A night of galaxy pics pt 1

[Skywatcher]

Well I was just itching to have a play as I haven't been out deep sky photographing for ages now, unfortunately all the lovely nebulae that I love to take pics of are now out of view as they all reside within our Milky Way Galaxy and Spring is a time when the milky way slides from view and lets us gaze out into the deepest darkest areas of space

Is it empty ? not a bit of it.......

Mentioned Leo in the last thread on how to see Saturn - well Leo has 3 galaxies tucked away that look beautiful through the scope these are called the trio or the 'cubs'

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb84/sidleydoc/leotripletsmal.jpg

I like the edge on one at the top.

The 2 very different galaxies in Ursa Major - a few other little ones if you look hard enough

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb84/sidleydoc/8182widesmall.jpg

The Swirly one is called Bodes galaxy and I'm not really happy with it but it is the best I have so far - you can see a dust lane near the core and there is a hint of some coloured blobs in the arms wich are neblae within this very very distant galaxy

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb84/sidleydoc/81small.jpg

The other is being pulled by the gravity of the larger and is called the Cigar galaxy as it looks like it is on fire as well as its shape

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb84/sidleydoc/82small.jpg

The last is the Sombrero galaxy much better photographed from further south on the planet and with an entirely different kind of scope but it is edge on to us and kind of bulges in the middle - this was really low and just over a streetlight

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb84/sidleydoc/sombreroclose.jpg

[Tink]

I always feel so inadequate when trying to convey how utterly awed I am at your photographs of the universe. Thank you. :hug1:

[mumof2]

WOW! I just don't know what to say! :thumbsup:

[foreverducky]

I am also always in awe! These pictures always seem to put my life in perspective and I greatly appreciate that.

[Keith]

absolutely completely awe inspiring

[Beccaberry]

:worship:

[Claire]

Thank you, not just for the incredible photos but for taking the time to explain what I'm seeing!

[catrancher]

Did you apply any filters or significant post processing to these or is this the raw imagery? :questionmark:

Spectacular by any measure! :yes:

Tom (:macwave:... Oh freddled gruntbuggly...)

[Skywatcher]

Tom they are a stack of 15- 20, 5 minute photos for each subject - each resultant tiff is then post processed in photoshop to try and bring out some of the detail and get rid of the light pollution. I do use a light pollution filter as well. you can see the galaxies on each of the individual snaps but they need fiddling wit until I am happy , which I rarely am

[Watchinherskip]

Aw, SW...i am blocked out again at work. I can never see them here! I will certainly have a look see tonight. Can't wait to see them.

[Britchick]

exellent photos Chris :thumbsup:

[Skywatcher]

Thanks chaps :D

All the frustrationof weeks without anything blown away in a few hours