NGC 4365 Region in Virgo

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR FULL SIZE VIEW (3000x2250)

Scope: Explore Scientific MN152 Maksutov Newtonian at f/4.8, Location: DAA Observatory, Shelter Valley, CA,  2 May 2019  Camera: Atik 383L (Astronomik Gen 2  LRGB Filters)

Processing: Data Collection -  Sequence Generator Pro (as FITs).  Exposure calibration, LRGB registration, and stacking (Median combine -  Winsorized Sigma Clipping) - PixInsight.  LRGB channel registration, equalization and gradient removal - PixInsight.  Curves, Levels, RGB combine, Luminance layering - PixInsight. Final finishing  - Photoshop.  RGB calibration - eXcalibrator. Annotation - PixInsight, Aladin (Simbad and NED), and PhotoShop. This image is a  RGB combine with Luminance layering.  Images processed at 3354 x 2529 resolution. Final Image size is approximately  3000 x 2250.

North is up in this image. The dominant (roughly center) object is NGC 4365, an Elliptical Galaxy. But this field contains many other galaxies. There are 16 NGC/IC objects and other smaller or background galaxies including examples of face-on and edge-on spiral galaxies. NGC 4365 is also the most massive of those galaxies in this field under 90 million light years distance. These objects and some of the brighter stars are shown in the annotated image. During the imaging session, this field was visited by the asteroid and minor planet 535 Montague. It can be seen as a "streak"  above NGC 4365 and midway to the top. I assembled a GIF sequence  of this planet's traverse from individual Luminance filter exposures (image below).  Horizontal FOV is about 85'. Image resolution on the full size image is about 1.70 arcsec/pix. 

Image center is approximately - Equatorial 2000: RA: 12h 24m 54.7s Dec: +07°26'38" 

Asteroid and Minor Planet - 535 Montague

approximate position date/time:  May 4, 2019, 05:40 to 08:46 UTC

All images and content remain the property of Jim Thommes - copyright 2003 - 2019

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