Full Frame image

The upper galaxy in this image, NGC 7285, is 2' in size while NGC 7284 below it is just 1.5' across
but together these two galaxies in Aquarius are performing a close gravitational dance and the
encounter has produced two magnificent broad tidal tails. This cosmic gravitational stretching has
resulted in stars and gas being flung out and strewn across an area of sky measuring some 10' X 3'.
At the estimated distance of 210 Million light years to this pair of galaxies, this means the two
galaxies have spread across more than 300,000 light years of space, or three times the size of our Milky Way galaxy!

Orion Optics AG12 F3.8
Starlightxpress SXVR-H694, SX USB CFW, SX OAG unit + Atlas Focuser
LRGB = 630 90 90 90 = 15hrs total exposure (bin 1X1)
New Deep-Sky RGB Astronomik filters
-20C chip temp, flats used but no dark frames.
Focal length 1120mm
Image scale 0.84"/pix
Guide Camera: Starlightxpress Lodestar

Comments
Data collected over three nights 17, 19 & 20 Sept 2017, no moon, good seeing

Equipment setup:

http://www.pbase.com/strongmanmike2002/sxvrh694_gear

Some links to equipment used to take this image:

StarlightXpress CCD Cameras and imaging equipment

http://www.sxccd.com/products

Finger Lakes Instrumentation CCD cameras:

http://www.flicamera.com/

Astro Shop (Aus)

http://www.astroshop.com.au/

Astro-Elecronic FS2 scope GOTO controller:

http://www.astro-electronic.de/

Gerd Neumann and Astronomik filters:

http://www.astronomik.com/en/home

http://www.gerdneumann.net/

MSB Software & Astroart 5

http://www.msb-astroart.com/

Catseye Collimation

http://www.catseyecollimation.com/

STAR Atlas:PRO planetarium software:

http://www.staratlaspro.com/