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Astrophotography

Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565) in Coma Berenices
Author Last Post
5/22/2018 4:44 PM
Chad,

I captured ten luminance exposures of 600 seconds each, followed by ten RGB binned 2x2 at 300 seconds. That equates to a total integration time of 4.08 hours. Of course, given set up, alignment checks, and one event of China syndrome at the meridian flip, it took about six hours of real time. 

Given the 0.7 reducer, the Edge HD 1100 scope was operating at about a two-meter focal length. When it worked, the Meade LX850 mount performed quite well but I had to PEC train (three runs) each night because of software glitches that required a hot shut-down. I lost several images the first night because the new worm gear was uneven. I was pleasantly surprised at how well this one came out. The location was also under a shallow inversion that degraded the seeing. 

The Starlock on the Meade LX850 is an amazing piece of technology, but the rest of the mount software is a jumbled mess and Meade decided they do not need to supply replacement parts when something like the RA drive fails. As a result the drive gears were hand crafted at a machine shop and are less than perfect. 

Jeff

On May 21, 2018, at 7:34 AM, Astrophotography <astrophotography@centexastronomy.org> wrote:

Jeff,
That is amazing! How long was the integration time?
5/21/2018 7:32 AM
Jeff,
That is amazing! How long was the integration time?
5/19/2018 5:54 PM
Yep. My wife used to ask me why I did all this when I could just download wonderful images off the internet from NASA. I said it was the thrill of knowing that you could personally capture the data (despite all of the obstacles) and make a very pretty picture that only a very few people in the world can do.

So even though I now have many images they still cost about $200 each. Ha Ha.

Have a good weekend. Glad you really enjoyed the TSP.

Aubrey

-----Original Message-----
From: mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com [mailto:mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com] On Behalf Of Astrophotography
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2018 5:29 PM
To: abrickhouse1@att.net
Subject: re: Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565) in Coma Berenices <<$197165871099$>>




Aubrey, I have one more to process, so that equates to about $200 per image. Of course, I bought the meal plan and paid for an RV slot too!
Astrophotography is like deer hunting. Long ago when I used to get my tag limit every year I totaled up the cost per pound of venison. Prime filet mignon is cheaper!
It is not the image for me but the getting it. I went to this TSP questioning that I had the endurance or the skill to shoot relatively faint galaxies at a two-meter focal length other than the relatively easy shots like Andromeda. When I finally got everything working (for a while) and got some stable exposures, the thrill was amazing. I felt alive! It may have taken me three days to get there and get set up, but I did it! The thrill of that final moment when an image I have struggled with and had to back up and start over time after time finally comes out and someone says, "Wow! You did that!" is worth all the pain, exhaustion, heat, frustration, time, and money. Without the challenge and the overcoming of what seemed to be impossible obstacles, life is not worth living, and I will begin to die.
This year I got better images than ever before. When I can no longer write that, life will have lost a lot of meaning.
Jeff
On Sat, May 19, 2018 at 11:46 AM Astrophotography <astrophotography@centexastronomy.org> wrote:
Excellent image Jeff. That now gets you cost down to $300 each for the two pictures.
Just kidding. That’s how I used to think when I went to TSP and returned with one picture.

Aubrey

-----Original Message-----
From: mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com [mailto:mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com] On Behalf Of Astrophotography
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2018 12:19 AM
To: abrickhouse1@att.net
Subject: Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565) in Coma Berenices <<$197135070330$>>




Second image from TSP this year, the Needle or Spindle Galaxy (NGC 4565). In the image several other galaxies can be seen, NGC 4562 in the lower left (SW), NGC 4565B in the lower right, UGC 7778 right side center, and IC 3572 just to the right of the Needle are the most prominent.

Image captured with a Celestron Edge HD 1100 w/0.71 reducer, using an SBIG 8300STF camera mounted on a Meade LX850 with Starlock. Lum exposure was 600 seconds x10 1x1. RGB 300 seconds x 10 2x2 binned. Captured and processed in Nebulosity 4 with final touchup in Adobe Lightroom 5.

Attachment(s):
File: Needle_Galaxy_2018.jpg (783.0 KB) -- Address: http://s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpressClubFiles/901132/attach/1971350_0_Needle_Galaxy_2018.jpg
5/19/2018 5:44 PM
Very nice image Jeff.

Dave

---------- Original Message ----------
From: "Astrophotography" <astrophotography@centexastronomy.org>
To: "jde209@netzero.net" <jde209@netzero.net>
Subject: Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565) in Coma Berenices <<$197135070330$>>
Date: Sat, 19 May 2018 00:19:23 -0500




Second image from TSP this year, the Needle or Spindle Galaxy (NGC 4565). In the image several other galaxies can be seen, NGC 4562 in the lower left (SW), NGC 4565B in the lower right, UGC 7778 right side center, and IC 3572 just to the right of the Needle are the most prominent.

Image captured with a Celestron Edge HD 1100 w/0.71 reducer, using an SBIG 8300STF camera mounted on a Meade LX850 with Starlock. Lum exposure was 600 seconds x10 1x1. RGB 300 seconds x 10 2x2 binned. Captured and processed in Nebulosity 4 with final touchup in Adobe Lightroom 5.

Attachment(s):
File: Needle_Galaxy_2018.jpg (783.0 KB) -- Address: http://s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpressClubFiles/901132/attach/1971350_0_Needle_Galaxy_2018.jpg
5/19/2018 5:18 PM
Aubrey, I have one more to process, so that equates to about $200 per image. Of course, I bought the meal plan and paid for an RV slot too!

Astrophotography is like deer hunting. Long ago when I used to get my tag limit every year I totaled up the cost per pound of venison. Prime filet mignon is cheaper!

It is not the image for me but the getting it. I went to this TSP questioning that I had the endurance or the skill to shoot relatively faint galaxies at a two-meter focal length other than the relatively easy shots like Andromeda. When I finally got everything working (for a while) and got some stable exposures, the thrill was amazing. I felt alive! It may have taken me three days to get there and get set up, but I did it! The thrill of that final moment when an image I have struggled with and had to back up and start over time after time finally comes out and someone says, "Wow! You did that!" is worth all the pain, exhaustion, heat, frustration, time, and money. Without the challenge and the overcoming of what seemed to be impossible obstacles, life is not worth living, and I will begin to die. 

This year I got better images than ever before. When I can no longer write that, life will have lost a lot of meaning. 

Jeff

On Sat, May 19, 2018 at 11:46 AM Astrophotography <astrophotography@centexastronomy.org> wrote:
Excellent image Jeff. That now gets you cost down to $300 each for the two pictures.
Just kidding. That’s how I used to think when I went to TSP and returned with one picture.

Aubrey

-----Original Message-----
From: mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com [mailto:mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com] On Behalf Of Astrophotography
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2018 12:19 AM
To: abrickhouse1@att.net
Subject: Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565) in Coma Berenices <<$197135070330$>>




Second image from TSP this year, the Needle or Spindle Galaxy (NGC 4565). In the image several other galaxies can be seen, NGC 4562 in the lower left (SW), NGC 4565B in the lower right, UGC 7778 right side center, and IC 3572 just to the right of the Needle are the most prominent.

Image captured with a Celestron Edge HD 1100 w/0.71 reducer, using an SBIG 8300STF camera mounted on a Meade LX850 with Starlock. Lum exposure was 600 seconds x10 1x1. RGB 300 seconds x 10 2x2 binned. Captured and processed in Nebulosity 4 with final touchup in Adobe Lightroom 5.

Attachment(s):
File: Needle_Galaxy_2018.jpg (783.0 KB) -- Address: http://s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpressClubFiles/901132/attach/1971350_0_Needle_Galaxy_2018.jpg
5/19/2018 11:38 AM
Excellent image Jeff. That now gets you cost down to $300 each for the two pictures.
Just kidding. That’s how I used to think when I went to TSP and returned with one picture.

Aubrey

-----Original Message-----
From: mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com [mailto:mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com] On Behalf Of Astrophotography
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2018 12:19 AM
To: abrickhouse1@att.net
Subject: Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565) in Coma Berenices <<$197135070330$>>




Second image from TSP this year, the Needle or Spindle Galaxy (NGC 4565). In the image several other galaxies can be seen, NGC 4562 in the lower left (SW), NGC 4565B in the lower right, UGC 7778 right side center, and IC 3572 just to the right of the Needle are the most prominent.

Image captured with a Celestron Edge HD 1100 w/0.71 reducer, using an SBIG 8300STF camera mounted on a Meade LX850 with Starlock. Lum exposure was 600 seconds x10 1x1. RGB 300 seconds x 10 2x2 binned. Captured and processed in Nebulosity 4 with final touchup in Adobe Lightroom 5.

Attachment(s):
File: Needle_Galaxy_2018.jpg (783.0 KB) -- Address: http://s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpressClubFiles/901132/attach/1971350_0_Needle_Galaxy_2018.jpg
5/19/2018 10:43 AM

By far one of my favorite galaxies to view optically.  You've captured it beautifully. 

 

Johnny

-----Original Message-----
From: "Astrophotography" <astrophotography@centexastronomy.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2018 12:19am
To: "johnnyb@reagan.com" <johnnyb@reagan.com>
Subject: Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565) in Coma Berenices <<$197135070330$>>




Second image from TSP this year, the Needle or Spindle Galaxy (NGC 4565). In the image several other galaxies can be seen, NGC 4562 in the lower left (SW), NGC 4565B in the lower right, UGC 7778 right side center, and IC 3572 just to the right of the Needle are the most prominent.

Image captured with a Celestron Edge HD 1100 w/0.71 reducer, using an SBIG 8300STF camera mounted on a Meade LX850 with Starlock. Lum exposure was 600 seconds x10 1x1. RGB 300 seconds x 10 2x2 binned. Captured and processed in Nebulosity 4 with final touchup in Adobe Lightroom 5.

Attachment(s):
File: Needle_Galaxy_2018.jpg (783.0 KB) -- Address: http://s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpressClubFiles/901132/attach/1971350_0_Needle_Galaxy_2018.jpg
5/19/2018 12:17 AM
Second image from TSP this year, the Needle or Spindle Galaxy (NGC 4565). In the image several other galaxies can be seen, NGC 4562 in the lower left (SW), NGC 4565B in the lower right, UGC 7778 right side center, and IC 3572 just to the right of the Needle are the most prominent.

Image captured with a Celestron Edge HD 1100 w/0.71 reducer, using an SBIG 8300STF camera mounted on a Meade LX850 with Starlock. Lum exposure was 600 seconds x10 1x1. RGB 300 seconds x 10 2x2 binned. Captured and processed in Nebulosity 4 with final touchup in Adobe Lightroom 5.
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