M31 - Andromeda Galaxy

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

The only way for me to image the Andromeda is drive out west to a dark site (Mudgee Observatory Australia Bortle 2). Thanks to John who allowed me to set up on his property while I waited for it to rise low on the horizon. This is only about 1.5 hours (22 x 4 mins) with a Samyang 135mm Lens and ASI 533 MC pro on a HEQ5 rowan upgrade. I know- I will add Ha and more data next trip out!

Astrobin high res here https://astrob.in/jethfv/0/

[Anth10 (Anthony M)]

Paul- the trip was well worth it by all accounts. Very rich and immersive shot of our neighbouring galaxy. You’ve done an incredible job. Love it.

Anthony.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Paul,
Lovely image of M31 from the Mudgee Obs
A great start , well done !!
John’s sister in law Mary paddles with my wife in the outrigger club at Mollymook.
I haven’t met John but my wife has and said he’s a wonderful character, old school astronomer , very learn’ed
I might get to meet him in the future

Martin

[Crater101 (Warren)]

Lovely bit of work! That 135mm lens has worked a treat for this.

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

Originally Posted by Anth10

Paul- the trip was well worth it by all accounts. Very rich and immersive shot of our neighbouring galaxy. You’ve done an incredible job. Love it.

Anthony.

Thanks Anthony! there sure is a lot of stars in that region

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

Originally Posted by Crater101

Lovely bit of work! That 135mm lens has worked a treat for this.

Thanks Warren. So low on the Horizon I just wasn't confident to bring the ED80 for a closer view with so little image time. But the 135 does it fast and wide.

[AdamJL]

Very good! Such a fast lens allows you to partly overcome the low exposure time we get this far south.

Thanks for sharing.

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

Originally Posted by Startrek

Paul,
Lovely image of M31 from the Mudgee Obs
A great start , well done !!
John’s sister in law Mary paddles with my wife in the outrigger club at Mollymook.
I haven’t met John but my wife has and said he’s a wonderful character, old school astronomer , very learn’ed
I might get to meet him in the future

Martin

Thanks a lot Martin!

I went to Wiruna hoping it would be opnen but it was closed on the Thu. So stuck I gave Mudgee Obs a ring and John was more than obliging. I consider the trip successful even just meeting John! He showed me a picture he took in 1989 on Kodak film of the Aurora Australis from Mt Kosciusko!!!! A true legend.

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

Originally Posted by AdamJL

Very good! Such a fast lens allows you to partly overcome the low exposure time we get this far south.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Adam LOL I was just posting a reply with that very thought!

[Dave882 (David)]

Great shot with some lovely detail for such a low target. Well done!!

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

Originally Posted by Dave882

Great shot with some lovely detail for such a low target. Well done!!

Thanks David. I reckon if I went back again I'd add some Ha but being low you get a bit washed out on the RGB.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Great result Paul, I really like the bright "glowing" look that often gets lost, in the quest to reveal the inner dust lanes etc. Good to see you have experienced some clear skies too, a rather rare commodity in SE Oz, for quite some time now....unless the Moon is Full of course

Mike

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Great result Paul, I really like the bright "glowing" look that often gets lost, in the quest to reveal the inner dust lanes etc. Good to see you have experienced some clear skies too, a rather rare commodity in SE Oz, for quite some time now....unless the Moon is Full of course

Mike

Thanks Mike! You know it rained on my gear 1 hour after I set up for this shot then it cleared! Times are a changing!

Also John (Mudgee obs) mentioned you on the weekend. We were talking about great astro images and he mentioned you!

Yes I would like glow and detail but this target doesn't let you unless you take hours and hours and get close!

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by CoolhandJo

Thanks Mike! You know it rained on my gear 1 hour after I set up for this shot then it cleared! Times are a changing!

Yes, well with the 3M Scopedome and AP1600GTO, I do have the potential to be able to setup as fully automated and remotely operated from Canberra, with cloud meter etc, so I could take advantage of the shorter clear periods or when it clears up unexpectedly etc buuuut, sadly, I have reached (ok well and truly blown! ) my approved observatory budget and just cant afford all the extra bits and pieces and WiFi/cabling links etc required now ...at least for a while anyway...I do have an all-sky camera, waiting to be setup

Also John (Mudgee obs) mentioned you on the weekend. We were talking about great astro images and he mentioned you!

Ooooooh, which one??

Yes I would like glow and detail but this target doesn't let you unless you take hours and hours and get close!

You'll just have to do several visits to Mudgee, its a great looking Andromeda, already

Mike

[gregbradley]

Always wonderful to see an M31 from Aussie skies.

Nicely done. One suggestion I think because it's so low in the sky you are picking up excess red that should be processed down.

Greg.

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Always wonderful to see an M31 from Aussie skies.

Nicely done. One suggestion I think because it's so low in the sky you are picking up excess red that should be processed down.

Greg.

Thanks Greg yes your right. There is a bit too much red. I left it in to fgive it more colour as it was a bit washed out due to its position in the horizon. But I'll do it and see. Thanks

[Addos (Adam)]

always great to see andromeda pics! very nice rendition with the samyang! bit of inspiration to finally buy the zwo adapter for mine

[CoolhandJo (Paul)]

Originally Posted by Addos

always great to see andromeda pics! very nice rendition with the samyang! bit of inspiration to finally buy the zwo adapter for mine

Thanks Adam - get the one with the filter adaptor.