M31 the Andromeda Galaxy
Jul 11, 2019 23:17:31 #
Ballard
Loc: Grass Valley, California
Below is a picture of Messier object 31 the Andromeda Galaxy I took early this morning after the Moon set. This is a stack of 20 images, each one a 2 minute exposure. The photo was taken using a 500mm F 4.0 lens with the ISO set to 1600 on a canon 5D markIV DLSR. 20 Dark frames where also taken and used to remove noise generated in the camera. The camera and lens where piggy backed on a 5 inch refractor that was used for guiding. The mount used was a 25+ year old Losmandy G11 mount upgrade with DC servos. The freeware program PHD was used to guide the mount via a starlight express lodestar 2X ccd inserted in the guide scope. To stack the images I used the freeware program Deep Sky Stacker. Further process was done with the Canon Digital Photo Professional that comes with the camera. Minor tweaks where also done using Picture Window (old code that is no longer sold). Feel free to send questions, comments or suggestions.
Jul 12, 2019 00:13:34 #
Jul 12, 2019 00:35:15 #
Ballard
Loc: Grass Valley, California
Thanks for the kind words. On close inspection I noticed a couple of digital artifacts in the image that I need to clean up. I'll probably do that tomorrow since I was up late (or actually early this morning and didn't get to sleep until 4:30AM). At times I get a tad obsessive with my hobbies.
Jul 12, 2019 00:41:20 #
Ballard
Loc: Grass Valley, California
Thanks for the kind words. I'm just getting back into deep sky photography and this is the one I like the best so far. There are a couple of digital artifacts I noticed after I sent this image out and will experiment in getting rid of them (only noticeable if you zoom in).
Jul 12, 2019 05:12:03 #
Jul 12, 2019 05:57:34 #
I don’t know anything about astronomy, but that is a truly amazing photo. Well done.
Jul 12, 2019 06:58:31 #
That's what I call dedication. Just curious but are any of those stars visible to the naked eye?
Jul 12, 2019 06:59:58 #
Jul 12, 2019 07:40:07 #
Jul 12, 2019 07:50:37 #
Ballard wrote:
Below is a picture of Messier object 31 the Androm... (show quote)
Exceptional photo!!@!
Jul 12, 2019 08:29:03 #
Jul 12, 2019 09:17:26 #
Jul 12, 2019 09:22:02 #
Having delved into astro-photogaphy waaaaay back in the 70s (pre-digital) all I can say is phenomenal.
Wow Wow Wow
Wow Wow Wow
Jul 12, 2019 09:56:34 #
A larger galaxy than our Milky Way - on the way to merge with Milky Way - and destroy it.
Exciting shot Ballard, thank you!
Fortunayely we don't have to worry about that merge. It will take some time.
Exciting shot Ballard, thank you!
Fortunayely we don't have to worry about that merge. It will take some time.
Jul 12, 2019 09:57:56 #
TSHDGTL wrote:
That's what I call dedication. Just curious but are any of those stars visible to the naked eye?
If you go to a dark sky area you can make out the fuzzy brighter core. This should give you an idea of the size.
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