M31, Andromeda: A New Rig's Debut Under the Stars
Finally, some clear skies and a chance to put my new(ish) rig to the test! The target for the night: the magnificent Andromeda Galaxy, M31.
A Night of Challenges and Triumphs
The evening started with a bit of a hiccup. My guide camera seemed to be misbehaving, throwing a wrench in the works. Despite this setback, I decided to push forward and attempt capturing Andromeda unguided. While it's always a challenge, I'm really pleased with how the final results turned out!
The Gear and the Process
Here's a rundown of the equipment and software that brought this image to life:
- Telescope: Williams Optics GT71 w/ 0.8 reducer/flattener
- Camera: ASI 2600MC Pro
- Mount: iOptron GEM28 (unguided)
- Location: North South Lake (Bortle 4?) in Haines Falls, NY
- Integration Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Calibration Frames: 10 darks, 20 flats, 20 bias
Processing Workflow
The post-processing journey involved several key steps:
- Stacking: Performed in Deep Sky Stacker.
- Denoising & Background Removal: Utilized GraXpert for these crucial steps.
- Star Removal: Employed StarNet++ to isolate galactic details.
- Final Touches: Stretched and refined the image in Photoshop.
Processing Musings
When asked about color balancing, I explained my approach involved manipulating HSB, levels, and using Photoshop's camera raw filter. I'm also keen to explore Siril for processing, though it seems a bit intimidating given my existing Photoshop workflow. It's on the list for future learning!
Despite the initial guide camera issues, I'm thrilled with this image of M31. It's a rewarding target, and I'm excited to continue refining my techniques with this new setup.
