M104 Sombrero Galaxy

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

This image is a bit soft and the stars are a bit off but I found out why during capture. The cause of my funny star shapes is..... a pinched mirror. Those white locking knobs at the back of the mirror cell can deform it if tightened too much. Well rather than chuck out the data I thought I'd present it anyway and do better another day. Cos, I don't like wasting data. Even bad data. One day I will change my evil ways.

Most of the subs were guided with PHD2 and my new little 50mm finder/guider.
Captured with a GSO 10" F4 newtonian, full spectrum 1100D, HEQ5 Pro guided with 169 minutes worth of subs (mostly 1 minute subs).

[Somnium (Aidan)]

Originally Posted by cometcatcher

This image is a bit soft and the stars are a bit off but I found out why during capture. The cause of my funny star shapes is..... a pinched mirror. Those white locking knobs at the back of the mirror cell can deform it if tightened too much. Well rather than chuck out the data I thought I'd present it anyway and do better another day. Cos, I don't like wasting data. Even bad data. One day I will change my evil ways.

Most of the subs were guided with PHD2 and my new little 50mm finder/guider.
Captured with a GSO 10" F4 newtonian, full spectrum 1100D, HEQ5 Pro guided with 169 minutes worth of subs (mostly 1 minute subs).

Nice one Kevin, looks like collimation was a little out ? i love this target, a spectacular galaxy

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Originally Posted by Somnium

Nice one Kevin, looks like collimation was a little out ? i love this target, a spectacular galaxy

I think everything is out a bit. I could do with a 10" refractor.

[Somnium (Aidan)]

Originally Posted by cometcatcher

I think everything is out a bit. I could do with a 10" refractor.

Haha couldn't we all

[RickS (Rick)]

Nice colour, Kevin. A nice image despite the small issues

[topheart]

Originally Posted by cometcatcher

I think everything is out a bit. I could do with a 10" refractor.

Originally Posted by RickS

Nice colour, Kevin. A nice image despite the small issues

Agreed!!

Cheers,
Tim

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

Nice clear dust lane showing some fine detail. Nucleus resolved. Nice colour too.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Originally Posted by RickS

Nice colour, Kevin. A nice image despite the small issues

Thanks Rick. Hopefully the small issues will get smaller as I get better at taming this Newt.

Originally Posted by topheart

Agreed!!

Cheers,
Tim

Thanks Tim!

Originally Posted by Placidus

Nice clear dust lane showing some fine detail. Nucleus resolved. Nice colour too.

Thanks M&T. I think I need a 20" for this one. Can I come over and borrow yours for a night?

[LewisM]

Never tire of the Sombrero (unlike M83...meh, I get tired seeing that LOL - no offence to anyone imaging it).

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Never tire of the Sombrero (unlike M83...meh, I get tired seeing that LOL - no offence to anyone imaging it).

Poor M83 lol.

I did a search to find other M104's and was surprised to not find many at all. Doesn't seem to be flavour of the year. Or they called it something funny in the title.

M104 is the sort of thing that makes me want an RC scope or a small chip, just to get the size up. It's bright enough, just tiny.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Yeah, I guess ya right Kevin not many 104's this year posted on IIS..hmmm?

Anyway, really like the colour on your version here

Mike

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Thanks Mike. Maybe it will be flavour of the year next year instead of M83 lol.

[codemonkey (Lee)]

I started on M104, had one bad night and moved on to M83. Sorry Lewis! ;-)

Anyway, there does appear to be a collimation and/or tracking issue there, but despite that it looks nice. I like the colour and the dust lane shows some nice detail. Good work Kevin!

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Thanks Lee. I think I'm always going to have some degree of star imperfection with fast reflectors. Some people are just better at taming them than others.