Nordstjernen
Veteran Member
Yesterday I got clear skies after a long summer with bright skies even at midnight, so I could test drive my astro setup. The Great Andromeda Galaxy was the target for my A900 and the small telescope (Takahashi 106 mm, focal length 530 mm, f:5, mounted on a Losmandy G-11 equatorial). Exposure was just 25 minutes (5 x 5 min, stacked) at ISO 800. The air was a bit turbulent, still there are lots of info in the picture -- great for super A3 print size!
I also got a small comet, named C/2006 W3 Christensen. At mag 8.2 the comet is not visible with an unaided eye. It is a bit difficult to find with a pair of binoculars. But it shows well up in the pictures. The comet is in the middle of the Milky Way, close to the small constellation Aries, so no wonder the background is crouded with stars.
M31, the Andromeda galaxy, 25 min exposure at ISO 800:
A crop from the center of the frame:
C/2006 W3 Christensen, 15 min exposure at ISO 800:
I also got a small comet, named C/2006 W3 Christensen. At mag 8.2 the comet is not visible with an unaided eye. It is a bit difficult to find with a pair of binoculars. But it shows well up in the pictures. The comet is in the middle of the Milky Way, close to the small constellation Aries, so no wonder the background is crouded with stars.
M31, the Andromeda galaxy, 25 min exposure at ISO 800:
A crop from the center of the frame:
C/2006 W3 Christensen, 15 min exposure at ISO 800:
How could there be intelligent life out there if even here it doesnt exist. 