New Image: Lovely Spiral NGC 3953 and Surounds

[jthommes]

NGC 3953 is a barred spiral with ring - SB(.r)bc - although the ring seems a bit weak to me. Its distance is about 57 million light years. It is joined in this field by MCG+90-20-23 and MGC+90-20-23 - the latter SB(rs)m also barred is about 55 million light years distant.

This field has many background galaxies (more readily seen in the full size zoom-able image). They range from 435 to 1,076 million light years. Further distant are some visible Quasars - they range from 5.85 to 11.36 billion years light travel time (Lookback).

Below is a cropped and down sampled thumbnail image. The full FOV image and details can be accessed at the links below (or by clicking on the image below). The annotated image has a link below but it can also be accessed from the main image webpage as well - or seen on astrobin. The full resolution image has an image scale of about 0.58 arcsec/pixel.

Full size and annotated images have a pan and zoom feature on my website.

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  NGC 3953 Region (Galaxy Crop)

Annotated Image:
NGC 3953 Region Annotated

Images also available on astrobin -NGC 3953 Region

Scope: Celestron 9.25 Edge HD 235 mm at f/7
Camera: ASI294MM (Baader LRGB Filters)
Location: DAA Observatory, Shelter Valley, CA

[Graeme1858]

That's a good looking galaxy Jim and it's tiny at 5' x 2' (I just looked it up!)

I just had a look at your DAA observatory build images. Good job!

Graeme

[MariusD69]

Wonderful image! Very well done, Jim!!

[Juno16]

That is a wonderful image with the “star” of the show, NGC 3953, highlighting the capture.

It’s amazing that you can get this level of detail in (as Graeme mentioned) such a tiny target.

Beautiful details and colors!

[messier 111]

superb image , love the details , thx .

[Mirrorgirl]

lovely Jim great work

[JayTee]

Jim, I always look forward to your latest work. This is a beauty!

Nicely done,

[Ylem]

That's amazing Jim, beautiful image!

[jthommes]

That's a good looking galaxy Jim and it's tiny at 5' x 2' (I just looked it up!)

I just had a look at your DAA observatory build images. Good job!

Graeme

Thanks Graeme.
The 1645 mm focal length is just what is needed for these small targets. Of course many go beyond that, but I am comfortable with that FL. I find I can manage it most of the time (except for when the breeze kicks up).

Thanks for checking out the observatory images. The campus was established by a group of local astronomers in late 2016 and we were built out on the initial phase by 2019. Its been in regular service since then and I couldn't be happier with it - I am getting too old for the "camping out type" of astronomy. Instead we built observatories at a dark site. Late last year, we added a 4th observatory to the campus (and a new associate), so things have changed a little bit since those images were taken.

[jthommes]

That is a wonderful image with the “star” of the show, NGC 3953, highlighting the capture.

It’s amazing that you can get this level of detail in (as Graeme mentioned) such a tiny target.

Beautiful details and colors!

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Thanks for the comment Jim! I am just amazed at all the new PI tools coming out that we have to pick from. I think this image really benefited from some of these tools.

[jthommes]

Wonderful image! Very well done, Jim!!

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Thanks Marius I appreciate the comment!
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superb image , love the details , thx .

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Thanks for the comment Jean-Yves!
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lovely Jim great work

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Thanks Rhoda!
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Jim, I always look forward to your latest work. This is a beauty!

Nicely done,

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Thanks JT! I Am just seeing that you have been doing this astronomy stuff since 1966 - congrats!
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That's amazing Jim, beautiful image!

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Thanks Jeff! I appreciate the comment.

[Mac]

That's an awesome image Jim. Great processing too!

[starfield]

Wonderful shot Jim, that Edge really does a nice job on tiny targets (when then wind isn't howling). Great colors, detail, and silky smooth too.

[Jockinireland]

Thats a really wonderful image and superb processing.

[jthommes]

That's an awesome image Jim. Great processing too!

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Thanks Steve! I appreciate the comment!
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Wonderful shot Jim, that Edge really does a nice job on tiny targets (when then wind isn't howling). Great colors, detail, and silky smooth too.

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Thanks for the comment Steve! Yes, this focal length is sensitive to wind. But the Edge HD is kinda squat - there isn't a lot of moment in the scope. So if the breeze kicks up, I can remove the dew shield and be a little more tolerant.
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Thats a really wonderful image and superb processing.

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Thanks, I appreciate the comment.

[bernhardhubl]

Hello Jim,

Wonderful image of this nice galaxy group!

best,
Bernhard

[jthommes]

Hello Jim,

Wonderful image of this nice galaxy group!

best,
Bernhard

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Thanks for the comment Bernhard