M106

[Juno16]

Happy Saturday Night All!

I did a quick process in Pixinsight on my first images using N.I.N.A. This is M106. Actually, quite a pretty galaxy and much more accessible with my medium range refractor (571mm) using the ASI 533 with its small chip.

Anyway, I ran through this pretty quickly in PI last night. I will post a complete process when I get time, but I am going for round 2 of fostering. A 1 year old lab mix that hopefully I can pick up on Monday. So, I will have other priorities for awhile. Happy to help out this girl who looks like has never had a real home. She was picked up as a stray. Glad to help her out.

This is actually quite a cool looking galaxy and hopefully I did it some justice. N.I.N.A is absolutely a joy to image with. Definitely a keeper!

I had some issues with the target moving around a bit and had to crop some. The field that surrounds M106 is really rich in distant galaxies.

Just a bit from Wikipedia.

Messier 106 (also known as NGC 4258) is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. M106 is at a distance of about 22 to 25 million light-years away from Earth. M106 contains an active nucleus classified as a Type 2 Seyfert, and the presence of a central supermassive black hole has been demonstrated from radio-wavelength observations of the rotation of a disk of molecular gas orbiting within the inner light-year around the black hole.

Very neat target. I imaged it with an IDAS LPA D-1 filter under a 70% illuminated moon. Just over 9 hours of integration over two nights shooting 120 second exposures. Calibrated and processed in Pixinsight.

Thanks for looking!

[starfield]

Wow. The detail you've captured here is great. Super processing. And another lab too... Great that you can foster those pups.

[John Donne]

This is beautiful, Jim !

[messier 111]

fine work , thx .

[Juno16]

@messier 111
@John Donne
Thanks guys!
@starfield much appreciated!
I’m on a 20 year learning curve with PI!

[Gmetric]

Excellent image of M106 with superb detail and colour. Very well done:)

[bobharmony]

That is a boatload of nice detail, Jim. And a new pup too! Good for you, she will enjoy her foster family.

Bob

[Mac]

That's a beauty Jim. Is 9hrs. your longest integration?

[Juno16]

Excellent image of M106 with superb detail and colour. Very well done:)

Thanks ton G! I had a blast!

That is a boatload of nice detail, Jim. And a new pup too! Good for you, she will enjoy her foster family.

Bob

Learning a few things with this one. Shooting in my lp, I don't think that I will ever reach the point of diminishing returns concerning exposure time! It is definitely worth spending two nights imaging one target for image quality.

Also, and this is a big milestone. No manual focus. All data was shot using N.I.N.A.'s autofocus and it did a splendid job. I set it to af every 30 minutes. It added about 2-3 minutes per focus, but a whole lot quicker than moving to a bright star, focusing with the batinov mask, plate solving back to the target, and restarting imaging.

This is my second foster and both have come during the darker phase of the moon and a clear forecast! Looking forward to meeting her on Monday.

Thanks for the nice comments!

That's a beauty Jim. Is 9hrs. your longest integration?

Thanks Steve. Never imaged this target before and I really did not realize how pretty it is.

Yes, my longest at about 9.5 hours. Two nights worth. Well, the first night I was feeling my way around N.I.N.A for a bit at first.

Really like the new PI WBPP script.

Much appreciated!

[Greenman]

Jim that is superb nice star forming at the edges of the spiral, this is a fast processing, cannot wait to see if you can pull more out.

[MariusD69]

Wonderful image! Well done, Jim!

[Juno16]

Jim that is superb nice star forming at the edges of the spiral, this is a fast processing, cannot wait to see if you can pull more out.

Thanks Tony!

I read your post and thought that I would quickly describe my "fast process".

Luckily, my data was fairly decent which always makes processing easier. I just ran through some basic processes in Pixinsight that I am shakily familiar with. On and off, I probably spent a couple of hours in between doing other things.

I would like to revisit the data when I acquire more skill at processing. For now though, quick and crude works for me!

[Graeme1858]

That's brilliant Jim. 9 hours!

I'm glad the NINA auto focus performed for you.

Regards

Graeme

[BABOafrica]

Does not get any better than that unless you using the Hubble.

BABO

[yobbo89]

very nice galaxy image, good to hear nina working out well for you .

[Juno16]

Does not get any better than that unless you using the Hubble.

BABO

Wow, Babo, that is probably the nicest compliment I have ever gotten! Thanks much!

very nice galaxy image, good to hear nina working out well for you .

Very much appreciated Rob!

NINA is a bit different getting used to coming from APT, but I am extremely impressed with it. The main reason for moving was autofocus and it works very well. The application as a whole is very well designed.

Thanks again.

[Jockinireland]

that has come out great Jim, great colours and details.