Astrovelo

My best Andromeda galaxy image so far. It is only 30 minutes of total exposure but autoguiding makes a huge difference by making all the details clear and sharp. Have to collect more data on the next clear night.

The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31 (M31) is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth and the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way. It is larger than Milky Way galaxy by about 25-50%. Two other galaxies are in this view - M32 (above M31) which is a satellite galaxy of M31 and M110 (bottom of frame) which is also part of the Andromeda group of galaxies.

Telescope: William Optics Zenithstar 61; focal length 360mm
Optolong UV/IR cut filter
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC-pro, cooled to -10C
1 minute exposures with auto guiding; total exposure of 30 minutes;
used dark, flat, bias calibration frames
Processed in SIRIL and PhotoShop

The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31, M31, or NGC 224 and originally the Andromeda Nebula, is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth and the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way. ... From Wikipedia

This is one of those objects that can be easily seen with naked eyes under dark skies. I have seen it many times that way and with the aid of a telescope. It still appears as a smudge with small amateur telescopes. Unless the astrophotography techniques of long exposures and stacking is applied, its beauty is not apparent. Last year, during the pandemic I started playing around with astrophotography and this was one of the first targets that I imaged. Here are 3 images taken over the last few months and it is obvious that my technique is getting better with time. I like seeing the dust lanes making the spirals of the galaxy. Hoping to get better images of M31 again later in the year when it rises again in the East.