|
Object |
Centaurus
A/ Ngc 5128 |
|
Info |
NGC 5128
is also known as the radio source Centaurus A
(nearest of this type ).
Located in the constellation Centaurus,
Centaurus A emits over 1000 times the radio energy to that of our own
Milky way galaxy.
It is a very old giant elliptical galaxy with
dark dust lanes left over from an
apparent encounter with a spiral galaxy. To the centre of the
galactic core is a massive Black hole with a mass a billion times that of
our Sun which is consuming the left over debris from the collision. This
process, as in many other active galaxies is the source of the X-ray,
radio and gamma-ray radiated signatures The long exposure begins
to show the extended halo of this unusual galaxy. Also of note are the
tiny Bok globules, if indeed they are, or debris left over from the cosmic
merger. It is aprox 15 million l.y. away
and is around 7th mag. Centaurus A
is also known as ARP 153. |
|
Date |
Lum: April
'09 / 10/ 04/ 2010 & RGB 11/04/ 2010 |
|
Location |
BayTop
Observatory- Streaky Bay South Australia |
|
Instrument |
Home built 10" Newtonian (Bob
Royce primary) with
MPCC coma corrector.
System working @ native
f4/ 1016 FL 1.35
arcsec/pixel- FOV 23.3x29.4 |
|
Mount |
Celestron CI700 controlled by the
SiTech servo Goto Control System
with Pittman 8000 series motors.
Pulley and belt system |
|
Camera (CCD) |
Starlight
Xpress HX916 monochrome with Starlight
Xpress USB filter wheel. |
|
Exposures |
Lum:148'
R:40' G:40' B:40' approx 4.5 hours [all 4'
sub exposures all unbinned] No dark frames
removed. |
|
Guiding |
Starlight
Xpress Hx516 & ED80 refractor. Pulse guided via ASCOM. |
|
Filters |
Astronomik
clear/ RGB Type II Filter
set |
|
Notes/ Conditions |
Conditions-Since we have had rain in the last few days,
the low pressure has cleaned the sky. Heavy dew, and while not perfect,
the seeing was fair to average. |
