My First Attempt at Capturing the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) with Tracking!
Hello fellow stargazers and astrophotography enthusiasts!
I'm thrilled to share my very first attempt at capturing the majestic Andromeda Galaxy (M31) after recently acquiring a new piece of equipment: the Sky Watcher Star Adventurer GTi. This was an exciting step for me, moving beyond static tripod shots to embrace the world of guided deep-sky imaging.
The Setup
Here's the gear that made this shot possible:
- Camera: Canon EOS 2000D
- Lens: Canon 75-300mm (used at 200mm)
- Tracker: Sky Watcher Star Adventurer GTi
- Tripod: Rollei C6i
- Remote Shutter: Rollei Remote Shutter Release
The Settings
To capture the faint light of Andromeda, I opted for the following settings:
- ISO: 1600
- Aperture: f/5
- Exposures: 35 x 1-minute exposures
This gave me a total integration time of 35 minutes. The Star Adventurer GTi did a fantastic job of tracking the apparent motion of the sky, allowing me to take longer exposures without star trailing.
The Result
Here is my first capture of the Andromeda Galaxy:
What's Next?
I'm really happy with how this first attempt turned out, especially considering it's my initial foray into this type of imaging. I'm eager to improve my technique and processing for future shots.
If you have any tips for capturing Andromeda or any advice on post-processing for deep-sky objects, please feel free to share them in the comments below! Your insights would be greatly appreciated as I continue to learn and grow in this hobby.
Clear skies!
