This is a crop from the original full frame image (see link below) that reveals the
huge halo of Centaurus A is actually not uniform but instead it has many subtle
overlaping shells and darker patches. Hundreds of distant background galaxies are visible too.

You can see these shells here: http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/108349883/original

Here are other image views that showcase various aspects of this amazing southern galaxy!
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/gallery/centaurus_a

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.
Image scale: 1.6"/pix
Guide Camera: Starlightxpress SXVH9

Comments:
Taken over 3 nights from "Wiruna" - the dark sky site for the
Astronomical Society of New South Wales:

See the equipment used to take this image here:

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

Some links to equipment used to take this image:

Finger Lakes Instrumentation CCD cameras:

http://www.fli-cam.com/

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