M31_LRGB_25-11-22

Well I’ve waited nearly 2 months to get back out there and image due to the rain and cloud here in the uk, in fact this was taken over three nights one of which was aborted due to the wind. I managed to get the blue and luminance subs on the final night but it took me four hours to get the final 1h 20 minutes of data due to the unforecast high cloud coming in. It did stay guiding during this time so I let it run to get 20 usable blue subs out of 47. The luminance were far easier as the sky improved later on. I need to add some Ha but the forecast is not good, no rain but cloudy.

This has never been one of my favourite objects in fact the last time I imaged it was with a non-modified DSLR back in 2014.

 

Object Description:-

This is M31 NGC224 Andromeda Galaxy in the constellation of the same name. It’s at a distance of approximate 2.5 million light years with a visual mag of 3.4 and has a diameter of 152,000 ly. This galaxy is is part of our local group and the closest galaxy to us, in fact it’s coming towards us and is due to collide with us in about 4-5 billion years.

 

EQUIPMENT:-

Explore Scientific 102mm F7 APO Carbon

Explore Scientific 0.7 Focal Reducer

Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 GT

ZWO ASI1600mm-Cool cmos camera

Orion Mini Auto Guide

Astronomik LRGB Filter's

Chip Temp Cooled to -20 degC

 

IMAGING DETAILS:-

M31 Andromeda Galaxy (Andromeda)

Gain 139 (Unit Gain)

40 Lum subs@60sec (40m)

20 Red subs@120sec (40m)

20 Green subs@120sec (40m)

20 Blue subs@120sec (40m)

Total imaging Time 2h 40min

Dithering

20 Darks

20 Flats

 

PROCESSING/GUIDING SOFTWARE:-

APT "Astro Photograph Tools"

StarNet++

DSS

PS CS2

Done