M31 - Andromeda Andromeda is the nearest galaxy to our Milky Way and thought to be of similar size and appearance with an estimated mass equivalent to 1 trillion suns. One of my favourite targets, even though it is so far away its size makes it an easy target for astro-photography. It's distance from earth means that this is what Andromeda looked like 2.5 million years ago. The Milky Way and Andromeda are heading towards each other and expected to collide and merge in around 5 billion years. Size: 200,000 Light Years Distance from Earth: 2.5 million Light Years
2023-10-04
Scope : CFF 135/926
Mount : EQ6 R Pro (DFO StellarDrive)
Camera : QHY600
Filters : Chroma
• Lum : 30 x 240s
• Red : 30 x 240s
• Green: 34 x 240s
• Blue : 31 x 240s
Total Integration : 6.3 hours
This is a reprocess of the 2022-12-20 data using new techniques learned over the past few months.
2022-12-20
Scope : CFF 135/926
Mount : EQ6 R Pro (DFO StellarDrive)
Camera : QHY600
Filters : Chroma
• Lum : 30 x 240s
• Red : 30 x 240s
• Green: 34 x 240s
• Blue : 31 x 240s
Total Integration : 6.3 hours
This is the first new image of M31 since I upgraded equipment and have gained experience of using Pixinsight for processing. I still like some of my earlier images but this is technically superior. It makes a fabulous 100x60cm poster print.
2018-12-18
Scope : SW Esprit 80/400
Mount : HEQ5 (DFO StellarDrive)
Camera : SX814
Filters : Baader
• Lum : 15 x 300s
• Red : 15 x 300s
• Green: 15 x 300s
• Blue : 15 x 300s
Total Integration : 5 hours
One of my favourite images. Definitely worth viewing on a good monitor at High Resolution to see the detail.
2018-12-18 Scope : SW Esprit 80/400 Mount : HEQ5 (DFO StellarDrive) Camera : SX814 Filters : Baader • Ha : 10 x 1200s • Lum : 15 x 300s • Red : 15 x 300s • Green: 15 x 300s • Blue : 15 x 300s Total Integration : 8.3 hours This image shares the LRGB data from the image above but also includes some Ha data to bring out the nebula that reside in Andromeda's dust lanes. These are the red patches and many of these areas will be producing new stars.
2018-10-09 Scope : SW Esprit 80/400 Mount : HEQ5 (DFO StellarDrive) Camera : SX814 Filters : Chroma • Lum : 10 x 300s • Red : 9 x 300 s • Green: 20 x 300 s • Blue : 9 x 300 s Total Integration : 4.0 hours
2016-12-04 Scope : SW Esprit 80/400 Mount : HEQ5 Camera : Nikon D750 (unmodded) Filters : None • OSC : 17 x 300 seconds Total Integration : 1.4 hours An early image taken with my Nikon D750 DSLR
2016-09-10 Scope : SW Esprit 80/400 Mount : HEQ5 Camera : Nikon D750 (unmodded) Filters : None • OSC : 7 x 600 seconds Total Integration : 1.1 hours An early image taken with my Nikon D750 DSLR
2016-07-31 Scope : SW Esprit 80/400 Mount : HEQ5 Camera : Nikon D750 (unmodded) Filters : None • OSC : 8 x 300s Total Integration : 1.1 hours An early image taken with my Nikon D750 DSLR