LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD - NEIGHBOUR GALAXY

MENSA & DORADO

 (Image Centred at: ra 05.27,00/ dec -68:36)

November 2010, Mercedes Observatory Buenos Aires, Argentina

Collaboration with Juan Jose Destefani

DATA

TYPE: Irregular Galaxy

Visual Magnitude: 0.1

Apparent Diameter: arround 8 degrees

DISTANCE: 157.000 lights years

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: Carl Zeiss Jenna 135 f3.5 lens stopped down at 5.6

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS at -15C

MOUNT: NEQ6

GUIDING: Orion ED 80 f7.5 - AstroArt 3.0 - Control Interface 3.72 plug in

FILTERS: Astronomik LHaRGB

SKY CONDITIONS: rural skies - transparency and seeing good 

EXPOSURES: Total 80 minutes (16 x5)

PROCESSING: Calibration (Sigma Median) done in Images Plus. No darks no flats no bias used. Color Combination in Images Plus. Photoshop CS2

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

Our nearby galaxy (after Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy) is one of the marvelous sight of the southern sky. First spotted by Persian astronomers and afterwards by Amerigo Vespucci, but it was by Ferdinand Magellan on his voyage in 1519 who brought it to popularity.

Like many irregular galaxies the LMC is very rich in dust and HII regions. Right now is under a intense process of star formation activity.

The night was windy and with the Moon around 1/4 stage or close to 1/3. I had to finish the session because I have run out the Power of the NEQ6.

The Jenna Carl Zeiss and the QSI 583 are a nice combo for this target.