Gone to the dogs...

Thanks folks.

The image is as is with only levels and curves altered to bring out a bit more disk detail without burning out the core.

It certainly shows a nice tilt and I really liked the clumpy nature just around the core plus the two obvious arms.

I'm not sure what you mean by a 'funnel' effect Dave - like the core is 'depressed' in relation to the arms? If so, I think that's just an optical illusion - the dark edge around some of the core (clumpy gas and dust I think) makes it look a bit like a funnel but its not really, ASFAIK

Glad you liked the monitor calibration page Bart - I hope others use it to make sure they see the image as it looks on my monitor

Now, what next......

Dave

A real cracker Dave!!! The H-A regions once again stand out well as does some lovely subtle detail within M106. Your description also adds a lot to the flavour of the image.

Well done, right out of the top drawer!!

Dave, I like the detail from the dust lanes very much, a worthy image indeed. Would this galaxy look as good through the 8" visually I wonder?

Keith..

Good question - its listed as mag 8.4 but presumably you'd only see the core. I doubt if you'd see the spiral arms...

The total integration time for the image was 70 odd minutes and even at that the noise is still very evident.

Here's what my image would look like if I was really dedicated, had pristine dark skies for much of the year and had a good wad of cash...

www.robgendlerastropics.com/M106NM.htm

Check out Rob's write up too - its very good.

Cheers

Dave[/i]

WOW ... that guy's image is stunning .... mind you ... a 14 hour exposure with his kid really should give you something spectacular!

Nice image Dave, how about longer exposure per image?

Robs image (add l to the end of the url) .html