More than astrophotography, an astronomical exploration.
Andromeda close up
David Cruz · Astromidnight
In Andromeda, 2.5 million light-years away, the golden core of our neighbouring galaxy, its dust lanes and its arms speckled with red clouds and clusters of blue stars. At the lower left, the small elliptical galaxy M110 keeps it company.
| Catalogue | Messier 31 · NGC 224 |
| Type | Spiral galaxy |
| Distance | ≈ 2.5 million light-years |
| Field | 83.6′ × 55.5′ |
| Real width | ≈ 61,000 × 40,000 light-years |
| Scale | 0.54″ / pixel |
| Orientation | 177° · south up |
| RA (centre) | 00h 42m 36s |
| DEC (centre) | +41° 34′ 11″ |
| Constellation | Andromeda |
| Objects in field | M31 · M110 · Hubble's V1 · 2 novae |
Distances of M31 and M110 from NASA (Hubble's Messier catalogue). The real width assumes the distance of M31; M110 is its satellite and lies at practically the same distance, and the sharp stars belong to the Milky Way, in the foreground. Positions of M31 and M110 taken from the AstroBin tags; V1, M31N 2008-12a and M31 RV placed using SIMBAD coordinates. M32 lies outside the frame, above the upper edge.
22 h 40 min of light
Each tick is one exposure. 315 in total, with the camera at −10 °C and gain 100. Calibrated with 50 darks, 30 flats and 50 bias. The Moon stayed below 30 % illumination throughout.
Carbon Newton 10' f/4
ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
Sky-Watcher CQ350 Pro
Askar M54 OAG · ZWO ASI120MM Mini
TS-Optics Maxfield .95X Coma Corrector
Player One Anti-Halo Pro Dual-Band Ha+OIII Filter 2"
Adobe Photoshop · Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight · Stefan Berg Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (N.I.N.A. / NINA)
São Pedro da Gafanhoeira, Évora · 358 m
Bortle 3