A better wide field Andromeda Galaxy

[JamesF]

Much happier with this one, taken last night whilst dodging cloud, than my previous attempt. The focus is much better, to the point where I can see now that there's a small amount of star trailing unfortunately Still, it's progress.

10 x 4min exposures @ ISO800, stacked with five darks, unmodded Canon 450D with a 200mm f/2.8L on an unguided EQ3-2. No filters and just a bit of histogram stretching in Photoshop.

James

[Ganymede12]

I like it.

Some day I'll want to image DSO's. Right now I'm happy snapping photo's of the moon and sun and planets but some day I'll want my own andromeda. And I'll have you lot to blame for it

[JamesF]

Some day I'll want to image DSO's. Right now I'm happy snapping photo's of the moon and sun and planets but some day I'll want my own andromeda. And I'll have you lot to blame for it

That's how the Dark Side works

James

[Ganymede12]

"Join me, and together we shall image the Galaxy!"

[stellawolf]

Nice image James one day i hope to do something like that great aint it not got a scope yet and im hooked to the dark side never min ill keep plugging away with the binos

[allcart]

Just give me a clear night this weekend and I'll have another stab at it. I might even go out to somewhere darker than my back garden.

[Wobbly Bob]

The old girl looks good in a wide field.

[Daniel-K]

thats great james spot on

[Scott]

amazing image james, can't wait to get home to my various lenses to give this a crack. you've given me something to aim for.

Scott

[Astrokev]

Great image James. Some lovely detail there.

[cfpendock]

That's VERY nice, James. Just for interest, did you use the full f2.8? The reason I ask is that your stars seem beautifully sharp.albeit with a tad of trail.

Chris

[JamesF]

From a quick check of the RAW files it looks like it was f/4.0. Not sure why I didn't use f/2.8, but I'm just feeling my way with this at the moment. Opportunities have been fairly thin on the ground this year

James

[iksose7]

Nice wide-field James, although it is upside down

[JamesF]

Nice wide-field James, although it is upside down

As I have regularly posted... In Space, no-one can tell you which way is up.

James

[sologuitarist61]

Excellent image James

[iksose7]

As I have regularly posted... In Space, no-one can tell you which way is up.

James

Haha not a bad point.

[JB80]

That is great James.

How do you find locating Andromeda, do you use bins and try and pin point it from there?

[JamesF]

How do you find locating Andromeda, do you use bins and try and pin point it from there?

It's a naked eye object from home, so mostly I align the camera by eye and then take a few shots to get the framing right. I have made an RDF mount to fit the hot shoe on my 450D now, but since then we've had a grand total of absolutely no clear nights whatsoever, so it is as yet untested

James

[JB80]

Well that would certainly make things easier then.

The RDF mount sounds like a good idea too.

[symesie04]

Very nice image James. Focus looks pretty much bang on. The better half has agreed to go halfs with me for my Astrotrac in the new year, wonder if she will still be so accomodating when I mention I also want a Canon 200m F2.8L