Andromeda: Captured with a Smartphone's Periscope Lens – 13+ Hours of Data!
In a stunning display of what's possible with cutting-edge smartphone technology, we're thrilled to showcase an incredible astrophotography feat: the Andromeda Galaxy captured using a Xiaomi 13 Ultra! This isn't your average phone picture; this image is the result of over 13 hours and 50 minutes of dedicated data capture.
The Tech Behind the Cosmos
The star of the show is the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, specifically its impressive 5x periscope telephoto lens. This powerful setup was the primary tool for gathering light from our nearest galactic neighbor.
Here's a breakdown of the technical specifications that made this possible:
- Camera: Xiaomi 13 Ultra (5x periscope telephoto)
- ISO: 3200
- Exposure: 30 seconds per light frame
- Lights Captured: 1661 RAW/DNG frames
- Additional Frames: Darks + Biases
- Usable Data: Approximately 60% of captured data was deemed good enough for processing.
- Total Integration Time: 13 hours 50 minutes 30 seconds
The Journey to the Final Image
Capturing such a detailed image is a multi-step process, requiring specialized equipment and software. To achieve this incredible result, the following equipment and processing techniques were employed:
- Mount: An EQ mount with OnStep provided the stable tracking necessary for long exposures.
- Stacking: Astro Pixel Processor (APP) was used for stacking the vast amount of light frames, including a 2.5x drizzle integration to enhance resolution.
- Processing: The stacked data was then refined using a suite of powerful tools: GraXpert, Siril, StarXTerminator, and Adobe Photoshop.
Behold the Andromeda Galaxy!
Here is the breathtaking result of all this effort:
This image is a testament to the rapid advancements in mobile imaging technology and the dedication of astrophotographers pushing the boundaries of what's achievable. It's truly inspiring to see the cosmos within reach, even through a smartphone lens!
What galaxies will we see captured next? The universe is waiting!
