Umbrella Galaxy NCG 4651
Had a couple of clear nights so I spent them shooting NGC 4651, the Umbrella Galaxy. It’s somewhere between 35 million and 72 million lightyears away we think. It gets its name from the stream of stars that seem to stick out of it that is the remains of a smaller galaxy ripped apart by tidal forces from NGC 4651.
I processed the image bit differently and stretched the stars and gas together rather than separately like I usually do. Lost that stream of stars when I did it my normal way and getting it back created some artifacts I didn't like. Stretching it all together worked out well. That stream of stars is what give the galaxy its name and is a key part of the image.
04/09/2026
117 180 second subs
5 hours 51 minutes
04/10/2026
87 180 second subs
4 hours 21 minutes
Total
204 stacked 180 second subs
10 hours 12 minutes
ZWO ASI585MC-Air Gain 200
Askar V w/ 80mm objective lens + extender 600mm f/7.5
Optolong 2" L-Quad Enhance Filter
ZWO AM5N Mount
ZWO EAF Pro
ZWO CAA
PixInsight processing using HLP, SetiAstro, and RC Astro tools - MAS stretch (without separating the stars)
Normal Integration
NCG 4651 Umbrella Galaxy
