2019-04-23 / Click on image to enlarge
galacticsights
astrophotography
NGC4565, Needle Galaxy
Technical Details
| Location | Zollikerberg, Switzerland |
| Camera | Nikon DSLR D810A |
| Telescope | TS ONTC 12" f/4 Carbon Newton |
| Optics | TS 2,5" Wynne Coma Corrector |
| Focal Length | 1126mm |
| Mount | iOptron CEM60 Center-Balanced Equatorial Mount |
| Autoguiding | Lacerta MGEN2 (Autoguiding, Dithering) |
| Focuser | Moonlite |
| Planetarium Software | Stellarium | Image Session Control | APT - Astro Photography Tool v3.5, ASCOM Platform 6 |
| Lights | 56 x 120s (total 1h52'), ISO-1250, additional Biases, Flats, no Darks |
| Stacking Software | Pixinsight 1.8, Drizzle 2x |
| Image Processing | Pixinsight 1.8 |
NGC 4565, also known as the Needle Galaxy, is one of the finest and brightest example of an edge-on spiral galaxy in the sky. The galaxy is located in the constellation of Coma Berenices and was discovered by William Herschel on April 6, 1785. It is best seen from northern locations during the months of March, April and May.
This spiral galaxy is physically large and similar in size to the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), that means it is about a third larger than the Milky Way. At a distance of only about 40 million light-years, NGC 4565 is relatively close by, and being seen edge-on makes it a particularly useful object for comparative studies.