezza, the blue halo around the that star is just an optical effect from the cover slip on the chip, the light bounces off the front surface of the chip , hits the cover slip above it and reflects back down on to the chip surface, the curve of the field flattener causes these halos to be off centre in the corners.

Mike

marc4darkskies (Marcus) · #20 20-08-2009, 09:42 AM

A positively yummy image Mike

- the up close version is a smorgasbord of tid bits!

Cheers, Marcus