My Best M31 So Far!

[Stargazer33]

Managed to get out on Wednesday night to do a bit of deep sky imaging.

The sky looked lovely and clear and the stars weren't twinkling too much at all. Could even just about make out the Milky Way.

This was the best 95% of 101 lights at 30 x 30", 19 x 45", 1 x 52" (?!?!), 15 x 60", 15 x 90", 15 x 120", 6 x 180", 2 x 300" & 1 x 600" for a total of 1 hour and 59 minutes.

20 darks, 30 flats, and 30 bias frames.

Processed in DSS, Photoshop 7.1 and a bit in MS Picture Manager!

Equipment: Celestron Travelscope 70, Canon 1100D (modified), CGEM mount, Baader Neodymium LP filter. Captured with AP Tools. Unguided.

I'm quite happy with it, but must admit to expecting more. I know my processing skills need a lot of work/practice.

Comments/advice gratefully received.

[Vox45]

Good job it gives me hope that I too, someday, will experience the joy of my 1st galaxy pic !

Keep it up

[tingting44]

thats rather good for unguided! did you take any darks/flats/bias

[Stargazer33]

20 darks, 30 flats, 30 bias.

[Coco]

Congratulations, that's superb with your Travelscope 70, well done.. Think what could you do with a CCD and better equipment !! 

Keep it up  

[x6gas]

Superb work.

Congratulations, that's superb with your Travelscope 70, well done.. Think what could you do with a CCD and better equipment !! 

Keep it up  

Quite agree.  The Celestron Travelscope 70 is a very decent scope optically for the money (so long as you throw away the tripod that comes with it...)

[Stargazer33]

Thanks guys, Andromeda fits in the fov of the Travelscope a lot easier than in my C8; even with the 0.6 reducer. 

Can't believe that was the last time I managed to get out with a telescope of any description!