Just wondering when the best time of the year is to view Andromeda?
Not only would I love to look at it through a telescope, I'd love to image it too..
The best time to view Andromeda is probably during the laster months of the year. It doesn't rise that high here so you will need an open sky to be able observe or image it.
Sunday night was clear around here. I was working (security, mobile patrols) and decided to take my 10x50 binos up to the look out, it was 0400 in the morning, but I am sure I spoted it. Towards the north west and only just above the horizon below the square of pegasus.
This time of year is fine, in the wee small hours of the morning. I spotted it from Qld Astrofest this last year in the early hours of the morning. I'm not sure whether you would be able to see it from Canberra, if you have some star charts then they will give an indication. It's easy to spot at a dark site.
M31 currently culminates (north) around 4.00 a.m. here in the Blue Mountains and its altitude is approximately 15 - 16 degrees. With the recent clear mornings it is fairly distinct with the naked eye and quite nice in 20 x 80 binoculars. Definitely worth a go at imaging.
