Capturing the Majestic Andromeda Galaxy and its Companions
This past August, under the cloak of night in a location blessed with minimal light pollution, a remarkable image of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) was brought to life. The photographer, utilizing a Canon EOS 60D paired with its stock 18-135mm lens, dedicated 24 minutes of integration time to capture this breathtaking celestial scene.
The conditions were nearly ideal, with only the moon posing a minor challenge. The camera was set to f5.6, an ISO of 3200, and importantly, without tracking, demonstrating the power of stacking multiple exposures.
Approximately 750 exposures, each lasting 2.5 seconds, were taken at the maximum zoom of 135mm. This was complemented by around 45 dark frames and a selection of flats and biases captured under similar circumstances, ensuring the final image would be free from noise and artifacting.
The post-processing pipeline involved stacking the raw data using DeepSkyStacker (DSS), followed by refinement in GraXpert and Siril. These steps are crucial in bringing out the fainter details and colors hidden within the raw data.
The Result:
The resulting image beautifully frames the Andromeda Galaxy, along with two of its smaller satellite galaxies, M110 and M32. It's a testament to the dedication and skill involved in modern astrophotography, proving that even with a relatively standard setup, stunning deep-sky images are within reach.
The photographer mentioned the potential for further processing, hinting at even more detail waiting to be revealed. This ongoing refinement is a common and exciting part of the astrophotography journey, as each adjustment can unlock new aspects of the cosmic objects being imaged.
