Messier 31 - The Andromeda Galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy (sometimes also known by the old name Great Andromeda Nebula or with the catalog names M 31 and NGC 224 ), is a giant spiral galaxy that is about 2.538 million light years from Earth in the direction of the constellation of Andromeda , from which it takes its name. This is the largest galaxy closest to ours, the Milky Way ; it is also visible to the naked eye and is among the most distant objects visible without the aid of tools.

 

The Andromeda Galaxy is the largest of the Local Group , a group of galaxies which also includes the Milky Way and the Triangle Galaxy , plus about fifty other minor galaxies, many of which are satellites of the major ones.

 

According to studies published in the 2000s , derived from the observations of the Spitzer Space Telescope , it would contain about one billion stars (one thousand billion), a number far greater than that of the Milky Way. However, there are conflicting opinions on the mass and number of stars: some studies indicate a mass value for the Milky Way equal to 80% of that of Andromeda, while according to others the two galaxies would have similar dimensions. However, some studies suggest that the Milky Way contains more dark matter and could thus be the one with the largest mass.

 

With an apparent magnitude of 3.4, the Andromeda Galaxy is one of the brightest objects in Messier's catalog

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Dates: 7 August, 11-13-14 September 2020

 

Telescope: William Optics GT-81 with 6AIII Flattener / 0.8x reducer (382 mm focal length)

 

Mount: Celestron CGEM-DX

 

Imaging Camera: ASI1600MM-Cool

 

Guidescope: Omegon 60mm / 240mm FL

 

Guide Camera: ASI290MM

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Baader UV/IR Cut - 300 x 60 sec

Baader Red 82 x 90 sec

Baader Green 80 x 90 sec

Baader Blue 80 x 90 sec

Baader H-alpha 140 x 120 sec

 

Total Integration Time: 15:43 Hours

 

Taken from my backyard (Bortle 7)

 

 

 

Done