Andromeda Galaxy Revisited
I acquired a new image of the great galaxy in Andromeda, remotely via the Insight Observatory. The image data was acquired with the 16″ f/3.7 Dream astrograph reflector, ATEO-1 in New Mexico. The images were captured with Luminance, Red, Green, and Blue filtration and processed in my studio using Pixinsight and Photoshop to complete the color image.
This is a deeper image compared to the first image posted August 24. The earlier image, via telescope.live, consisted of 5 minute exposures for each of the four filters, totalling 20 minutes. This new image combined eight sub-exposures of three minutes for each filter for a total of 96 minutes. Still, it was a challenge to bring out the subtle blue from the clumps of young, luminous blue stars around the outside of the galaxy.
The image shows the galaxy is surrounded by clusters of hot, young, blue stars. Satellite galaxies M110 (upper right) and M32 (below) are visible in this image.
The Andromeda Galaxy, designated Messier 31, is located approximately 2.5 million light-years from earth and it is the nearest major galazy to the Milky Way. The galaxy’s name is derived from the fact that the galaxy is in the constellation Andromeda. The galaxy contains an estimated 1 trillion stars, roughly twice as many as in the Milky Way. For more about the Andromeda Galaxy visit the Wikipedia page here.
Insight Observatory provides remote telescope services for educational outreach, research, and astrophotography from remote observatories around the world at locations in the dark skies of New Mexico – the USA, the Rio Hurtado Valley – Chile, Nerpio – Spain, and Namibia – Southern Africa.
Light, Shadow, Form, and Texture 