Greatly zoomed in on the original wide field image and processed so you can peer deep
into the dense but detailed dust lane, this was imaged at just 1300mm FL with a mere 6" of
aperture! Scroll down to see an image captured with a huge 8m class telescope.

See the original Ultra Deep full frame LRGB image here:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/97061387/original

Excellent article on Universe Today by Tammy Plotner about this image
http://www.universetoday.com/2008/09/22/deep-inside-a-giant-part-2-centaurus-a-by-mike-sidonio/

AP152 F7.5 Starfire APO refractor with 4" field flattener
FLI ProLine11002 CCD & CFW-2-7
RGB = 90 90 90min (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 under good conditions 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

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

See a full size 4008 X 2670 (14meg) 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/96820688/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 shells in the outer halo:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/98608710/original

See a more traditional view of Centaurus A:
http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/96741683/original

Here is an image of Centaurus A taken with the VLT (8m mirror) at the European Southern Observatory.



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