M31 - Andromeda Galaxy through a 6 inches refractor

This video is composed from the 200 subframes of 30 seconds each one taken to be stacked into a final image. It is very clear that the Sky-Watcher EQ6 equatorial mount has a periodic error in declination (north-south movement) and drifts a bit in right ascension due to a lack of equilibrium in the setup.

Final stacked image may be found at http://www.awesky.com/Deep+Sky/Messier/M31+through+a+6+inches+refractor/

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• M31
• Andromeda
• galaxy
• periodic error
• equatorial mount
• eq6
• Sky Watcher
• sky
• watcher
• skywatcher
• inches
• refractor
• telescope
• astronomy
• astrophotography

[azzy314159]

I am planning to take my Vixen 130SF and a GP2 mount up on top of the hill (at 8200 feet plus) next to my home There are a few lights at the top and a couple of comm towers with red lights but my concern is my small town down below me at 4200 feet and about 5 miles as the crow flies and visible. Will the city influence my view. Its a complicated to arrange and I am worried it might be fruitless. Wondering if it is worth the effort or should go further away from the city?

[CumputerPhysiscsLab]

@azzy314159 Probably it is a better idea to go visual naked eye a first time to the summit and check the quality of the sky there. If you see a lot of stars without telescope it means the quality for deep sky observation is good.

[azzy314159]

@CumputerPhysiscsLab Thanks CPL. I think I will make a foray before I take the star party out. I have noticed that on one night the sky was clear but the stars seemed to twinkle although very bright. Wondering if twinkling stars are better or worse for viewing ?

[CumputerPhysiscsLab]

@azzy314159 There are two things to take into account when looking for good night skies. First it is "seeing". Second is "light pollution". For deep sky observation, the key is avoiding light pollution. For lunar/planetary observation the key is to get good "seeing". Twinkling stars means bad seeing, bad skies for planetary. That is very usual on any summits in the world. Summits are good for deep sky observation. Shores are good for lunar/planetary.

[galaxy31M]

I now feel very small...  Again.... This is amazing.

[SeanKimStyle]

Also at what magnification could you view andromeda galaxy like this?

[SeanKimStyle]

Achromat refractor? I'm thinking if I should buy 6" instead of 5" (Explore Scientific). How much difference in between 6 and 5?

[xFruitsBasket]

Its pretty amazing to see another entire galaxy with a telescope.

[markuslebt]

@joikbenik i just got m toUcam 840K today now i need to make long exposure modification after that i´m gonna try use my equatorial mount and 10inch dobson to get some decent pictures. the mod looks kinda complicated however..

[joikbenik]

@markuslebt like 2.5 million lightyears away, i think andromeda galaxy is the closest galaxy to our milky way galaxy

[markuslebt]

she is so close isnt she....

[joikbenik]

cool :O

[gnupuppy]

Amazing video for a six inch scope. Thank you for sharing. 

[flowerpotproductions]

Question: when your viewing these deep sky objects like nebulae and galaxies, will you see the clouds in them? Or is this only when you take the pictures? When I view the Orion nebula, i can see the clouds of gas in it but when i view something fainter like the dumbbell nebula i cant see the clouds.. is this normal? Also can you attach eyepieces and filters when doing astrophotography or is it only through the camera with no additional help (like how eyepieces can make you see closer up)