NGC5128 - colour added

[allan gould]

Ive dragged out my 10" SCT and started to take an image with it of NGC5128 even though the moon is blazing away. It appears that the field of view is narrow enough that light pollutiuon doesn't seem to bother it. This was guided with a WO 72mm guide scope at 2500mm FL and f10 which all the experts say cant be done but Im happy with it.
Anyway I thought that some might be interested to see what a 15 yr old non-ACF Meade scope can do. The image is 40x10min subs stacked in DSS and processed in PS3 and represents the full frame from my QSI583.
Im hoping to get the colour tonight but they say it will rain.
Regards, Allan

[Jeffkop (Jeff)]

Some really nice detail in there Allan .. looks like the ole girls still got the goods.

[gregbradley]

I agree. very good detail in that.

Greg.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

The detail in the dust is great. Well done.

[DJT (David)]

There's some great detail in there..nicely done.

[alpal]

Wow - a nice image scale to really get the dust lane.
That will be great when it's finished.

[Ross G]

Good shot Allan.

Lots of high quality detail in there.

Good luck.

Ross.

[atalas]

Whoa!that's going to be a corker Al! hope you get the color for It soon...the detail in the core is awesome.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

so much detail in that dust, and depth. She's an old corker that scope of yours.

[ozstronomer (Geoff)]

Great image Allan, should look great with some RGB

[SkyViking (Rolf)]

Fantastic detail there, that'll look magnificent in colour.

[desler]

Yep Al, That's a keeper, If you get the colour just right, it will be a corker!


Darren

[alan meehan (Alan)]

Some lovely detail in there Allan,you have done well
AL

[allan gould]

Thanks to all of you for the kind comments, guys. I really love this scope as its capable of good imaging from the suburbs and at a great focal length when the moon is about. It doesnt seem to have mirror flop or vignetting at all so I think I got a freak for the chips Im using.
Ill repost again when I get sufficient colour that Im happy with as at the moment Ive just started the RGB frames.
Allan

[Paul Haese]

Great detail in the dust lanes on this image. Star shapes are a little bit egg shaped in a few directions but a field flattener would take care of that. I know Meade does not make one of those, but given its products I would have thought they should. Looking forward to the colour being added.

[allan gould]

Managed to get out last night before the moon and clouds came in and got a few hours of colour with the QHY10 and melded this into the monochrome image that I had from my previous nights efforts.
Images were aligned and adjusted with Registar and adjusted in PS3
Comments welcomed.
Ive redone this colour image being more sympathetic to small colour differences and the integration of the luminance layer. I hope its better.

[ozstronomer (Geoff)]

Very nice Allan, there is an extra hint of nebulosity surrounding the outer edges which i've never seen before.

Makes for a great image

Cheers

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

That's worked out well Allan. How many hours all up?

[Paul Haese]

Nice processign Allan. Very smooth and lovely detail showing through. You have prompted me to put this on my redo list. My current version is a little over sharpened and does not have the finesse of this image. I like the dust lanes as that grey tone. I think that works better. The blue giant stars are showing through too.

[allan gould]

Originally Posted by ozstronomer

Very nice Allan, there is an extra hint of nebulosity surrounding the outer edges which i've never seen before.

Makes for a great image

Cheers

Thanks Geoff its much appreciated

Originally Posted by peter_4059

That's worked out well Allan. How many hours all up?

Peter, its a combination of 6h40min luminance and 4hr of RGB in 10 min subs. The long subs have washed a bit of the star colour out but its the best I could do.

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Nice processign Allan. Very smooth and lovely detail showing through. You have prompted me to put this on my redo list. My current version is a little over sharpened and does not have the finesse of this image. I like the dust lanes as that grey tone. I think that works better. The blue giant stars are showing through too.

Im learning that the longer you have in integration time the easier it is to process - something you well know but Im still learning. I redid the colour integration as I felt I hadn't done the colour integration justice as it there are small areas of Ha red I had clumsily ignored. I hope this is an improvement and no more Sidonios.