Featured in the July 2009 edition of US Astronomy magazine

This full frame image is displayed at 1400 X 900 pix res so it will fit comfortably on most
screens in order to take in the entire 1.6deg X 1.2deg field of view in one go without scrolling.
Hit F11 on your keyboard for full screen mode! Links to other sizes and versions below.

********* About this Image ***************

This lovely chain of galaxies is on the border of Grus and Pisces Austrinus. The nine brightest
members, left to right are: IC 7421, 7418, 7418A, 5264, 1459, 5269A, 5269B, 5269, 5270

The large Eliptical IC 1459 near the centre is the largest and brightest galaxy at 4.9' X 3.5' and
mag 10.5 while the beautiful open spiral galaxy IC 7418 lower left is the largest spiral at
3.75' X 2.5'and mag 11.5. There are also a number of faint and diffuse elliptical/irregular galaxies
in the field.

See a HUGE full frame, full resolution file here (9meg):

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/101494231/original

See a close up of the main member galaxies here (1.2meg):

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/102262082/original

See an extreme close up of the spiral IC 7418 here (400k):

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/101978823/original

AP152 F7.5 Starfire APO refractor with 4" field flattener
FLI ProLine11002 CCD & CFW-2-7
LRGB = 140 30 30 30min (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.
FOV = 1.6deg X 1.2deg at 1.4"/pix
Guide Camera: Starlightxpress SXVH9

Comments:
A number of spurious internal optical reflections are evident in the image.
Taken from Wiruna, the dark sky site of the Astronomical Society of NSW
see set-up here:

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/image/81003751/original

Some links to equipment used to take this image:

Finger Lakes Instrumentation CCD cameras:

http://www.flicamera.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