Untracked Andromeda - M31/M32: Pushing the Limits of Patience

Astrophotography often conjures images of perfectly tracked equatorial mounts and pristine skies. But what happens when you combine a passion for deep-sky objects with a reliance on untracked imaging? The result, as demonstrated by this incredible shot of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and its companion M32, is a testament to dedication and meticulous processing.

This image is a remarkable combination of two separate imaging sessions, resulting in a substantial total exposure time of 47 minutes and 16 seconds. The photographer used a Nikon D800 paired with a Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6 lens at 500mm and f/5.6, shooting at ISO 800 and 1600. What makes this achievement even more impressive is that the imaging was done untracked, with manual frame adjustments every 150 images to compensate for Earth's rotation.

Untracked Andromeda - M31/M32

The Rigorous Processing Pipeline

The journey from raw data to this stunning final image involved a comprehensive processing workflow:

Raw Conversion & Lens Correction: Raws were converted in Lightroom with lens profile corrections applied.
Stacking: Both imaging sessions were registered and stacked separately in Siril.
Combination & Noise Reduction: The stacked sessions were combined in Siril, followed by green noise removal.
Background Extraction: GraXpert was used for efficient background extraction.
Star Removal: StarNet was employed to create starless images.
Stretching: Starless and star masks were individually stretched in Siril.
Final Touches: The starless image and star mask were combined in Photoshop, with minor adjustments to saturation and brightness, a crop, and further background isolation.

A Triumph of Effort and Learning

The photographer expresses satisfaction with the outcome, noting the ability to bring out more of Andromeda's faint outer edges than in previous attempts. While a focusing error during the longer 1936-second stack resulted in slightly fuzzier dust lanes, the overall coloration is described as natural and close to the desired aesthetic. The commitment to improving their untracked setup and processing techniques is evident.

This image is a fantastic example of what can be achieved with patience and a systematic approach to processing, even without the benefit of a tracking mount. The photographer is open to advice and tips, highlighting the continuous learning process inherent in astrophotography.

Exposure Details: