Ngc 5068 - 5084

[markas (Mark)]

This was shot from Macedon 8th May - the sky cleared for once!!!!
The two galaxies aren't often imaged singly or together. Time was very limited, so it is just 3hr RGB. I'd like to hope I can add to the data, but all the pointers are that it won't be this May...

FOV of the main pic is ~70' x 100', and the two crops are ~ 20' x 22'.

In the full image I counted 15+ galaxies - some very faint.

Final LRGB image processed in Pixinsight - a synthetic L built from all 36 subs.

Telescope alignment is not quite spot on - I hope only one iteration away!

Incidentally, the spiral on the left is about 22Mly distant, but the lenticular on the right is 80Mly away. It is really massive - about 10 times the size of the Milky Way!

[Placidus (Mike and Trish)]

That's very fine! The colour contrast between the two is amazing. Well done!

[Atmos (Colin)]

It’s all come together very well for a short integration!

[markas (Mark)]

Colin and M&T,

Thanks for the comments. Lots more data would, I think, bring some detail to the main galaxies and show the distant faint one better.

Mark

[atalas]

Wonderful galaxy choice....colour, detail nice... good work for such a short exposure too Mark

[markas (Mark)]

Thanks Louie.

Mark

[topheart]

Very nice!!
Cheers,
Tim

[markas (Mark)]

Thanks Tim.

[RickS (Rick)]

A lovely contrasting pair, Mark!

[markas (Mark)]

Thanks Rick - PCC and judicious Arcsinh stretch (not too much!) are great tools for images like this


Mark