** 2008 David Malin Awards winner - Honorable Mention (Amateur Deep Sky) **
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/david_malin_awards_2008

** Astronomy Picture of the Day 23 Oct 2008 **
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=pod&id=186&aid=7538

** Feature article "Spotlight On" in Australian Sky & Telescope, October 2008 **

** Two excellent articles at "Universe Today" inspired by this image **
1 http://www.universetoday.com/2008/09/21/deep-inside-a-giant-centaurus-a-by-mike-sidonio/
2 http://www.universetoday.com/2008/09/22/deep-inside-a-giant-part-2-centaurus-a-by-mike-sidonio/

This full frame image is displayed at 1550 X 1050 pix res so it will fit comfortably on most screens
in order to take in the entire 1.8deg X 1.2deg field of view in one go without scrolling.
Hit F11 on your keyboard for full screen mode! Links to other sizes and versions below.

**** ABOUT THIS IMAGE ****

This unique and extremely deep colour image, compiled from nearly 20hrs of exposure with just a 6"
telescope, was taken from a very dark sky in remote Australia. The image reveals the full outer
halo of the perculiar radio galaxy Centaurus A (NGC 5128) in Centaurus including faint polar
extensions extending from the top and bottom of the galaxy running diagonally. Also evident in this
image is the extensive but extremely faint Milky Way nebulosity and dust known as "Galactic Cirrus"
or "Integrated Flux" that permeates this entire region. Galactic Cirrus material lies just above
the plane of our galaxy and is lit by the light of The Milky Way as a whole but due to its extreme
faintness at 27mag/sq arc sec, is seldom seen in images, it is visible as faint patches
of dusty looking nebulosity all over the image. The Cirrus nebulosity around Centaurus A is some of
the faintest in the sky and is well below the natural sky brightness. Countless distant background
galaxies of all shapes and sizes can be found scattered all over the field of view as well.

Here are links to other views that showcase various aspects and details revealed by this extensive data set.

Larger 2250 X 1500 image: http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/110446969/original

Ultra Deep version: http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/112071705/original

See a full size 4008 X 2670 (12meg) image that reveals 1000's of distant background galaxies:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/97573250/original

See distant galaxies and globular clusters in this close-up of the outer halo of Centaurus A:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/108205041/original

See the extent of the faint Galacitic Cirrus in this enhanced luminance view:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/97429117/original

See the faint featurs including the shells in the galaxy halo in this negative view:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/97429465/original

See an enhanced colour view that reveals the delicate shell structure in the outer halo:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/98608710/original

See a more traditional view of Centaurus A using a small amount of the data used above:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/96741683/original

See a detailed close up of the intricate dark dust lane:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/97014931/original

AP152 F7.5 Starfire APO refractor with 4" field flattener
FLI ProLine11002 CCD & CFW-2-7
LRGB = 15hrs 1.5hr 1.5hr 1.5hr = 19.5hrs total exposure (all bin 1X1) Astronomik filters
-35C chip temp, darks and flats (AstroHandy LightRing used for flats)
12MPPS download speed = 1.5sec/full frame download at bin 1X1.
FOV = 1.8deg X 1.2deg at 1.6"/pix
Guide Camera: Starlightxpress SXVH9

Comments:
Taken over 3 nights from very dark skies at "Wiruna" - the remote dark sky site of the
Astronomical Society of New South Wales, Australia:

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/81003751/original

Some links to equipment used to take this image:

Finger Lakes Instrumentation (FLI) CCD cameras and equipment:
http://www.flicamera.com/

StarlightXpress CCD cameras and equipment
http://www.starlight-xpress.co.uk/

Astro-Elecronic FS2 scope GOTO controller:
http://www.astro-electronic.de/

Gerd Neumann/Astronomik filters:
http://www.gerd.neumann.net/

http://www.astronomik.com/

MSB Software & Astroart 4
http://www.msb-astroart.com/

STAR Atlas:PRO planetarium software
http://www.skylab.com.au/

AstroHandy Accessories
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/astrohandy_lightring

http://www.astrohandy.com