Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

[Davide Simonetti]

The Andromeda Galaxy (M31). This shot was taken over a couple of nights (28th July and 1st August 2017). It's a shot I've been wanting to try for ages but M31 appears so large that I had to wait until I had a scope with a shorter focal length in order to capture this much of it (and it still doesn't fit in the frame). Previous attempts were made with a 400mm lens on a DSLR which although quite reasonable didn't really capture the true majesty of this object.

81 x 75 second exposures at 400 ISO (approximately one hour and 41 minutes integration time).
60 x dark frames
100 x flat frames
21 x bias/offset frames (subtracted from flat frames only)

Captured with APT
Guided with PHD2
Processed in Nebulosity and Photoshop 

Equipment:
Sky-Watcher Explorer-150PDS
Skywatcher EQ5 Mount
Orion 50mm Mini Guide Scope
ZWO ASI120 MC imaging and guiding camera
Canon 700D DSLR

[Allinthehead]

Some nice detail there. 

[bobro]

Lovely capture though the framing obviously lets it down. Why not try a mosaic? Would make for a super image.

[Rodd]

You could turn the camera a bit and it will fit--I like the tilt too though.  You got most of it and quite frankly I forget its not all there--I get lost in the spiral arms.  Nice image.

Rodd