PROJECT NAME

Andromeda

EQUIPMENT

2nd image

William Optics ZenithStar 73

ASI 1600 MM Pro

Cem40

DATE

06.11.2021 (1st image)

03.12.2022 (2nd image)

INTEGRATION

2nd image

Ha – 3 h 10 m

L – 3 h 4 m

R – 3 h 2 m

G – 3 h

B – 3 h

Total – 15 h 16 m

I love Andromeda. It boggles the mind to think that this is just one in a sea of up to 2 trillion galaxies in the known universe. Andromeda alone is made up of a trillion stars. How many solar systems? How many planets in just one galaxy? How likely that we are alone?

I keep coming back to this target because of the challenges it presents to an astrophotographer. It is easy to spot in the night sky with your naked eye and is fairly large, 150 000 light years across; making it a great beginner target. While the challenge of resolving the bright core and the beautiful hydrogen alpha of the nebulae in its dusty, spiral arms satisfies the more advanced photographer.

The two images show my progress overtime. There is still work to do and I can’t wait to try again.