I've been enjoying Perth's recent endless clear skies getting back in to some surveying work, to improve upon my previous 10x30s exposures a few years back and form a stronger foundation of quality galaxy images.
I've been publishing a selection now and then on my facebook page. This was tonight's fun collection of 12 galaxies
You could argue I've just gone back to my lazy ways of greyscale imaging ... or I could argue this kind of work is what I do best
Its interesting there seems to be a class of galaxies that are barred and and elliptical loop around them like the first and last there. Very similar to NGC1291.
That's great Roger, very cool to see, I imagine you have quite a collection of these? I remember reading Burnhams Celestial Handbook volumes with some images like these in it from Palomar et al, when I was younger
By the way, did you receive an email from me regarding a Japanese astronomer looking for somewhere to image from?
Hi Roger,
A great result to image so many galaxies in a short space of time.
Now - you can choose which one to spend more time on?
I am surprised that you didn't go for the longer focal length to try
& get more detail from such small targets.
Its interesting there seems to be a class of galaxies that are barred and and elliptical loop around them like the first and last there. Very similar to NGC1291.
Greg.
Yes, I see a lot like that. A lot which have complete donuts of material too, not necessarily with the bar. It surprises me, and I always want to go back and photograph them in more detail.
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
That's great Roger, very cool to see, I imagine you have quite a collection of these? I remember reading Burnhams Celestial Handbook volumes with some images like these in it from Palomar et al, when I was younger
Yeap, that's for sure. I have 2400 NGC's now, many galaxies. My current project is focusing only on galaxies. I have this far flung dream of publishing a modern equivalent of my favorite book of all time, The Colour Atlas of Galaxies. I previously made available my NGC "book" as PDF download and might make that available again in a revised format, I've been using it to select galaxies for imaging this time round, just the purpose it was made for, easily at a glance knowing what good looking stuff is up in the night
Quote:
Originally Posted by strongmanmike
By the way, did you receive an email from me regarding a Japanese astronomer looking for somewhere to image from?
Mike
oh bugger! sorry! yes, and it slipped under the radar! I will reply ASAP.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shiraz
interesting collection Roger - look forward to seeing more.
Hi Roger,
A great result to image so many galaxies in a short space of time.
Now - you can choose which one to spend more time on?
I am surprised that you didn't go for the longer focal length to try
& get more detail from such small targets.
cheers
Allan
Yes, quite a few
A few years ago I did my Project NGC (more info here) in part to have a good overall coverage from which to choose objects to focus on. Turns out I just like taking more images the same than focusing on particular objects so much Anyway, this time I'm aiming for higher quality and more complete coverage of galaxies in particular.
My Project NGC images were 10x30s (back in the days of my fork mount and it's limitations), where as these new ones are 5x180s, so are much deeper images and overall better. Also the old ones were with the ST7 and new with the ST8 so I have a wider FOV but exact same pixel scale, to get larger objects more easily.
Regarding focal length - I'm at 0.86"/pixel. I find that to get a sharp image at smaller than that needs significant data, good viewing conditions, probably a better optical tube than I have, and ideally a mountain top.
Over the last few years I've become convinced that anything smaller than ~0.86"/pixel is simply undesirable at sea level type normal locations like Perth and if I were to buy a new telescope I'd be making sure the focal length doesn't exceed that pixel scale with camera taken in to account, I think it just becomes a waste and you may as well take advantage of a better focal ratio permitting shorter exposure times/more light.
Some people say at the ground level 2”/pixel is the (almost) ideal ratio, so with your 0.86 you’re even better then the Nyquist criterion with regard to camera-telescope system ..
Very nice collection, Roger …
[SIZE=3][/COLOR]
Some people say at the ground level 2”/pixel is the (almost) ideal ratio, so with your 0.86 you’re even better then the Nyquist criterion with regard to camera-telescope system ..
Yeah, I don't really subscribe to the 2"/pixel, I think 1-1.5"/pixel would be plenty wide enough to ensure sharp focus on 99% of nights
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevec35
Nice little collection Roger. I do the same thing with obscure planetaries from time to time.
Cheers
Steve
I'd love to do the same with planetaries ... would be great to see your results
Quote:
Originally Posted by atalas
Nice work even without color.
yes, even without colour One day I might add colour
Great work Roger! It's nice to see such a collection of galaxies, there is such variety.
I immediately recognised NGC1559 which I imaged some years back when it had a nice supernova SN2005df
Show off!!!!!
Great collection there Roger - keep them coming. Must be nice to have clear skies.
Allan
I hope you're only referring to showing off regarding the weather The pictures are not worth showing off
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkyViking
Great work Roger! It's nice to see such a collection of galaxies, there is such variety.
I immediately recognised NGC1559 which I imaged some years back when it had a nice supernova SN2005df
Ahh, neat! Wow, 2005. I was taking images with the ST7 using my same 12" OTA in 2005 but wouldn't have been looking for a SN back then
That is really very cool. A productive night of imaging.
H
Many would complain I should take more exposure on individual objects which would be more "productive", but yes, I think it's a productive night of imaging
I currently record 28 galaxies/night with that expanding automatically as the nights get longer (it goes from sun -8 degrees to sun -8 degrees, taking objects as time permits).
I will reply ASAP. 
