M31 - The Andromeda Galaxy October 2007

Our closest neighbouring galaxy at 2 million light years distance. As well as M31 the image shows the 2 satellite galaxies of M32 (the round object upper left) and M110(slightly chopped at the bottom).

The luminence was taking at the Kelling Star party in September. Unfortunately I had made a stupid mistake and the mount was badly polar aligned. the guiding couldn't quite keep up in dec leaving some trails. I've done my best to process these out without mushing the detail but a few artefacts have crept in. The colour was captured from my back garden a couple fo weeks later.

Scope: William Optics ZS66 with AstroPhysics 0.67 telecompressor.

Mount: Vixen Great Polaris.

Guiding: Skywatcher ED80 and SXV guidehead.

Camera: SXV H9

Capture details: Luminence - 40x3 minute subs unbinned RGB each 30x1 minute binned 2x2.

Filters: Astronomic type II LRGB.

Captured and combined with Maxim DL. Processed in PS CS2.