This is the latest image out of Clayton Observatories. Totalling 27.5 hours of data with 15.5 hours in luminance. NGC2442 also known as the Meat Hook Galaxy or the Cobra Galaxy. It is a faint object at Mag 11.2 and lies at a distance of 50 million light years. I found that even subs of 30 minutes presented problems with noise once lots of stretching occurred.
Of interest in the field of view are quite a variety of galaxy types. There also appears to be some cirrus across the field, though I am happy to be corrected if this is not the case.
The dome GSO RC12 system is now fully operational with imaging runs being conducted on every clear night. Though some flexure still exists which is affecting the star shapes in the corners at present (I have had to crop this image by 10%), though the manufactures, retailers and I have been working on a viable solution to the existing minor problem.
As you can see the optics which are typical for GSO RC's provide a sharp view of this object. It has taken over 2 years for me to present another image taken with set of optics and I am reasonably pleased with the results. I look forward to many hours of imaging with this system and have started a collection of Galaxies and narrow field objects I would like to image in the coming years.
I still feel the need to collect a lot more data on this object to eliminate the noise and will present a revised once I have completed the task. Though for now I present this view.
Wow, that's a ripper Paul that should put paid to all the nay Sayers out there about the quality of the GSO RC's. Love the colour and detail as its the best I've seen of that galaxy.
Allan
Nice looking galaxy there, are u going to be running both scopes at the same time now ? We'll all have trouble keeping up with u then lol.
Yes both systems are operational, so both will be collecting data on any clear night generally. With my propensity to gather lots of data I doubt I will be keeping up with you lot.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Astro_Bot
Noise? What noise?
That's a terrific shot, and an attractive galaxy.
Trust me it is there. I can see it, but it is nice that lots of monitors don't show it well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by multiweb
Wow! Exceptional in every respect. You're the new galaxy guy.
Not sure about that Marc. Nice of you to say that but I reckon I still have plenty to learn. Having a scope that can do narrow field imaging is a big step forward though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by allan gould
Wow, that's a ripper Paul that should put paid to all the nay Sayers out there about the quality of the GSO RC's. Love the colour and detail as its the best I've seen of that galaxy.
Allan
Yeah that was my thinking too Allan. Next will come the I have a hand picked scope, blah, blah, blah. Thanks for the compliment on the image.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alpal
Hi Paul,
that already looks great.
I've compared it to an APOD
& yours looks just as good - if not better.
The aqua colour of the galaxy arms may be up for debate though?
I'm not sure.
cheers
Allan
Thanks Allan, I saw those and was interested in them for comparison. I agree on the colour too, its up for debate. Certainly I will be revisiting this once I get the final data.
WOW! that really is top notch Paul. I would be interested to hear where you think the source of your flexure is coming from?
Josh
The mirror cell currently connects directly to the imaging train. On really heavy imaging trains some flex occurs. The mirror cell and rear adapters are being redesigned to take heavy loads. When I say heavy loads I mean like I have on the back of my scope. Loads half that weight will be fine with the current setup.
There are several things I (and others) could say about the look of this image (not to mention the exposure time - kidding)... but then I would be bowing to the trend of only picking apart the minor aspects of processing and completely forgetting about the object imaged Suffice to say it is a great image of what I have always thought was a somewhat ugly galaxy (no offence to its parents) so well done there, the dust lane is quite clear and I love the companion galaxies in the FOV.
Nice job Paul and your new addition to the growing Clayton Observatory complex shows plenty of promise, I bet you are quite happy about that
The mirror cell currently connects directly to the imaging train. On really heavy imaging trains some flex occurs. The mirror cell and rear adapters are being redesigned to take heavy loads. When I say heavy loads I mean like I have on the back of my scope. Loads half that weight will be fine with the current setup.
Wow Paul I am really impressed. A superb image. Love the colour. I think your colour is better than the other 2 linked.
Am I seeing things or is there a giant plume of stars coming off the top spiral that extends all the way down to the right? Gee that is worth more exposure time to accentuate that. That would be new territory. The other linked images don't show that tidal stream and yours does.
Now you got me thinking about a GSO 12 RC for my dark site!
- kidding)... but then I would be bowing to the trend of only picking apart the minor aspects of processing and completely forgetting about the object imaged 
Suffice to say it is a great image of what I have always thought was a somewhat ugly galaxy (no offence to its parents) so well done there, the dust lane is quite clear and I love the companion galaxies in the FOV.
