An Epic Night: The Andromeda Galaxy Through My Small Refractor
2
Minutes
On September 30 I took advantage of a beautiful clear night and I pointed my telescope to the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). This was a first with my ES ED80mm CF APO refractor.
When I analyzed the PHD2 log I knew that something good was happening…
Next, I spent several hours processing the data in PixInsight.
The final processed image of the Andromeda Galaxy was was simply mind-blowing!
You can see some fine details in the structure of M31, the two companion galaxies (M32 and M110), and Andromeda’s dust lanes, clearly visible in the final image despite the light pollution in my location.
Setup
Date: 2024-09-30
Location: My backyard in Richmond Hill, ON
Scope: Explore Scientific ED80 CF
Location: My backyard in Richmond Hill, ON
Scope: Explore Scientific ED80 CF
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO (cooled at -10 °C)
Filters: Optolong L-Pro 2″
Mount: Celestron AVX
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR-Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Mount: Celestron AVX
Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR-Cut filter, PHD2
Guide Scope: Orion Deluxe Mini 50mm Guide Scope
Software: ASIAIR Plus, PixInsight, BlurXTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, GIMP
Total integration time: 48 minutes (24×120 secs.)
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
Total integration time: 48 minutes (24×120 secs.)
Calibration frames: 20 dark, 10 flat, 100 bias
