M31 (The Andromeda Galaxy)
Constellation: Andromeda
Distance: 2.5 Million Light Years
The Andromeda Galaxy is a member of the Local Group of galaxies which includes the Milky Way, and is the closest of all galaxies to our own. At a distance of 2.5 million light years, it is the most distant object visible to the naked eye (I am able to see it from my imaging site, especially with averted vision). A spiral galaxy similar in structure to the Milky Way, it is estimated to contain about 1 trillion stars, about twice as many as our galaxy. Unlike most galaxies, the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way are moving toward each other, and a close encounter or collision is expected in about 4.5 billion years.
Two satellite galaxies of M31 are visible in the image: M32, a dwarf elliptical galaxy that projects over the upper left part of M31, and the larger M110, seen below M31.
(Some of this information from A Year in the Life of the Universe by Robert Gendler, and The 100 Best Astrophotography Targets by Ruben Kier).
Acquisition Data:
10/23/2019, North Branch NY
Camera: ZWO ASI071 Pro, 140 X 150 seconds
Guiding/Acquisition: TheSkyX
Telescope: Stellarvue SVX080T, 0.74 reducer (FL 355 mm)
Mount: Paramount MX
Processing: PixInsight
Below are 3 prior efforts:
Constellation: Andromeda
Distance: 2.5 million Light Years
Acquisition Data:
9/21/06, North Branch, NY
Canon 350D (modified), 200mm f2.8 lens with 2X Extender (400mm fl, f5.6)
9/1/05 at 200mm focal length:
And, my very first Deep Sky Object photograph on 8/30/04 at 50mm focal length:
