NGC1097 with tidal streams

[gregbradley]

I was looking over this image I took last year and noticed it had more data to reveal.

There are 2 tidal streams of stars coming off this galaxy that were picked up in the image. It was taken during a night of excellent seeing.

I have processed it to show these tidal streams which seem to be more common with galaxies than perhaps first thought.

About 5 hours total exposure, FLI ML8300, Tak BRC250, Baader Clear RGB filters. Taken at my dark site observatory.

http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/125180001

Greg.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Very nice! I remember seeing a similar shot on Jay Gabany's website. Very well done indeed. Very good processing. Detailed and soft.

[Peter Ward]

No gradients, pristine tight stars , great S/N matched with tidy processing...nicely done indeed

[h0ughy (David)]

Wow – excellent – looks like the famed Ben Lexen’s winged keel. Nicely extracted

[Octane (Humayun)]

Greg,

Fabulous! Looks like a kiwi!

H

[Tom Davis (Tom)]

Marvelous image Greg!

Tom

[madwayne (Wayne)]

Great image Greg, just stunning.

To me, a long suffering Parramatta Eels fan, it looks like the Walking Eel Galaxy.

Wayne

[Martin Pugh]

Well done Greg in teasing this detail out.
This is becoming a very popular pursuit it would seem and there has been a couple of APODs showing these tidal streams.

The BRC250/dark sky combination is certainly what is needed.

Great work
cheers
Martin

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Very nice! I remember seeing a similar shot on Jay Gabany's website. Very well done indeed. Very good processing. Detailed and soft.

Yes there is also an ESO image showing it as well.

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

No gradients, pristine tight stars , great S/N matched with tidy processing...nicely done indeed

Thanks. I occasionally get it right. Now to do it regularly.

Originally Posted by h0ughy

Wow – excellent – looks like the famed Ben Lexen’s winged keel. Nicely extracted

Thanks David. It was nice to see it there and bring it out and then check on the net to see a large scope had picked up the same thing so I was sure it wasn't some sort of gradient or artifact.

Originally Posted by Octane

Greg,

Fabulous! Looks like a kiwi!

H

hehe, thanks.

Originally Posted by Tom Davis

Marvelous image Greg!

Tom

Thanks Tom. I may end up being a tidal stream specialist!

Originally Posted by madwayne

Great image Greg, just stunning.

To me, a long suffering Parramatta Eels fan, it looks like the Walking Eel Galaxy.

Wayne

You can have that name for it.

Originally Posted by Martin Pugh

Well done Greg in teasing this detail out.
This is becoming a very popular pursuit it would seem and there has been a couple of APODs showing these tidal streams.

The BRC250/dark sky combination is certainly what is needed.

Great work
cheers
Martin

Thanks Martin. Yes it is the popular galaxy pursuit. Its nice to have one in the Southern Hemisphere.