NGC-300- Spiral Galaxy - Explored December 2, 2020

NGC 300 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Sculptor. It is inclined at an angle of 42° when viewed from Earth and is approximately 94,000 light-years in diameter, which is somewhat smaller than our own Milky Way. It has a very low surface brightness which made it difficult to image from our light polluted driveway.

 

Once again it seems that every image we do is plagued by issues. From crazy gradients, to focusing issues and tracking problems. This image was taken over two nights, but due to clouds rolling in and wind, we only managed a few hours in total. It was also extremely difficult to process due to its low brightness and we spent hours on this one. As it is summer time here at the moment and it really doesn't get dark for imaging until about 10.00pm, we can only get a few hours imaging of the very few clear nights we get. We really need to be getting greater than 10 hours on each target. Perhaps in the winter time.....

 

Equipment Details:

•8 Inch Skywatcher Quattro Carbon Fibre F4.0 Newtonian Reflector

•Skywatcher NEQ6 Mount

•SBIG STT 8300m CCD Camera cooled to -20'c

•SBIG FW8G-STT Filter Wheel

•Baader Lum, Red, Green, Blue Filters

•SKywatcher BD 102mm Guide Scope

•Meade DSIii CCD Guide Camera

•Polemaster for polar alignment

 

Exposure Details:

•Lum 20X300 seconds - Bin 1x1 (Night 1)

•Red 7X300 seconds - Bin 1x1 (Night 2)

•Green 4X300 seconds - Bin 1x1 (Night 2)

•Blue 2X300 seconds - Bin 1x1 (Night 2)

 

Total Integration Time: 2.75 hours

Done