Process my Raw Andromeda Galaxy Data

You can process my image of the Andromeda Galaxy using an old DSLR camera from 2008. This image may provide you with some inspiration, or open your eyes to what’s possible using affordable used astronomy equipment. 

The final image includes 70 x 3-minute image exposures at ISO 1600. The image data was collected from my Bortle Scale Class 5/6 backyard.

raw Andromeda data

Download my Raw Data

If you want to share your results, please use the hashtag #yourastrophotoskills so I can find it (and maybe share it). You can also practice your image processing skills on several other deep-sky objects I have captured, here.

The image of Andromeda above was captured using humble astrophotography equipment, including a camera that was 14-years old at the time of writing. The camera is a Canon EOS Rebel XSi that I modified for astrophotography myself (full spectrum modification). 

 You can watch me capture this image data in the following video:

The image data was registered, calibrated, and stacked in DeepSkyStacker. To better understand the process of creating an intermediate file to process further in Adobe Photoshop, check out my astrophotography image processing guide. 

Andromeda is a popular beginner astrophotography project, that is both challenging and rewarding. Its large size and overall brightness make it an excellent choice for your camera and telescope. 

This project was a lot of fun, and I was truly surprised at how well the image taken using the old equipment turned out. Just look how excited I was setting up my old rig:

AstroBackyard Data

I used a number of software tools to capture the image including Astro Photography Tool (APT), and PHD2 guiding for improved tracking accuracy. These applications run on my laptop computer that I store in the plastic bin shown above. 

The image below shows my final result on the Andromeda Galaxy data using my latest image processing techniques. If you need guidance in your image processing session, feel free to check out my Andromeda Galaxy processing tutorial. 

image processing

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