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The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31 is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth and the nearest large galaxy to our own Milky Way. Wikipedia
This is the first image I took with my rig after moving to the countryside and upgrading to the SkyWatcher EQ6R-Pro mount. Setting up the equipment, focusing and doing the polar aligment with the ASIAIR Pro was straightforward and didn’t take too long.
I then used the Go-To function from the Sky Atlas on the ASIAIR to slew and then frame the Andromeda Galaxy. It felt even too easy! I decided to take 5 minutes long exposures and at least 12 of them, for an hour of total integration.
| Dates | August 23rd, 2022 (Waning Crescent Moon) |
| Frames | 12x300” (5mins), 1 hour of total integration time |
| Focal Length | 360mm (f/6) |
| Camera | ZWO ASI533MC-Pro (gain 100, cooled at 0°C) |
| Telescope | TS-Optics Photoline 60mm Doublet Apochromatic Refractor |
| Accessories | 1.0x Flattener |
| Filters | TS-Optics 2” UV & IR Cut Filter |
| Mount | Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro |
| Guide Scope | Angeleyes Mini Guidescope 30mm f/4 |
| Guide Camera | ZWO ASI 120MM mini |
| Computer | ZWO ASIAIR Pro |
I stacked the lights frames in Siril using the OSC Preprocessing Without DBF (Darks, Biases, Flats) script. I decided not to use any Dark, Bias or Flat frames. I might try to create a dark frame library later, but the ASI533MC-Pro is considered a camera that can do without darks given the absence of amp glow.
I then used the following tools:
