The Andromeda galaxy, also known as Messier 31 (M31) and NGC 224, was originally known as the Andromeda nebula before the discovery that andromeda is actually a galaxy. Edwin Hubble finally settled this debate in 1925, by identifying extragalactic Cepheid variable stars by using this 2.5m telescope. (every man’s dream!)
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General
Andromeda Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy located within the Andromeda constellation, has the same order of magnitude as our own galaxy, ~46 kiloparsecs (142,000Ly) (De Vaucouleurs et al., 1991), and is roughly 2.5million Ly away from us.
Andromeda is the closest galaxy to us with a substantial size and even in 2018 its size was brought into question, stating that the size was initially ~50% larger than ours, but research has argued against this, bringing the lower estimate down to roughly the same as size as our galaxy (Kafle et al., 2018)
Andromeda is visible to the naked eye on a moonless, very dark sky site. Appearing as a fuzzy patch in the sky. This can be seen better with binoculars and smaller scopes. But visually doesn’t compare to photos where you can bring out dust lanes and spiral arms.
Andromeda Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy located within the Andromeda constellation, has the same order of magnitude as our own galaxy, ~46 kiloparsecs (142,000Ly) (De Vaucouleurs et al., 1991), and is roughly 2.5million Ly away from us.
Andromeda is the closest galaxy to us with a substantial size and even in 2018 its size was brought into question, stating that the size was initially ~50% larger than ours, but research has argued against this, bringing the lower estimate down to roughly the same as size as our galaxy (Kafle et al., 2018)
Andromeda is visible to the naked eye on a moonless, very dark sky site. Appearing as a fuzzy patch in the sky. This can be seen better with binoculars and smaller scopes. But visually doesn’t compare to photos where you can bring out dust lanes and spiral arms.
Collision course
Andromeda is on a collision course with our galaxy. The universe is expanding, and as such everything is red-shifted in wavelength showing this, but Andromeda is blue-shifted, along with approximately 100 others (O’Callaghen, 2018) and is travelling towards us at about 110 Km per sec and will collide with the Milkyway in about 4 billion years.
The merging of the two galaxies will form a very large elliptical galaxy (Cox & Leob 2008) or a large disk galaxy (Ueda et al., 2014). Merging galaxies are common in clusters or groups of galaxies, but the fate of our sun and solar system is unknown and will most likely be known till close to the time when it can be calculated where our solar system will be at the time of the collision (not that we will be about to see it, the sun will be in its final stages of death, or entering them)
Andromeda is on a collision course with our galaxy. The universe is expanding, and as such everything is red-shifted in wavelength showing this, but Andromeda is blue-shifted, along with approximately 100 others (O’Callaghen, 2018) and is travelling towards us at about 110 Km per sec and will collide with the Milkyway in about 4 billion years.
The merging of the two galaxies will form a very large elliptical galaxy (Cox & Leob 2008) or a large disk galaxy (Ueda et al., 2014). Merging galaxies are common in clusters or groups of galaxies, but the fate of our sun and solar system is unknown and will most likely be known till close to the time when it can be calculated where our solar system will be at the time of the collision (not that we will be about to see it, the sun will be in its final stages of death, or entering them)
Andromeda's close friends
Andromeda has two main satellite galaxies and multiple other satellite galaxies, of which 20 are known and are considered to be equivariant to ours (Higgs & McConnachie 2021). The two best known as Messier 32 and Messier 110. M32 potentially had an interaction with andromeda, with andromeda stealing a lot of its stellar disk and also causing new star formations. This could have shrunk the size of M32 leaving it to what we know today (Young, 2000).
M110 appears to be interacting with the andromeda galaxy and is found to have metal-rich stars which potentially have been stripped from the satellite galaxy (Ibata et al., 2001). M110 appears to have dust lanes, although it’s a small galaxy and hard to see with amateur scopes, this indicates ongoing star formation (Young, 2000)
Andromeda has two main satellite galaxies and multiple other satellite galaxies, of which 20 are known and are considered to be equivariant to ours (Higgs & McConnachie 2021). The two best known as Messier 32 and Messier 110. M32 potentially had an interaction with andromeda, with andromeda stealing a lot of its stellar disk and also causing new star formations. This could have shrunk the size of M32 leaving it to what we know today (Young, 2000).
M110 appears to be interacting with the andromeda galaxy and is found to have metal-rich stars which potentially have been stripped from the satellite galaxy (Ibata et al., 2001). M110 appears to have dust lanes, although it’s a small galaxy and hard to see with amateur scopes, this indicates ongoing star formation (Young, 2000)
Formation
About 10 billion years ago, two smaller protogalaxies collided and then merged to become the Andromeda Galaxy. (Davidge et al., 2012)
The majority of the galaxy's (metal-rich) expanded disc and galactic halo were created by this cataclysmic collision. Its pace of star formation would have been quite rapid during this time, to the point where it would have been a brilliant infrared galaxy for roughly 100 million years. 2-4 billion years ago, Andromeda and the Triangulum Galaxy (M33) passed quite close by one another. The outer disc of M33 was disturbed, and the disc of the Andromeda Galaxy experienced extraordinary rates of star formation, including in several globular clusters.
It is believed that star production in Andromeda's disc has almost completely ceased over the last 2 billion years. There have been encounters with satellite galaxies that the Andromeda Galaxy has previously swallowed, such as M32, M110, or others. Structures like Andromeda's Giant Stellar Stream were created as a result of these interactions. Both the presence of a counter-rotating disc of gas and a relatively young (100 million years old) star population in the heart of Andromeda is thought to be the result of a galactic merger that occurred about 100 million years ago. (Davidge et al., 2012)
About 10 billion years ago, two smaller protogalaxies collided and then merged to become the Andromeda Galaxy. (Davidge et al., 2012)
The majority of the galaxy's (metal-rich) expanded disc and galactic halo were created by this cataclysmic collision. Its pace of star formation would have been quite rapid during this time, to the point where it would have been a brilliant infrared galaxy for roughly 100 million years. 2-4 billion years ago, Andromeda and the Triangulum Galaxy (M33) passed quite close by one another. The outer disc of M33 was disturbed, and the disc of the Andromeda Galaxy experienced extraordinary rates of star formation, including in several globular clusters.
It is believed that star production in Andromeda's disc has almost completely ceased over the last 2 billion years. There have been encounters with satellite galaxies that the Andromeda Galaxy has previously swallowed, such as M32, M110, or others. Structures like Andromeda's Giant Stellar Stream were created as a result of these interactions. Both the presence of a counter-rotating disc of gas and a relatively young (100 million years old) star population in the heart of Andromeda is thought to be the result of a galactic merger that occurred about 100 million years ago. (Davidge et al., 2012)
Data Collection
This image was taken on 26/08/2022 using 30-second exposures for just over a total of total exposure time. using my setup below
All the data was stacked with DeepSkyStacker and Processed in Pixinsight. (Other software is available which is free and will is linked in the information tab).
It is getting to that time of year when dew is now starting to form over the lenses, but still warm enough to not warrant the use of the dew heaters. So far the dew shield has stopped dew building up on the scope, but The guide scope started using the dew heater powered by a small power bank.
Because the RASA 8 is such a fast optical system, the need for long exposures aren't needed, especially on the broadband targets such as galaxies and star clusters. For galaxies, a maximum of 30 seconds is needed, and 90 seconds for nebula with a nebula filter.
This image was taken on 26/08/2022 using 30-second exposures for just over a total of total exposure time. using my setup below
- Scope – Celestron RASA 8
- Mount - Skywatcher EQ6 R Pro
- Guide scope – ZWO 30mm
- Guide Camera – ZWO ASI 120mm mini
- Main Camera – ZWO Asi 533mc Pro
- Control box – ZWO ASIAIR Pro
- Filter – Baadar 2" UV/IR filter
- Starizona Filter drawer next to the camera sensor
- Fox Halo 96k power bank
All the data was stacked with DeepSkyStacker and Processed in Pixinsight. (Other software is available which is free and will is linked in the information tab).
It is getting to that time of year when dew is now starting to form over the lenses, but still warm enough to not warrant the use of the dew heaters. So far the dew shield has stopped dew building up on the scope, but The guide scope started using the dew heater powered by a small power bank.
Because the RASA 8 is such a fast optical system, the need for long exposures aren't needed, especially on the broadband targets such as galaxies and star clusters. For galaxies, a maximum of 30 seconds is needed, and 90 seconds for nebula with a nebula filter.
The above-left picture shows great detail, although it isn't finished and will be added to over the coming nights. The picture clearly shows (ignoring the obvious) M32 and M110, also known as NGC 221 and 205 respectively, and also contains NGC 206 (light blue near the bottom right corner), the brightest star cloud in Andromeda and is also a star-forming region.
The Above right picture has nearly double the time in exposure, still at 30-sec sub-exposures. Post-processing wasn't pushed too hard (although I will experiment at a later stage) but this picture is all the data from the left picture and new data taken on 02/03 September 2022, totalling 140 minutes.
The left also benefited from star reduction, which the right didn't have.. (forgot..) hence future processing to better the pictures at a later stage.
Other differences are the core is a little brighter (I didn't drop the curves so hard on the right) and the stars in the right picture also show better colouring in the galaxy (Not so much blue) and the galaxy overall has better colouring (again not too much blue)
Update - 23/09/23. Sharpstar EDPH62 III Attempt.
My most recent attempt was with the Sharpstar EDPH III with the reducer/ flattener and ZWO Asi 533mc Pro using 120 sec sub-exposures for a total of 3hrs and 38 mins. I was aiming for slightly higher, but the meridian was closer than I expected so moved to another target as now the winter targets were back in the early hours. This photo is only V1 and
The Above right picture has nearly double the time in exposure, still at 30-sec sub-exposures. Post-processing wasn't pushed too hard (although I will experiment at a later stage) but this picture is all the data from the left picture and new data taken on 02/03 September 2022, totalling 140 minutes.
The left also benefited from star reduction, which the right didn't have.. (forgot..) hence future processing to better the pictures at a later stage.
Other differences are the core is a little brighter (I didn't drop the curves so hard on the right) and the stars in the right picture also show better colouring in the galaxy (Not so much blue) and the galaxy overall has better colouring (again not too much blue)
Update - 23/09/23. Sharpstar EDPH62 III Attempt.
My most recent attempt was with the Sharpstar EDPH III with the reducer/ flattener and ZWO Asi 533mc Pro using 120 sec sub-exposures for a total of 3hrs and 38 mins. I was aiming for slightly higher, but the meridian was closer than I expected so moved to another target as now the winter targets were back in the early hours. This photo is only V1 and
Previous attempts
Below is my first-ever picture of Andromeda. This was taken in November 2021 using short exposures and the ZWO Asi 178mc non-cooled camera with the Skywatcher 72ed.
It was processed in Photoshop (perks of uni..) before I had Pixinsight. The data was only about an hour using 30-second sub-exposures. I was a little excited with the picture, even though it's not the best, it does show the dust lanes which is easy to capture. This was one of my first ever AP pictures, next to the M42, Orion Nebula.
Below is my first-ever picture of Andromeda. This was taken in November 2021 using short exposures and the ZWO Asi 178mc non-cooled camera with the Skywatcher 72ed.
It was processed in Photoshop (perks of uni..) before I had Pixinsight. The data was only about an hour using 30-second sub-exposures. I was a little excited with the picture, even though it's not the best, it does show the dust lanes which is easy to capture. This was one of my first ever AP pictures, next to the M42, Orion Nebula.