Every day our eyes catch the light of our memories – time spent with family, the journey to work, a special holiday, a beautiful sunset or a dark starlit night. Each image captured is a picture drawn in light – a photograph: only to be lost in our minds or forever forgotten. Nearly two hundred years ago a small group of amateur scientists achieved what had eluded mankind for centuries – the ability to capture a permanent record of an image seen by their own eyes – a moment in time frozen onto a surface. They had discovered Photography. They were the ‘Catchers of the Light’.

Sunday, June 16, 2024

NGC 5033 Galaxy in Canes Venatici


 Στον μικρό αλλά πλούσιο σε όμορφους γαλαξίες αστερισμό των Θηρευτικών Κυνών βρίσκεται ο Γαλαξίας NGC 5033. Οι εκτιμήσεις απόστασης ποικίλλουν από 38 έως 60 εκατομμύρια έτη φωτός από τον Γαλαξία μας. Ο NGC 5033 έχει έναν πολύ φωτεινό πυρήνα και έναν σχετικά αχνό δίσκο.

NGC 5033 is an inclined spiral galaxy located in the constellation Canes Venatici. Distance estimates vary from between 38 and 60 million light years from the Milky Way. The galaxy has a very bright nucleus and a relatively faint disk. Significant warping is visible in the southern half of the disk. The galaxy's relatively large angular size and relatively high surface brightness make it an object that can be viewed and imaged by amateur astronomers. The galaxy's location relatively near Earth and its active galactic nucleus make it a commonly studied object for professional astronomers.

Luminance data: Kostas Tsekas
Avalon linear fast reverse
Askar 107 PHQ Flatfield Astrograph
CCD Atik One 6.0
ZWO ASI290MM Mini (mono) + WO UniGuide 50mm Scope

Exposure: 120*180sec

Location: Stinger of Scorpius Observatory, Filiates, Thesprotia, Greece.

Color data: Theodore Arampatzoglou
W.O FLT110 with dedicated TMB field flattener
Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro Belt Drive Mod
Asi 533 MC Pro Color
W.O ZS 80 ED
P1 Mars-C IMX 462
FeatherTouch 3'' focuser
Starizona MicroTouch autofocuser

Exposure: 94*180sec

Location: Via Lactea Observatory, Kristallopigi Paramithia, Greece

Total Integration:10h 42min