M31: A Journey Back to the Andromeda Galaxy

It's been a significant hiatus, about 5 to 6 years, since I last delved into the captivating world of Deep Sky Object (DSO) astrophotography. Returning to this incredible hobby has been nothing short of magical, especially with the incredible advancements in software and processing techniques. I recently revisited some older data, applying new tools and workflows, and the results have been truly spectacular!

This post features a breathtaking image of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), our nearest major galactic neighbor.

M31 Andromeda

Capturing the Cosmos: Equipment and Acquisition

Here's a look at the details behind capturing this image:

Acquisition Details:

Lights: 102 frames at 1600 ISO, 120 seconds each
Darks: 15 frames at 1600 ISO, 80 seconds each
Flats and Biases: Captured for calibration
Location: Bortle 3 zone

Equipment:

Camera: Canon T5i (Unmodified)
Lens: Canon 55-250mm STM at 250mm, f/5.6
Mount: Sky-Watcher Sky Adventurer
Tripod: Slik 700DX

The Art of Processing: Bringing Out the Details

The journey from raw data to the final image is where the magic truly happens. I utilized a powerful combination of Siril and GraXpert for initial processing, followed by fine-tuning in Photoshop.

Processing Steps:

Siril & GraXpert:

Background Extraction
Deconvolution
Denoising
Spectrophotometric Color Calibration (truly transformative!)
Various small corrections
Star Removal using StarNet
Preliminary Stretches

Photoshop:

Levels adjustments
Curves adjustments
Star Reduction
Color Adjustments

A Renewed Passion

It's incredibly rewarding to see the progress in astrophotography software and techniques. The ability to refine and reveal the intricate details within celestial objects like M31 is awe-inspiring. This experience has reignited my passion for the hobby, and I'm excited to continue capturing and sharing the wonders of the night sky.

Stay tuned for more cosmic adventures!