As our closest galactic neighbour, I’ve imaged M31 the Andromeda Galaxy five times since beginning my personal astrophotography journey in 2014, each time using my William Optics GT81 apo refractor – first with a DSLR, then a ASI1600mm-Cool and most recently ASI294MM cameras. Andromeda is perhaps the perfect object for my equipment, as it just fits the field-of-view of the aforesaid set-up, which produces something of an up-close-and-personal image of this alluring galaxy. But despite the success of these images, perhaps there’s an alternative view?
This year, I therefore deployed my Samyang 135 + ASI1600MM-Cool rig to capture 6 ½ hours of Andromeda, the result of which shows a whole new perspective of M31. The widefield format of this lens produces greater context than previous images, whilst still obtaining excellent details and colours of the galaxy itself. As a result, this final image (see above) better reveals the galaxy in its true glory deep in space, which in some ways I believe can be more powerful than the more popular close-up renditions of this impressive object (M31 with star reduction applied to the image below).
IMAGING DETAILS | |
Object | M31 Andromeda Galaxy |
Constellation | Andromeda |
Distance | 2.5 million light-years |
Size | 3.2o x 1o or 220,000 light-years |
Apparent Magnitude | +3.44 |
Scope / Lens | Samyang 135 @f2.8 |
Mount | SW AZ-EQ6 GT + EQASCOM computer control & Cartes du Ciel |
Guiding | Sky-Watcher EvoGuide 50ED |
+ Starlight Xpress Lodestar X2 camera & PHD2 guiding | |
Camera | ZWO1600MM-Cool mono CMOS sensor |
FOV 7.5o x 5.67o Resolution 5.81”/pix Max. Image Size 4,656 x 3,520 pix | |
EFW | ZWOx8 EFW & 31mm ZWO LRGB & 7nm Narrowband filters |
Capture & Processing | Astro Photography Tool + PHD2 + Deep Sky Stacker, PixInsight v1.8.8-12, Photoshop CC, Topaz Denoise |
Image Location & Orientation | Centre: RA 00:42:34.682 DEC +41:14:06.324 Right = North Top = East |
Exposures | L 75 x 60 sec, R 27x G27x B22 x 180 sec, Ha 17 x 300 sec Total Integration Time: 6hr 28 min |
@ 139 Gain 21 Offset @ -15oC | |
Calibration | Darks, Flats & Flat Darks |
Location & Darkness | Fairvale Observatory – Redhill – Surrey – UK Typically Bortle 5-6 |
Date & Time | 17th, 21st & 22nd November 2022 @ +20.00h |
Weather | Approx. <=5oC RH >= 85% 🌙 approx. New Moon |