Over 50 Astrophotography Images of the Andromeda Galaxy
In October 2017, the astrophotography community on the AstroBackyard Facebook Page was asked to share their photos of the Andromeda Galaxy. The response I got, was over 50 deep sky images from astrophotographers around the world.
The images of M31 on this page were taken by amateur astronomers from their backyards and beyond. Some of the images were captured using a DSLR and telescope, though many used a camera lens, or even an iPhone to produce their portrait of this galaxy.
The ingenuity displayed by some of these deep-sky imagers is commendable. I have highlighted noteworthy stats and/or equipment that I can appreciate as backyard astronomer myself in orange. I want to thank everyone for stepping up and sharing your photos.
These are photos of another galaxy captured on Earth, each one is a remarkable feat.
By reviewing the astrophotography cameras, telescopes, and mounts used for each shot, you can get a better understanding of what to expect using a specific setup. I have provided links to most of the astrophotography equipment used for each photo.
If you are getting started in deep astrophotography with a limited budget, have a look at this very capable portable deep sky astrophotography kit.
Each and every one of these photos represents many hours of patience, perseverance, and dedication. Anyone who has attempted deep-sky astrophotography can attest to this. Please respect the photographers by not sharing their photos without permission and full credit.
Over 50 Images of the Andromeda Galaxy
Adam Sage
Camera: Canon 100D
Telescope or Lens: Altair Lightwave 72ED-R
Exposure Time: Single 20-Minute Exposure
Mount: Sky-Watcher HEQ-5
Adam Singer
Telescope or Lens: Explore Scientific ED80
Exposure Time: 4 Hours (5 Min. subs)
Adam Toder
Camera: Canon 1200D
Telescope or Lens: Stellarvue SV70T
Exposure Time: Single 6 Minute Sub (Unguided)
Mount: Orion Atlas EQ-G
Ágoston Szűcs
Camera: Canon 1100D
Telescope or Lens: Sky-Watcher 200/1000 Newtonian
Exposure Time: 80 x 30-Seconds (Mosaic)
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ-5
Benjamin Petersson
Camera: Canon 700D
Telescope or Lens: Bresser AR 127/635
Exposure Time: 83 x 30-Seconds
Brian Poole
Camera: Canon 6D (stock)
Telescope or Lens: Stellarvue ST80SV
Exposure Time: Approx. 5 Hours
Mount: Orion Atlas Pro AZ/EQ-G
Carlos Andres Gomez
Camera: Nikon D5300
Telescope or Lens: Nikkon 300mm F/5.6 Lens
Exposure Time: 20 Minutes
Mount: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer
Chris Cros
Telescope or Lens: Nexstar 4SE
Exposure Time: 14 Minutes
Colin Jones
Camera: Sony A7R
Telescope or Lens: Bower 500mm F/8 Lens
Exposure Time: Single 120 Second Exposure
Mount: iOptron SkyTracker Pro
Daniel C DelBiondo
Camera: Canon T4i
Telescope or Lens: Explore Scientific ED80 CF
Exposure Time: 9 x 4 Minutes
Mount: Orion Atlas EQ-6
Dave Woodford
Camera: Canon 450D
Telescope or Lens: Takahashi FSQ-106
Exposure Time: 1x30s, 10x60s 10x120s 2x240s
Dávid Pálinkáš
Camera: Canon T4i
Telescope or Lens: Sky-Watcher 200P
Exposure Time: 94 x 2 Minutes
Mount: Sky-Watcher HEQ-5
David Vickers
Camera: Canon SL1
Telescope or Lens: Sigma 105mm
Exposure Time: 4 x 3 Minutes
Derek Regan
Camera: Canon 100D
Telescope or Lens: Explore Scientific ED80
Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
Denis Labelle
Camera: Canon 7D Mark II
Telescope or Lens: Explore Scientific ED102
Exposure Time: 40 x 2 Minutes
Mount: Sky-Watcher HEQ-5
Dominick Zaucha
Camera: ZWO 1600MM-Cool
Telescope or Lens: Explore Scientific ED80
Exposure Time: 10 Minutes Per LRGB Channel
Eddie Hunnell
Camera: ZWO ASI 1600MC-Cool
Telescope or Lens: Celestron 9.25 SCT
Exposure Time: 10 x 4 Minutes (3 Panels)
Fabio Luisi
Camera: Nikon D3200
Telescope or Lens: Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG @ 350mm
Exposure Time: 50 x 80 Seconds
Mount: Sky-Watcher AZ EQ6-GT
Frederick Beaupre
Camera: Sony A7ii
Telescope or Lens: 70-200mm F/4 @ 200mm
Exposure Time: 1 Hour
Mount: iOptron SkyTracker Pro
Gibran J. Pierluissi-Jovet
Camera: ZWO ASI 1600MM-Cool
Telescope or Lens: Canon 55mm Lens
Hamza Lahmimsi
Camera: iPhone
Telescope or Lens: Binoculars
James Fulton
James Thegecko Lamming
Jan Schubert
Camera: Canon 70Da
Telescope or Lens: Canon 400mm F/5.6L
Exposure Time: 2.5 Hours
Mount: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer
Jason Colbeck
Camera: Canon Xti
Telescope or Lens: Tamron 150mm Lens
Exposure Time: Single 400 Second Exposure
Mount: Celestron CG-4 w/ Motor Drive
Jason Smith
Camera: Nikon D3300 (modified)
Telescope or Lens: Explore Scientific ED80
Exposure Time: 9.3 Hours
Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
Jay Bolt
Camera: Canon 100D (modified)
Telescope or Lens: Orion ED80 F/7.5 650mm
Exposure Time: 100 x 180 Seconds
Jerry Rotter
Camera: Nikon D5500
Telescope or Lens: Astro Tech 60mm F/6
Exposure Time: 23 x 75 Seconds
Jesse Welsh
Camera: Canon 70D
Telescope or Lens: Canon 55-250mm Kit Lens
Mount: Vixen Polarie
Jochen Knarren
Telescope or Lens: 135mm Lens
Mount: Sky-Watcher HEQ-5
Joe Perkins
Camera: Sony A6000
Telescope or Lens: Explore Scientific ED80 CF
Exposure Time: 2.1 Hours
Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
John Rene Barløse Hansen
Camera: Sony A77ii
Telescope or Lens: 400mm Achromat
Exposure Time: 16 x 1 Minute
Mount: Homemade Tracking Mount
Lee O’Malley
Leo Shatz
Camera: SBIG STF-8300M
Telescope or Lens: APM 107/700 Apo Triplet
Exposure Time: Ha:12x900s, L:14x300s, 15x180s
R:19x300s, G:15x300s, B:20x300s
Ludwig Arnlund
Camera: Canon 5D Mark III
Telescope or Lens: Sky-Watcher ED80
Exposure Time: 48 x 2 Minutes
Mount: Sky-Watcher HEQ-5
Manual Cortez
Mitchell Brown
Telescope or Lens: Nikon 200-500mm Lens
Mount: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer
Nicolas Thulliez
Camera: Nikon D7000
Telescope or Lens: Nikkor 300mm Lens
Exposure Time: 500 × 45″ and 200 × 15″
Mount: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer
Nick Johnson
Paul Coapman
Camera: Canon SL2 (stock)
Telescope or Lens: Sigma 150-600 Lens @ 250mm
Exposure Time: 1 Hour, 3 Minutes
Mount: iOptron SkyTracker Pro
Phil Han
Camera: Nikon D750
Telescope or Lens: Nikon 300mm F4 PF x 1.4TC
Exposure Time: 70 x 1.5 Minutes
Mount: iOptron SkyTracker Pro
Alexander Suto
Camera: ZWO ASI 1600MM-Cool
Telescope or Lens: TS APO 65Q
Exposure Time: 50 Hours (60 Second Exposures)
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ6
Shawn Eaches
Camera: Canon 450D
Telescope or Lens: Stellarvue 80ED
Mount: Celestron CG-5 Advanced Series
Simon White
Camera: Canon 60Da
Telescope or Lens: Sigma 120-400 APO DG @ 400mm
Exposure Time: Single 74 Second Exposure
Mount: Astrotrac
Steve Johnson
Camera: Nikon D750
Telescope or Lens: Nikon 70-300mm Nikkor Lens
Exposure Time: Single 30 Second Exposure
Steven Harper
Camera: Canon T6s
Telescope or Lens: Sky-Watcher 80ED
Exposure Time: 2 Hours
Mount: Celestron CGEM DX
Tiago Narciso
Camera: Canon 600Da
Telescope or Lens: Sky-Watcher Explorer 150 PDS
Exposure Time: 2 x 180 Seconds
Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
Tobias Burger
Camera: Nikon D3300
Telescope or Lens: Explore Scientific AC 152/988 AR
Exposure Time: 15 Minutes
Mount: Sky-Watcher HEQ-5
Tomi Mustonen
Camera: Fujifilm X-T2
Telescope or Lens: Fujinon XF50-140mm Lens
Exposure Time: 58 x 30 Seconds
Mount: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer
Tom Maxwell
Camera: ZWO ASI 1600MC-Cool
Telescope or Lens: Astro Tech 65ED
Exposure Time: 60 x 60 Seconds
Mount: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer
Tony McDaniels
Camera: Nikon D3300
Telescope or Lens: Nikkor 70-200 F/4
Mount: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer
Victor Van Puyenbroeck
Camera: Canon 450D
Telescope or Lens: Orion ST-80
Exposure Time: 1 Hour
Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ-5 Pro Synscan
Vittorio Signorelli
Camera: Nikon D5100
Telescope or Lens: Nikkor 55-300mm @ 300mm
Exposure Time: 45 Minutes
Mount: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini
Zhonghua Q
Camera: Sony ILCE-6300
Telescope or Lens: Nexstar 6SE
Exposure Time: (3 Substrate x 4 hours)
Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
Thank you all for sharing your amazing photos of the Andromeda Galaxy. Please know that seeing these examples shot through various astrophotography cameras and telescopes help beginners set their expectations when looking to invest in new equipment.
I am amazed at the diversity of the astrophotography telescopes and camera lenses used for each shot. The collection of equatorial mounts is also diverse, with a few notable GEM’s that are seen used in a number of these photos.
If you looking for an image processing tutorial that focuses on the Andromeda Galaxy, here is one I put together that uses DeepSkyStacker and Adobe Photoshop: Andromeda Galaxy Image Processing Tutorial (Adobe Photoshop)