Full Frame

Looking like a huge Colonial Galactica class Battlestar being chased by a small pack of
Cylon Raider craft, NGC 247 in Cetus is actually a nearby dwarf spiral galaxy seen tilted
somewhat edge on at a distance of about 11 Million light years away. This is the same
distance as to the more famous nearby spiral NGC 253 but NGC 247 is only 2/3 its size.
At this relatively close distance many young star clusters with massive blue stars are clearly
resolved and many pink HII regions of star birth can be seen scattered throughout the galactic disc

Orion Optics AG12 F3.8
Starlightxpress SXVF-H694, SX USB CFW, SX OAG unit + Atlas Focuser
LHaRGB = 360 120 60 60 60min = 11hrs total exposure (bin 1X1) Astronomik filters
-20C chip temp, flats used but no dark frames used
Focal length 1120mm
Image scale 0.84"/pix
Guide Camera: Starlightxpress Lodestar

Comments
Taken over 4 nights
Clear, new to first 1/4 moon, variable seeing but generally good

Equipment setup:

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/151108788/original

Some links to equipment used to take this image:

Orion Optics UK

http://www.orionoptics.co.uk/

StarlightXpress CCD Cameras and imaging equipment

http://www.sxccd.com/products

Finger Lakes Instrumentation CCD cameras:

http://www.flicamera.com/

Astro Shop (Aus)

http://www.astroshop.com.au/

Astro-Elecronic FS2 scope GOTO controller:

http://www.astro-electronic.de/

Gerd Neumann and Astronomik filters:

http://www.astronomik.com/en/home

http://www.gerdneumann.net/

MSB Software & Astroart 5

http://www.msb-astroart.com/

Catseye Collimation

http://www.catseyecollimation.com/

STAR Atlas:PRO planetarium software:

http://www.staratlaspro.com/