Andromeda Galaxy group close-up (NGC 206)

clic for 36% size 1301 x 946 (480 kB)

clic here for 60% size 2169 x 1576 (974 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.

Find a wider view of the complete galaxy here.



Technical Details
Optics

16" cassegrain in secondary focus at f/10

Mount MK-100 GEM
Camera SBIG STL-11000M at -20C, internal filter wheel
Filters Astronomik LRGB
Date Aug 23-31, 2006; Ha: Dec 23, 2006.
Location Wildon/Austria
Sky Conditions mag 5 sky, seeing 1.4 - 1.8", temperature 15 C,
Exposure Ha:L:R:G:B= 120:60:50:30:80 min
(10-minute sub-exposures for LRGB, 60 min for H-alpha), all 1x1.
Processing Image aquisition in Maxim DL 4.56; Calibration and stacking in CCDStack;
Final processing in Photoshop CS2