Andromeda Galaxy September 2023

[crimbfighter]

The Andromeda Galaxy! Our nearest galactic neighbor! Imaged last night, 9/8/23, from my Bortle 5/6 back yard. This is a 2 panel mosaic (panorama for my regular photography friends), stitched together to provide a highly detailed image. The full resolution image is too large to upload here... the galaxy is too large to fit in one frame using this telescope, which is why I made it as a mosaic. For scale, the Andromeda Galaxy appears 4lfour time larger than the moon, in the sky. It's BIG!

-Celestron AVX mount
-Astro-Tech AT130EDT 130mm f/7 telescope with a 0.8x reducer, making it a 728mm focal length, f/5.6 scope.
-ZWO ASI2600MC Pro cooled camera
-ZWO EAF focuser
-Optolong L-Pro light polution filter
-Pegasus Astro Mini Powerbox
-Orion 60mm guide scope
-Orion Starshoot autoguider
-Controlled with a MeLE Quieter3Q mini PC running Windows

Software
-Sequence Generator Pro for acquisition
-PixInsight and Photoshop for image processing
-PHD2 guiding software

-40 x 180sec subexposures for each of the two panels (80 total)
-calibrated with 15 each darks, flats, and dark flats
-Total integration time of 2hrs (4hrs if you count each panel as it's own image)

Imaging setup for reference

 

[Rickbb]

I don't know which is more impressive, the photograph or the setup you capture with.

Nice all around.

 

[crimbfighter]

I don't know which is more impressive, the photograph or the setup you capture with.

Nice all around.

Thanks!

 

[Jeff15]

Wow, another great shot...

 

[terri]

I'm speechless. This is awesome!!! I love looking at this. Beautiful.

 

[GDHLEWIS]

Stunning image

 

[wobe]

Wonderful detail, beautiful shot.

 

[slat]

Wonderful image. You never disappoint.

 

[crimbfighter]

Wow, another great shot...

Thank you!

I'm speechless. This is awesome!!! I love looking at this. Beautiful.

Thanks! The full resolution version is really neat to zoom in on and see some of the nebulae inside the galaxy.

 

[crimbfighter]

Stunning image

Thanks!

Wonderful detail, beautiful shot.

Thank you!

Wonderful image. You never disappoint.

Thanks! I'll try to keep them coming. If you could put a good word in with the weather gods, asking for clear skies, that would really help!

 

[Grandpa Ron]

Great shot.

And congratulations on knowing how to use the right tools and methods at the right time.

 

[jeffashman]

Fascinating as always!