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M104 - Sombrero in Virgo

 

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Scope: C8  f/7.5, Location: Laguna Mountains, CA, 3 May, 2008  Camera: Artemis285

Exposure: 10 x 4 minutes Luminance exposures with IR block (2x2 bin), 4 x 4 minutes IR Block (1x1 bin), 8 x 2 minutes RGB exposures (3x3 bin).

Processing: Images were captured Artemis Capture (as FITs). Aligned/stacked and dark subtracted in Astroart with Sigma Combine. Luminance and Color channels were scaled and rough color balanced in Astroart.  Gradient removal was performed in Astroart on each exposure stack. Channels were co-registered in Astroart. The 4 minute IR block (2x2 bin) exposures were used for the main luminance construction. The (1x1 bin) exposures were used for improved star size and galaxy detail. Level adjustments and curves adjustments were used to bring out object features. LRGB combine was done in Photoshop. G2V  factors applied to color channels; Atmospheric Extinction factors were applied to color channels. Selective sharpening (with mask) was used to enhance galaxy features. A light noise reduction was applied with PixInsight LE SGBNR.  Final touches were done in Photoshop.  Final Image size is approximately 1392x1040

North is up in this image. M104 is an interesting galaxy first for its distinctive outer disk dust lane. This galaxy is also known as the Sombrero Galaxy because of its appearance. It is believed to have a very rich population of globular clusters. M104 is in the constellation of Virgo. It is estimated at 50  million light years from Earth.  This image replaces an earlier image in the Archives here.  Horizontal FOV is 20'

Image center is approximately - Equatorial 2000: RA: 12h 40m 00s Dec: -11°37'00"

 

All images and content remain the property of Jim Thommes - copyright 2003 - 2012

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