Abell 2199 Galaxy Cluster in Hercules

Astrophotography: share your photos & discuss techniques
User avatar
AndyG
Network Admin
Posts: 1160
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:18 pm

Abell 2199 Galaxy Cluster in Hercules

Unread post by AndyG »

Lots of galaxies :shock: in this image of galaxy cluster Abell 2199 in Hercules.

Click for a larger version with galaxies annotated. The image is based on 20.5 hours of 5-6 minute subs taken over 8 nights in May-June.

Image
Andy
User avatar
bluemax
10+ Years Member
Posts: 817
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2009 5:00 pm

Re: Abell 2199 Galaxy Cluster in Hercules

Unread post by bluemax »

You posted at 4:25 AM, must be a nighthawk! How the heck do you image all night and work all day?

This image looks like one of the deep Hubble images, very nice!
Frank N

Stellarvue 80mm APO, Skyguider Pro, Celestron AVX

"I'm a seeker too. But my dreams aren't like yours. I can't help thinking that somewhere in the universe there has to be something better than man. Has to be"

Taylor in "Planet of the Apes" 1968
User avatar
Stargrrl
Treasurer
Posts: 979
Joined: Mon May 01, 2006 5:51 pm

Re: Abell 2199 Galaxy Cluster in Hercules

Unread post by Stargrrl »

I was going to say, who needs a Hubble telescope? :lol: An amazing image and clearly a lot of work went into it, congrats on such a stunner Andy - Rebekah
RebekahB
ASSNE Meetup Page (all public events): http://www.meetup.com/ASSNE-MA-RI
Explore Scientific AR102 refractor/Garrett Optical 30x100 binos/Oberwerk P-Mount
"Then felt I like some watcher of the skies / When a new planet swims into her ken..."
User avatar
Apollo XX
MSSF Coordinator
Posts: 2785
Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2010 8:11 pm

Re: Abell 2199 Galaxy Cluster in Hercules

Unread post by Apollo XX »

Wow! Very nice! Really lends perspective to our existence too.

Mike M.
"The purpose of life is the investigation of the Sun, the Moon, and the heavens." - Anaxagoras
User avatar
Pete
Astro Day Coordinator
Posts: 3999
Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2003 9:03 pm

Re: Abell 2199 Galaxy Cluster in Hercules

Unread post by Pete »

Can't fool me Andy. Impossible to have that many galaxies. That's just an unfocused star field :mrgreen:

Actually, I am intrigued by how you align and combine star fields from different nights. Going long = going deep. And exposure time trumps aperture as you're doing better than Mt Palomar before the introduction of digital cameras in 1983 .

Pete
Pete P.
Bruce D
Life Member
Posts: 5624
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2003 6:10 am

Re: Abell 2199 Galaxy Cluster in Hercules

Unread post by Bruce D »

Amazing Andy, beautiful image on many levels.

What scope etc. or did I miss that?
Bruce D
User avatar
AndyG
Network Admin
Posts: 1160
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:18 pm

Re: Abell 2199 Galaxy Cluster in Hercules

Unread post by AndyG »

Thanks Frank, Rebekah, Mike, Pete, Bruce!
Apollo XX wrote:Really lends perspective to our existence too.
I agree, it's mind boggling to think how that region of the sky in the image can easily fit within the fingernail of your little finger held at arm's length, representing just 1/380000th of the sky :shock: with all those galaxies contained in that tiny window ...
Andy
User avatar
AndyG
Network Admin
Posts: 1160
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:18 pm

Re: Abell 2199 Galaxy Cluster in Hercules

Unread post by AndyG »

ASSNE Prime wrote:What scope etc. or did I miss that?
I forgot to add that. I updated the image page with the info. It was my 10" RC scope at l=2000mm, guided using an AO, mounted on my G11 mount. The camera is my QSI683. Full details now on the image page below the image.
Pete wrote:I am intrigued by how you align and combine star fields from different nights.
The star alignment tool in PixInsight makes the alignment easy (automated). It seems to work well even when there is field rotation over the course of a month, or even when I rotate the camera or inconsistently align the target. The batch processing of all 228 subs -- calibration with darks, flats, and bias frames, alignment, and stacking -- ran for several hours but did not require any intervention. I botched the process a bit since some of the older subs should have used a different set of flats because the camera was rotated. I think this is what caused the circular artifacts in the background. I just can't bring myself to go back and redo all the calibration and processing :oops:
Andy
User avatar
bluemax
10+ Years Member
Posts: 817
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2009 5:00 pm

Re: Abell 2199 Galaxy Cluster in Hercules

Unread post by bluemax »

Andy, I am contemplating a new processing software and Pixinsight seems to be a good one. Do I understand that, you capture with SG and process with PI? Thanks again for sharing what you do :P
Frank N

Stellarvue 80mm APO, Skyguider Pro, Celestron AVX

"I'm a seeker too. But my dreams aren't like yours. I can't help thinking that somewhere in the universe there has to be something better than man. Has to be"

Taylor in "Planet of the Apes" 1968
User avatar
AndyG
Network Admin
Posts: 1160
Joined: Wed Nov 30, 2011 10:18 pm

Re: Abell 2199 Galaxy Cluster in Hercules

Unread post by AndyG »

bluemax wrote:Do I understand that, you capture with SG and process with PI?
That's right, I use SGP (Sequence Generator Pro) for controlling the camera, framing targets (plate solving), focusing, etc., and PixInsight for processing. Both programs have free trial licenses so you can try them out first.
Andy
Post Reply