This image is of NGC1365. It contains 35.4 hours of integration time.
It had been on my reimage list for several years and I am quite happy with the result.
Agree about the great detail in the core. I know you don't normally do noise reduction, Paul, but there are areas that look like they have been smoothed a little too much?
Nice Paul. As others have mentioned, the core detail is impressive. I also like the blue stellar regions-- some interesting arcs which look almost like artifacts at first glance (which they are not of course).
Geoff
Just beautiful Paul. The core detail in this is really something!
Thanks Pete. It took several iterations of sharpening to get the core detail looking sharp. I compared that to several prominent images of this galaxy to ensure I was not going too far and it seemed to stack up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickS
Agree about the great detail in the core. I know you don't normally do noise reduction, Paul, but there are areas that look like they have been smoothed a little too much?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bart
Hiya Paul,
Long time no see!
Top shelf as always. Agree a bit on the smoothing in the arms, but bloody brilliant, none the less.
Cheers!
Thanks guys for the comments. Sorry but no smoothing done on the galaxy at all (at least I think that is the case). Some done on the back ground and darker areas via a reveal all mask but none actually done on the galaxy. The base luminance on this image is really buttery in and around the galaxy. Like you I thought it was looking a little plastic but the 18 hours of integration must have caused this or maybe my reveal mask let some smoothing through (possible). Or else there are some subs hiding that are a little blurry. I am not too fused though, but I can certainly see where you are coming from. I will go and investigate whether I have inadvertently caused some excessive smoothing, just to satisfy my own mind since you guys have also raised the possibility.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Geoff45
Nice Paul. As others have mentioned, the core detail is impressive. I also like the blue stellar regions-- some interesting arcs which look almost like artifacts at first glance (which they are not of course).
Geoff
Thanks Geoff, I was very careful to check against other more recent images such as Marcus's to verify that detail. I was has happy to see that others had produced the same looking patterns.
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Originally Posted by gregbradley
Another ripper. Terrific detail. You are a very patient imager to build up 35 hours like that.
Greg.
Thanks Greg. As Anthony Wesley once remarked, "this hobby is not for the impatient". he was applying that more for planetary imaging but I think it equally applies for DSO imaging. I don't have a fast system so many hours of integration time has to be sought before I am content with a particular result. I think this image could do with another 20 hours next year to smooth out the back ground better and perhaps bring up some of the back ground galaxies.
Very nice result Paul but suspect the seeing didn't cooperate as much as you would have liked.
Thanks Marcus. As you know good seeing is always hard to get hold of in astro imaging. Most of this data was taken late winter to mid spring and as a result the atmosphere was a little more turbulent down this way. I did have quite a few good nights of seeing but some nights were only average for my location. I would certainly have liked 1" seeing but not much of that around for the last year or so. Mostly averaging around 2" with the higher moisture levels.
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Originally Posted by Placidus
Another excellent image Paul. Very much like your NGC 300, the sharpness and contrast of the core detail is inspirational.
Thanks Mike. I think I would have liked better seeing overall to really capture the outer star streams which are just visible. I might add some more to it next year just to get it up to what I am after.
You can be happy with the result Paul !! This is perfect !
Integration time has paid
Tom
Thanks Tom.
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Originally Posted by Slawomir
Really beautiful image Paul. Makes me dream of darker skies and trying RGB imaging
Thanks Suavi, my skies are currently under threat, the local council is trying to energise the lights in our town. We are in a race against that to get dark sky status. I think it will come too late though. As it happens I did some SQM readings last new moon and the skies produced 21.90 at it's best but averaged out at 21.80. I was pretty happy with that. It is nice to have dark skies.
