M31

The Andromeda Galaxy

M31 (NGC 224, the famous Andromeda Galaxy) is the nearest large galaxy to our own Milky Way galaxy. It is so bright that it is easily seen by naked eye as a faint fuzzy patch of light in the northern part of Andromeda. It forms part of the Local Group of galaxies along with our Milky Way, its satellite galaxies, and M33. Of all members of the Local Group M31 is considered to have the closest external resemblance to the Milky Way, thus it is often referred to as a 'sibling galaxy'. Also seen in this photograph are M31's satellite galaxies M110 (below) and M32 (above) -M31 is an 'island universe' - a gigantic collection of billions of stars estimated to be 2.54 million light years distant.

Imaging Data

Date: 11-13-2010 Reprocessed 11-9-2014

Location : Sudbury, Massachusetts

Optics : ZenithStar 66mm Apo, WO Flattener II

Filter(s) : Astronomik CLS-CCD

Mount : Piggyback LX-200 on ATS Pier

Autoguiding : Meade DSI with Stellarvue 60mm Finder

Camera : Canon EOS 1000D Astro-modified

Exposure info : 40 x 180 second Exposures @ISO 1600, Ambient Temp 41 F

Total Exposure : 120 minutes

Processed:  PixinSight