Andromeda Galaxy group close-up (NGC 206) with CDK17

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clic here for 60% size 2403 x 1601 (743 kB)


About this Image

The famous Andromeda galaxy (M 31) is our nearest large neighbor galaxy, a member of the Local Group of galaxies.

The distance to M 31 is approx. 2.5 million light years.
The grainy structure in this image results from the huge amount of dense stars and clusters. A bright blue belt of starforming regions spans around M 31;
NGC 206 is the huge cluster of hot blue stars below and to the right of the center in this image. This giant starcloud in the Andromeda Galaxy is similar to but larger than M 24 in our own Milkyway.
North is to the right.



Technical Details
Optics

Planewave CDK17 cassegrain at f/6.8

Mount GM2000 GEM
Camera SBIG STL-11000M at -20C, internal filter wheel
Filters Baader LRGB
Date Aug 30, 2008
Location Altaussee/Austria
Sky Conditions mag 5.5-6 sky, seeing 2.4 - 3.5", temperature 10 C,
Exposure L:R:G:B= 40:20:20:20 min
(10-minute sub-exposures), all 1x1.
Processing Image aquisition in Maxim DL 4.56; Calibration and stacking in CCDStack;
Final processing in Photoshop CS3