vkastronomy.com - Astrophotography Weblog
M31 - The Andromeda Galaxy (HaRGB)
18:42 15/9/2006 UTC
< Previous Next >M31 is definitely one of my favourite targets. It is fairly easy to capture, but offers endless challenges for astrophotographer. This time I got to do quite long exposure without interruption from dew or bright moon. I added also one hour worth of H-alpha to the image to enhance the HII regions in galaxy's spiral arms. H-alpha exposures could have been longer to match the noise levels with color data.
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: ,
[High Resolution : 1600x1200 469kB]
Camera: Modified Canon EOS 350D (Rebel XT) | Telescope: Skywatcher ED80 Pro 80mm f7.5 refractor, William Optics 0.8x focal reducer | Mount: Orion Skyview Pro, Boxdoerfer PowerFlex MTS-3SLP drive controller | Filters: Astronomik H-alpha 13nm 2", Baader IR/UV block | Guiding: Orion ShortTube 80mm f5 refractor, QCGuider, Teleskop-Service 1.5x Barlow, Phillips ToUCam Pro II webcam | Exposure: 6x600s (1h) ISO1600 f6, 3 darks, 10 flats, bias (Ha), 32x180s (1h36m) ISO800 f6, 6 darks, 10 flats, bias (RGB) | Software: IRIS, GIMP | Location: 60°31'N 26°52'E (Koivula/Kotka,FI) | Target altitude in the beginning of the exposure 45°
Average Rating 4.60 (10 total votes)
Added: 23:40 15/9/2006 UTC
![[High Resolution : 1600x1200 469kB]](images/m31-2006.09.15-18h42m-high.jpg){kind=link}