M31 - The Andromeda Galaxy (2004)
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An earlier attempt at M31, the Andromeda Galaxy. An even earlier 2003 attempt, a 2005 three-panel mosaic (with the full writeup on this object), and the newest eight-panel mosaic from 2019 are also on file.
Location: The Ballauer Observatory near Azle, Texas
Date: September 6, 2004
Temperature: 70 degrees F
Seeing: 5/10, very average
Transparency: 6/10
Scope/Mount: Takahashi FSQ-106 @ f/5 and Tak NJP mount
Camera: SBIG STL-6303E, self-guided
Exposure Info: LRGB image - 180:50:30:50 minutes (5 min. subexposures, all unbinned)
Processing Info: Dark frame calibration (no flats), de-blooming, registration, and Sigma combine of all channels in MaxIm 4.0. Digital Development in MaxIm. Blending of final data, channel cleanup, artificial flats, Levels, Curves, and color balance in Photoshop CS.
Other exposure info: Special thanks to the Three Rivers Foundation (3RF) for the use of some of the equipment used to create this image.