Capturing Spiral Galaxy NGC 7331: A Bortle 4 Triumph
This month, we're thrilled to showcase an incredible capture of NGC 7331, also known as Caldwell 30. This magnificent spiral galaxy, situated approximately 45 million light-years away, is a testament to the dedication and skill of astrophotographers working even under challenging light conditions.
What makes this image particularly impressive is that it was captured with a Bortle 4 sky, a rating that indicates relatively dark skies. Despite the absence of any specialized filters (like UHC), the result is a beautifully detailed image that highlights the galaxy's impressive structure. As an added bonus, the image also reveals several fainter background galaxies, collectively known as the Deer Lick Group, adding even more depth and context to the celestial scene.
The Technical Details Behind the Shot
The successful acquisition of this image involved a meticulous setup and a total integration time of 3.6 hours:
- Integration Time: 215 x 60 second light frames (3.6 hours total)
- Filter: No filter used
- Sky Conditions: Bortle 4
- Telescope: Celestron NexStar 8SE with a 0.63x reducer
- Camera: Sony a6400 (uncooled APS-C)
- Autoguiding: ZWO ASI120MM Mini for guiding
- Acquisition Software: NINA
- Guiding Software: PHD2
- Processing: Stacked in Siril, stretched in Photoshop
The astrophotographer expressed great satisfaction with the outcome, especially considering the lack of narrowband or specialized filters. This shot truly demonstrates what can be achieved with careful planning, execution, and post-processing, even without the darkest skies or advanced equipment.
We hope you enjoy this breathtaking view of NGC 7331 and are inspired by the possibilities within our universe!
