Closeup of a well known galaxy

[lux eterna]

I wanted to see what a closer look at M31 would be like, so I let my (cooled) Nikon D7000 spend 77 x 10 min during two nights staring at it. Meade LX200-ACF plus reducer is some 1600 mm FL and F8 so really not much exposure for the darkest areas, but I think the core came out pretty well, and also the Ha regions. 

Guided with NexGuide on a HEQ5 Pro - I just gave it an overhaul and new worm axis bearings. Happy to see it performs well after the surgery (thanks to http://www.astro-baby.com).

Ragnar

[Mr Spock]

Looks really good. Are you going to extend it over the whole lot?

[lux eterna]

Thanks Michael ! No I will not do a full mosaic, I think I may proceed with M33 instead.

Ragnar

[Laurin Dave]

Very nice result, excellent dust lanes into the core and quite something to do that with a big SCT on an HEQ5

Dave

[lux eterna]

12 hours ago, Laurin Dave said:

Very nice result, excellent dust lanes into the core and quite something to do that with a big SCT on an HEQ5

Dave

Thanks Dave for the compliments, much appreciated ! My HEQ5 is like going on steroids... I have built an Arduino accessory that removes most of the PE in the RA stepper motor (the stepper itself has a fast, 0.6 seconds, PE) which makes life easier for the autoguider. Will make a write-up of it when time allows.

Ragnar

[Allinthehead]

Some great detail in there Ragnar👍

[lux eterna]

1 hour ago, Allinthehead said:

Some great detail in there Ragnar👍

Thank you Richard !

Ragnar