|
|
|
Instrument |
Takahashi FSQ-106ED @
f/5.0 (530 mm F.L.) Captured at 2.1 arcsec/pixel. The Zoomify
image scale is 2.1 to 9.40 arcsec / pixel. |
|
Mount |
Losmandy G11 with Gemini L4 v1.0 |
|
Camera |
SBIG STF-8300M Self
Guiding Package w/ mono ST-i, using Baader LRGB filters. |
|
Acquisition Data |
2/7/2013 to 3/14/2013 Chino Valley, AZ... with CCDAutoPilot5
& CCDSoft. Off-axis guided. |
|
Exposure |
|
Lum |
430.0
min. (43 x 10 min. bin 1x1) |
|
Red |
161.0 min. (23 x
420 sec. each bin 1x1) |
|
Green
|
193.2 min. (23 x 504
sec .
bin 1x1)
|
|
Blue
|
230.0 min. (23 x 600
sec.
bin 1x1)
|
|
|
Software |
-
CCDSoft, CCDStack,
Photoshop CS6, PixInsight and Noel Carboni's actions.
-
eXcalibrator v4.0 beta for (u-g), (g-r) color balancing, using
32 stars
from the SDSS-DR8 database.
-
CCDStack to calibrate,
register, normalize, data reject, combine the sub exposures and
create the RGB image.
-
PixInsight for
gradient removal and
initial non-linear stretching.
-
PhotoShop for the LRGB
combine & final touch-up.
-
Noiseware 5, a PhotoShop plug-in.
|
|
Comment |
North is to the top.
Across the heart of
the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies lies a striking string of galaxies
known as Markarian's Chain. The chain, pictured above, is
highlighted on the lower right with two large but featureless lenticular galaxies, M84 and M86. Prominent to their left is a
pair of interacting galaxies known as The Eyes.
The home Virgo
Cluster is the nearest cluster of galaxies, contains over 2000
galaxies, and has a noticeable gravitational pull on the galaxies of
the Local Group of Galaxies surrounding our Milky Way Galaxy.
The
center of the Virgo Cluster is located about 70 million light years
away toward the constellation of Virgo. At least seven galaxies in
the chain appear to move coherently, although others appear to be
superposed by chance.
Source:
NASA APOD
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