NGC 55, irrregular galaxy in scuptor

[gvanhau (Geert)]

Hello

I managed to capture this image during several nights between August and November 2015 from my light polluted backyard observatory in Santiago, Chile.

32.5 Hours integration in 10 min subs.

Here other sizes: https://www.flickr.com/photos/astro_...posted-public/

As usual, Comments welcome.

Geert

[Atmos (Colin)]

Looking really good! Lovely detail and nicely processed.

[RickS (Rick)]

Nice work, Geert. Quite a challenge from a light polluted site!

[alpal]

Hi Geert,
That is a lot of time you've spent & the results are worth it.
I hope you don't mind?
I did a few small adjustments - to increase colour &
give it a slight sharpen.
do you think this is better?

cheers
Allan

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Nice work Geert

I attempted imaging this galaxy a while ago and failed miserably.

[gvanhau (Geert)]

Originally Posted by Atmos

Looking really good! Lovely detail and nicely processed.

Thank You Colin

[gvanhau (Geert)]

Originally Posted by RickS

Nice work, Geert. Quite a challenge from a light polluted site!

Thank You Rick. I had not much chance to go out this year, so I have to squeeze my setup at home.

[gvanhau (Geert)]

Originally Posted by alpal

Hi Geert,
That is a lot of time you've spent & the results are worth it.
I hope you don't mind?
I did a few small adjustments - to increase colour &
give it a slight sharpen.
do you think this is better?

cheers
Allan

Thank you Alan. Your adjustments look very good. What did you use, LightRoom?

[gvanhau (Geert)]

Originally Posted by Slawomir

Nice work Geert

I attempted imaging this galaxy a while ago and failed miserably.

Thanks Slawomir.
Don't give up, This is also my third attempt. The mayor problem I had wit it, is that there are no many stars near the galaxy for guiding with the OAG.

[alpal]

Originally Posted by gvanhau

Thank you Alan. Your adjustments look very good. What did you use, LightRoom?

Hi Geert,
I am glad you like it -I used Photoshop CS5.
Also used - Fitswork4 to make stars smaller -
layered in with 50% opacity into Photoshop.
I first of all did a LAB mode color boost with a blurred layer mask on the galaxy.
I also did a slight change in stretching to reveal more galaxy contrast.
I used blurred layer masks also for sharpening at 2 pixels then layered in with 50% opacity.
Note: I worked on the largest version of your picture
& then reduced to the same size as the one in your original post.
They were all only minor changes but it made a big difference in the end.
I would need to take more time with the larger version as the smaller
version hides sharpening artifacts etc.

See here for good tips:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ5...Ge66vsuSaXb-0A


cheers
Allan

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Hi Geert

That's a pretty good image of NGC55. Along with its near by neighbour NGC 247 it can appear rather bland and uninspiring in many images but I always love seeing the spread of little HII regions along this baby if you can bring them out

Mike

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Very nice geert a great rendition.

Cheers
Russ

[gvanhau (Geert)]

Originally Posted by alpal

Hi Geert,
I am glad you like it -I used Photoshop CS5.
Also used - Fitswork4 to make stars smaller -
layered in with 50% opacity into Photoshop.
I first of all did a LAB mode color boost with a blurred layer mask on the galaxy.
I also did a slight change in stretching to reveal more galaxy contrast.
I used blurred layer masks also for sharpening at 2 pixels then layered in with 50% opacity.
Note: I worked on the largest version of your picture
& then reduced to the same size as the one in your original post.
They were all only minor changes but it made a big difference in the end.
I would need to take more time with the larger version as the smaller
version hides sharpening artifacts etc.

See here for good tips:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ5...Ge66vsuSaXb-0A


cheers
Allan

Fortunately this where only minor changes
I have CS5, but only know the basics. Until now I meanly process my images with PI.

Geert

[gvanhau (Geert)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Hi Geert

That's a pretty good image of NGC55. Along with its near by neighbour NGC 247 it can appear rather bland and uninspiring in many images but I always love seeing the spread of little HII regions along this baby if you can bring them out

Mike

Thanks Mike. I'm still in the learning curve...
Geert

[gvanhau (Geert)]

Originally Posted by rustigsmed

Very nice geert a great rendition.

Cheers
Russ

Thanks Russ