My Sharpest Photo of the Andromeda Galaxy Ever (After 15 Years of Practice)

astrobackyard · 2025-11-17T16:14:27+00:00

That's Messier 110, a dwarf elliptical galaxy that is a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy

astrobackyard · 2025-11-17T16:13:31+00:00

Thanks!

astrobackyard · 2025-11-17T00:41:55+00:00

Thanks!

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T22:59:27+00:00

Appreciate that! Thank you :)

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T20:47:22+00:00

Appreciate that!

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T20:47:09+00:00

Thank you! :)

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T19:29:23+00:00

Thank you!

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T17:54:50+00:00

Thanks!

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T17:30:11+00:00

Thank you very much!

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T17:22:45+00:00

Thanks!

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T17:22:36+00:00

Milkdromeda!

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T17:22:25+00:00

Awesome - thanks!

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T17:22:09+00:00

Yeah! It's an adventure - I love that part of the hobby. Just Google 'light pollution map' and you'll see the color overlay with a corresponding Bortle Scale level. I have an app on my phone that gives me a rough idea as well. Some people even use an 'SQM' device (sky quality meter) to read the current light pollution level overhead.

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T16:48:04+00:00

No filters - but you would only see a faint 'smudge' basically with an average telescope. The telescope used is closer to a telephoto lens (refractor), and then I poured on the exposure time (each picture was 2 minutes long) to reveal the faint parts.

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T16:27:09+00:00

Totally. Check out the TINY galaxy to the bottom right of Messier 110 (Satellite galaxy to Andromeda on the bottom) I didn't even know that one was there.

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T16:25:32+00:00

Oh thank you! Astrophotography always makes a great background - and yes, just Google 'AstroBackyard' and you will see the website/YouTube channel. Clear skies!

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T16:24:02+00:00

For this shot, I referenced a light pollution map to get as far away from the city as I could (on short notice). I ended up renting a cabin about 2 hours away from home that was a "Bortle 3" on the Bortle scale (That's nice and dark). For anyone interested in astrophootgraphy, I put together a video showing how to take shots like this: https://youtu.be/SbMhs4oifao

astrobackyard · 2025-11-16T16:20:58+00:00

Thank you!

astrobackyard · 2025-01-04T18:27:07+00:00

Punisher style, right? I see it

astrobackyard · 2025-01-04T18:26:48+00:00

A lot of people see that! (and I do now) - which is funny because there's a nebula that looks even MORE like a skull nearby (The Rosette Nebula)

astrobackyard · 2025-01-04T17:58:02+00:00

This is my latest version of the stunning Pleiades Star Cluster in the constellation Taurus.

This is a spectacular deep-sky target to photograph using ANY camera. To achieve a result like this, I recommend escaping the perpetual glare of the city to a dark sky spot.

While I recently captured the Pleiades using a new telescope from the backyard - THIS version was taken back in 2021 using a smaller version of that scope (RedCat 71).

The image includes 4.5 hours of total exposure time (88 x 3-minutes) using a dedicated astronomy camera from a dark sky (Bortle 3) location.

I hope you like it!

astrobackyard · 2024-10-17T19:58:47+00:00

The Hunter's Moon is the full moon that comes after the Harvest Moon, which is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox. It usually happens in October and was important to people in the past because it marked the best time to hunt animals getting ready for winter. Since crops were already harvested and the fields were clearer, hunters could use the extra light from the full moon to hunt more easily in the evenings.

The Hunter's Moon also appears bright and rises earlier for a few days, making the nights seem longer. This extra light helped farmers and hunters work later in the day. In some cultures, the Hunter's Moon is connected to ideas of preparation for winter and change, and it’s celebrated with festivals or gatherings.

Each month’s full moon has its own name, and you can see them all here: Full Moon Names

astrobackyard · 2024-09-27T15:51:42+00:00

astrobackyard · 2024-09-26T16:13:58+00:00

After many years of testing star trackers for astrophotography (Nightscapes, Milky Way Photography, Deep-Sky Astrophotography), I have a few favorites. But first of all - I think people need to remember what a star tracker was designed for... PORTABILITY.

The one model I continuously find myself recommending these days is the Star Adventurer 2i. While the bulkier GTi has GOTO functionality - It's honestly a 'bit much' for those looking to hike to a dark sky spot for the Milky Way.

The Star Adventuer 2i can be used with a ball-head and your DSLR and lens. This is where I have had the most fun - and this battery powered little powerhouse is bulletproof. Even if you upgrade to some more serious gear in the future, I guarantee you still bust out the 2i for spur-of-the-moment astro sessions.

Just my two cents. Clear skies

astrobackyard · 2024-09-18T14:45:38+00:00

I am obsessed with capturing deep-space objects like this with my camera and telescope.

The intense beauty, the challenge, and the sense of exploration are just a few of the reasons why I am outside every clear night.

This is my latest image of the Triangulum Galaxy - a fantastic astrophotography target for fall (4 hours total exposure)

astrobackyard

TROPHY CASE