NGC 4038 and NGC 4039 in Corvus
|
CLICK
ON IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE VIEW (1800x1350) Scope:
Celestron 9.25 Edge 235 mm at f/7, Location: Laguna Mountains, CA 11
April 2015 Camera: ST8300M Exposure:
Exposure: 16 x 8 min (2x2 bin) exposure, 8 x 4 min (1x1 bin) with UV/IR
block; 8 x 4 min (3x3 bin) RGB exposures. Processing: Data
Collection - Sequence Generator Pro (as FITs). Calibrated, stacked
(Sigma Kappa Combine) in Deep Sky Stacker, L - RGB channel registration,
equalization, central gradient removal - Astroart. Curves, Levels, and
Luminance development, RGB combine - Images Plus. Finishing - Photoshop.
Color calibration with eXcalibrator. This image is UV/IR Block for the Luminance
channel and then a LRGB combine with Luminance layering. Saturation in LAB
color. Final Image size processed at approximately 3352x2532 cropped
and resized to 1800x1350. North is up in this
image. This field shows the two galaxies NGC 4038 and NGC 4039 in
the process of a merger (such a process takes eons). Combined they are known by
the common name of "The Antennae". The distinctive tails can be seen
extending from the merger toward the top and bottom of the image. These galaxies
are also cataloged in Arp's Peculiar Galaxies catalog as Arp 244. Their distance
from Earth is estimated at about 74 million light years (redshift independent
estimate). Also along the lower edge are two smaller galaxies . These
smaller galaxies as well as The Antennae are identified and highlighted in
the annotated image.
The Horizontal FOV is 38' Image
center is approximately - Equatorial 2000: RA: 12h 01m
54s Dec: -18° 52' 00"
|
All images and content remain the property of Jim Thommes - copyright 2003 - 2015 copyright 2003 - 2012Current Web Total Hits - - Unique Visitors |