M31 - The Andromeda Galaxy

21:43 8/8/2005 UTC

I finally got my new scope for DSLR imaging. It is a William Optics Zenithstar 66mm f6 Petzval refractor. After a long struggle with guiding I managed to capture 5 good frames before the clouds rolled in. I was very happy with the results! Conditions were bad, I couldn't see M31 with naked eye, which is usually quite easy from my backyard. Clearly I need darker sky and flats to make a better image. This little scope seems to be a fairly good performer. In the image there is also Andromeda's satellite galaxies M32 and M110 and a distinct clump of stars in upper right part of the galaxy, NGC206, an open cluster in Andromeda Galaxy.

NGC/IC Object List:
NGC224 galaxy RA:00h42m44.3 Dec:+41°16m'08" BMag: 4.3, M 31 Andromeda Galaxy
NGC221 galaxy RA:00h42m41.8 Dec:+40°51m'57" BMag: 9.1, M 32
NGC205 galaxy RA:00h40m22.1 Dec:+41°41m'07" BMag: 8.9, M 110
NGC206 open cluster RA:00h40m32.3 Dec:+40°44m'18" BMag: ,

Camera: Canon EOS 350D (Rebel XT) | Telescope: William Optics Zenithstar 66mm f6 petzval refractor | Mount: Orion Skyview Pro, Boxdoerfer PowerFlex MTS-3SLP drive controller | Filters: - | Guiding: Orion ShortTube 80mm f5 refractor, Phillips ToUCam Pro II webcam, Qastrocam, Orion Shorty Plus 2x Barlow | Exposure: 5 x 180s (15m) f6 ISO800, three darks, no flats | Software: IRIS, GIMP | Location: 60°31'N 26°52'E (Koivula/Kotka,FI) | Target altitude in the beginning of the exposure 49°