A deep composite of M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, located about 2.5 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda.
This spiral system spans over 220,000 light-years and hosts more than a trillion stars. Red regions across its arms mark H II emission nebulae captured through Hα and O III filters. The smaller companions M32 and M110 appear nearby, interacting gravitationally as Andromeda and the Milky Way move toward a future merger in ~4.5 billion years.
Acquisition Details:
• Telescope: Takahashi FSQ-106 EDX4 (f/5)
• Camera: SBIG STX CCD
• Filters: Baader LRGB + Hα + O III
• Exposures:
L: 116 × 180 s + 98 × 60 s
RGB: 53 × 180 s each
Hα: 27 × 900 s
O III: 27 × 900 s
→ Total: 13.8 hours
• Location: Fregenal de la Sierra, Spain
• Processing: PixInsight
Technique:
Broadband LRGB data blended with narrowband Hα and O III to emphasize star-forming regions while maintaining a natural color balance and dynamic range.
by kbarth001