NGC253

NGC253 is a large and beautiful spiral galaxy in Sculptor. For northern viewers and imagers, it is quite low in the sky, making it difficult to capture well. Still, it is an object well worth pursuing at a magnitude of 7.1 and size of 25'x5'. This particular image had severe gradients, arising from the power supply LEDs, laptop and STV-D displays, which entered the scope's open truss structure!

Please use the links to scan the larger versions of this image. This image is a 35 percent of full sized reduction and cropped on the sides.

Image info:

10" Homebuilt Newtonian

Starlight Express
SXV-M25

19x4 mins

f/4.58

Stacked (w/SD) and color conversion in Maxim, ddp in Astroart and tweaks in PS (no darks or flats)

guided with the Tak Sky90 and STV-D

12.12.04

Chiefland, FL