This is my fourth galaxy image in a row now (actually fifth, my last FSQ shot was the SMC ), hey it's that time of the year (just call me Lee Borsboom )...maybe time to shoot something new ...I was going to hit a PN ....but I just loooove galaxies
Anyhoo...conditions were clear but the seeing was only fairly average for my site (still, not too bad) but still got some decent detail, considering...plus the transparency was certainly affected by the NSW bushfires (I won't complain though, the affect on astroimaging is of little consequence, considering the devastation caused ) and some annoying high thin, almost invisible to the naked eye, cloud at times.
At a distance of about 40 million light years, in the southern constellation of Columba, NGC 1808 is undergoing a significant period of star birth with an active bright core and as such, is classified as a Seyfert spiral galaxy.
It has a modest apparent size of 6.5' X 3.5' and while the active inner regions are quite bright, the outer spiral arms are diffuse and relatively faint. Overall it has an apparent magnitude of 10.8
NGC 1808 (click on image and scroll around with your cursor)
For a surf around the full size image looking for faint fuzzies (there are some beaut ones), go HERE
For a good overall view, try shrinking the full size image in your browser to fit it all on your screen
Mike
Last edited by strongmanmike; 27-11-2019 at 12:22 AM.
Awesome work, Mike. This is one of my favourite galaxies and you've done a great job on it. I would never have guessed that the seeing was fairly average; resolution is great! Oh and this is vastly cooler than a planetary neb :p
Superb image Mike!
I counted at least 2 dozen teeny tiny galaxies in the BG as well
Not a huge fan of bunging the target right in the middle of the frame, but
that's probably nit picking - as there's so much to explore around the target.
Great picture Mike,
you picked up the wild center of the galaxy and yes there are so many other galaxies showing too.
cheers
Allan
Thanks Big Al
Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hothersall
I had my eye on this galaxy because of its fantastic core dust detail which you captured well. Great bright star colour contrast too.
John.
Cheers John, you going to have a crack at it?...so many galaxies to choose from this time of year
Quote:
Originally Posted by codemonkey
Awesome work, Mike. This is one of my favourite galaxies and you've done a great job on it. I would never have guessed that the seeing was fairly average; resolution is great! Oh and this is vastly cooler than a planetary neb :p
Ah, Lee, thank you sir yes thank goodness for DDP, USM and... decon (did I say that..? ) ...but no tiny sharp intense dots, spider web strands or thin wiggly worms to be seen Some PN's are pretty cool though...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Retrograde
Another gorgeous galaxy image Mike.
The core of this one is really interesting - great job on bringing out the details.
Thanks Rod, yeah the core on this one is great
Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy01
Superb image Mike!
I counted at least 2 dozen teeny tiny galaxies in the BG as well
Not a huge fan of bunging the target right in the middle of the frame, but
that's probably nit picking - as there's so much to explore around the target.
Tis a great image!
Thanks Andy In many cases, I agree on the bunging bit, especially nebulae...but galaxies and most PN's are small and circular so unless there is something else you can fit in your field that is genuinely interesting, like an asterism perhaps or another significant galaxy, there isn't much that can be done but put it in the sweet spot (middle). Off setting the galaxy in the frame, just for the sake of it, can look a little odd in itself..? Of course I can always crop the frame in a certain way to perhaps create a more interesting composition, but the plethora of background galaxies are just as interesting as the composition I recon
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bart
Stop it Mike, you're hurting me! Five in a row!
Simply gorgeous, lovely processing, lots to see in the background and wonderful star colour!
Sweet image mike. I imaged that one a while ago also but I like your rendition.
You can see dust rising near the core. Great colours too.
Greg.
Cheers Greg, Yeah, it was those rising dust tendrils that persuaded me to shoot it when deciding between the long list of galaxies available this time of year the cool background galaxies are always a bonus too
Still getting used to the new gear. Very smoky too. We did half a night of L and half a night of RGB. Looks ok but not very deep. Then at new moon we did 5 hours of L on 1365, which was sharper and clearer than our 2016 effort so coming together
Nice main target and the diversity of back ground galaxies are very nice too. I like that one on the upper left and those two that appear to be interacting not far from that.
I think I can see two very faint extensions to the faint arms. The top on appears to go over that distant spiral just above the galaxy and the other looks like it juts out near that small face on barred spiral below. Perhaps resulting from a merger in the past.
), hey it's that time of the year 
(just call me Lee Borsboom 
)...maybe time to shoot something new 
...I was going to hit a PN 
) and some annoying high thin, almost invisible to the naked eye, cloud at times.
) ...but no tiny sharp intense dots, spider web strands or thin wiggly worms to be seen 
