Disappointing NGC 55

[LightningNZ (Cam)]

NGC 55 with 3 hours worth of 3 minute exposures. I had high hopes for this one, but I think a little haze in the atmosphere combined with the local light pollution nuked this one.

A crop and a full frame attached.

[Amaranthus (Barry)]

Stars are misshapen - although not so easily detected, indication of bad tracking/alignment will impact on the resolution/clarity of the galaxy.

[LightningNZ (Cam)]

Originally Posted by Amaranthus

Stars are misshapen - although not so easily detected, indication of bad tracking/alignment will impact on the resolution/clarity of the galaxy.

Yeah, I used a layer mask formed from the best hour of images to try to improve things but none of it was great frankly.

[glend (Glen)]

As this a guided image or were you relying on perfect polar alignment? Also how was the scope balanced, it helps to have a little weight on when climbing RA to keep slop out of mount movements.

[LightningNZ (Cam)]

This was unguided. Balance may not have been right... I'm also thinking that the mount may have shifted a bit as it cooled.

[Rex]

Hey Cam, you had a good go at it mate. Chalk it up to a beautiful night under the stars and try again is about all you can do. They're actualy not that bad anyway.

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

The stars are not that bad. I think it's pretty darn good for a 65mm refractor.