NGC 4565 (The Flying Saucer Galaxy)

    NGC 4565 (UGC 7772), Magnitude 9.60 Sb Spiral Galaxy, Size 16.0'x3.0', Constellation: Coma Berenices.

Image Details:

• Scope: Celestron Ultima 8 OTA.
• Mount: Celestron AS-GT.
• Camera: Meade DSI.
• Configuration: f/3.3 focal reducer, both spacers.
• Effective Focal Length: 609mm, f/3.
• Exposure:  20 images @30 seconds.
• Acquisition software: Meade Envisage.
• Guiding: None.
• Location: Georgia Sky View, Indian Springs State Park, Jackson, Georgia.
• Date: 22 April 2006.
• Post Processing: Meade IP, Adobe Photoshop.
• Procedures: unsharp masking, Levels, JPG conversion.

Comments: The Saucer is wonderful in almost any scope, from almost any skies, but under dark skies with a medium aperture instrument, it becomes a mind-blower. This edge on stretches all the way across the field of even a big, honkin' Nagler.

This saucer cruises deep space at the not inconsiderable distance of 31 million light years. Not far as cosmic distances go, but that's still a big, big number for silly little creatures such as ourselves to grasp.

Through a comedy of errors, I lost the original file for this image. I'm not displeased with the above image, but I think I can do better and want to try again soon.

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