Andromeda_M31_Oct2019_HomCavObservatory_ReSizedDown2HD

            Object Details: The attached shows the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) as it appeared one evening early last week through intermittent high clouds. In addition to M31, it also includes two of it's satellite galaxies, M32 - right of the M31's core, classified as a relatively rare, compact / dwarf elliptical; and M110 - above-left of the core, classified as a peculiar elliptical.

M31 itself is part of the 'local group' and is the closest large galaxy to the Milky Way. Lying 2.5 million light-years away, it consists of an estimated 1.23 trillion solar masses and has a diameter of 110,000 light-years (similar to, but larger than, our own Milky Way). 

It is easily visible from a reasonably dark site and is often quoted as being the most distant object visible without optical aid. Extremely large, M31 spans about 3 degrees in our sky (i.e. the width of 6 full moons) and makes for an wonderful view in binoculars; in larger instruments it is simply stunning!

Image Details:  The attached image was taken Jay Edwards on October 28, 2019 using an 80mm f/6 triplet apochromatic refractor (ED80T CF) connected to a Televue 0.8X field flattener / focal reducer and an (unmodded) Canon 700D / t5i DSLR.

These optics were piggybacked on an old 8-inch, f/7 Criterion newt. & tracked using a Losmandy G-11 mount running a Gemini 2 control system and guided using PHD2 to control a ZWO ASI290MC planetary camera / auto-guider in an 80mm f/6 Celestron 'short-tube' refractor which itself was piggybacked on top of the 80mm apo. (if the more detailed images of the inner portion of M31 taken simultaneously using the 8-inch turn out reasonably I will post them on this site as well).

The attached image was constructed using a stack of 32, three-minute sub-exposures (in addition to the applicable bias, dark & flat 'calibration frames'), and was processed using a combination of PixInsight and PaintShopPro. As presented here it has been re-sized down to HD resolution and the bit depth has been lowered to 8 bits per channel.

This is the first image of Andromeda we've taken this year & given the high clouds, relatively short exposure time & fairly warm ambient temperatures at the time, I look forward to imaging this object again in the near future; possibly using an HDR approach to enhanced the detail in the outer regions while preserving the inner core. 

As it is snowing at the moment here in upstate, NY and we have the first few inches of snow blanketing the observatory at our home from last evenings snowfall, although shoveling the obs's roof is not high on my list of fun things to do, I'm hoping the coming months bring a few crisp, crystal-clear nights. If I'm lucky at least some of them will result in the temperatures dropping to between -10 & -20 F (and if all goes well we'll be imaging it remotely from our warm, cozy living room - after I thaw out my fingers from opening & setting up the observatory beforehand of course. - need more automation !  :) ).

Taken on: November 8, 2019

Tags:

HomCav

Observatory

Galaxy

M31

M32

M110

local

group

Canon

700D

t5i

DSLR

Orion

ED80T

carbon

fiber

80MM

f/6

triplet

apochromatic $Everybody's photos tagged with refractor$ refractor

0.8X

Televue

field

flattener

focal

reducer

8-inch

f/7

Criterion

newtonian

reflector

Losmandy

G-11

mount

Gemini

control

system

PHD2

ZWO

ASI290MC

auto-guider

Celestron

short-tube

astronomy

astrophotography « less

Sets appears in: • Deep Sky (Galaxies, Nebulae, Star Clusters, Supernovae) • Galaxies

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