NGC 5139 a test of resolution

[Hagar (Doug)]

Last night started out looking like it was going to be a great night. I thought I might take an image of NGC 5139, NGC 5128and fill in the gap between which isn't very much with this chip and the FSQ.
By the time I got aligned and started imaging the clouds had come roaring in and all I managed was 1 X 2 minute exposures of each LRGB of 5139.
I compiled this image and was quite amazed at how well it was resolved for just 8 minutes in total and for such a small target.

Telescope: FSQ106ED at f5
Camera: Atik 11002M
Baader LRGB Filters


I have added 4 images.
1. NGC 5139 combined image (Moon Gradients and all.
2. Starry night image of this area.
3. Starry night overlayed on my image.
4. A huge crop of 5139.

I am amazed at what this camera can do even with such short exposures and lots of cloud drifting through. The Lum channel was almost unusable due to cloud.

Comments welcomed.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Real nice field. Lovely resolution and colors.

[Dennis]

When the conditions are that bad Doug and with such little data to work with, I suspect your image processing skills were the main factor in rescuing the data to produce the pleasing wide field and the very nice close up.

Nice work!

Cheers

Dennis

[Hagar (Doug)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Real nice field. Lovely resolution and colors.

Thanks Marc.

Originally Posted by Dennis

When the conditions are that bad Doug and with such little data to work with, I suspect your image processing skills were the main factor in rescuing the data to produce the pleasing wide field and the very nice close up.

Nice work!

Cheers

Dennis

Thanks Dennis

Although my processing has improved considerably you still need good data to work with to bring out any sort of detail. I am really trying to show how well this camera work from a point of view of resolution. With such little data I was able to resolve a couple of very small galaxies. I was surprised.

[richardo (Rich)]

Hi Doug,
pretty amazing for 8mins....
I liked your cropped version.
Reminds me of the view when peering down an eye piece as I can vaguely remember.

What's going on with your full version, looks like you have some vignetting issues?

Rich

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Yawn, get on with it Doug, enough with "testing"

[Hagar (Doug)]

Originally Posted by Bassnut

Yawn, get on with it Doug, enough with "testing"

Can't do much else Fred when I only get 8 minutes of sky a night. Then of course I have to test it all again on the little RC8. Sorry but I am excited I had not expected quite so big a jump in resolution.

[Hagar (Doug)]

Originally Posted by richardo

Hi Doug,
pretty amazing for 8mins....
I liked your cropped version.
Reminds me of the view when peering down an eye piece as I can vaguely remember.

What's going on with your full version, looks like you have some vignetting issues?

Rich

Thanks Rich but I think it is just a gradient / reflection issue with a good bit of moon bouncing off the clouds. This combo doesn't seem to suffer vignetting although I used no calibration files with this image.

[TrevorW]

Great combo Doug, good result considering

[Hagar (Doug)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Great combo Doug, good result considering

Thanks Trevor, If this weather ever turns I might be able to capture something decent but with a months caravan holiday coming in August it may be dificult.