NGC 1566

In the region of the constellations Dorado and Reticulum in the southern sky, there are a large number of galaxies visible. One of the brightest of these is NGC 1566, a beautiful face-on spiral galaxy with two graceful arms that are visible in an 10" telescope. The galaxy is also quite bright, at magnitude 9.6, so it is easily visible in a small telescope. It is one of the easiest galaxies for discerning the spiral arms and would be much better known if it were in the northern sky. This galaxy is also one that has annoyed me in the past, when a star close to the nucleus turned out to be a mistake on the supernova search charts!

3 minute exposure, Meade 416XT CCD.
8" f/6 newtonian telescope at prime focus.

This image is a combination of 6, 3 minute exposures, Meade 416XTE CCD.
8" f/6 newtonian telescope at prime focus.

This image is a combination of 2, 5 minute exposures, Meade 416XTE CCD.
300mm f/6 newtonian telescope at prime focus.

Combination of 6, 3 minute exposures, SBIG ST9XE CCD camera.
300mm f/6 newtonian telescope at prime focus.

5 minute exposure, Meade 416XTE CCD.
300mm f/18 cassegrain telescope at prime focus.

Combination of 6, 3 minute exposures, SBIG ST9XE CCD camera.
300mm f/6 newtonian telescope at prime focus.