The Andromeda galaxy, also known as Messier 31 (M31), is a captivating galaxy located in the constellation Andromeda. At a distance of roughly 2.5 million light-years, it is the closest large galaxy to our Milky Way and spans an impressive 200,000 light-years in diameter, double the size of our galaxy. M31 is moving towards us at 400,000 km/h, with a predicted collision and merger with the Milky Way in about 4.5 billion years, resulting in a new galaxy, often referred to as “Milkdromeda.”
This image represents a significant achievement by the Deep Sky Collective (DSC), marking its anniversary project. Captured over six months, this kilo-hour image of M31 showcases the power of collaborative imaging. With contributions from 22 members, including 17 photographers, this project represents the longest and most detailed effort by DSC to date. The final image is a blend of Uri’s and Steeve’s edits, combining narrowband and broadband data to highlight M31’s rich features.
In this image, you can see various intriguing elements of M31, such as the newly discovered OIII arc, faint H-alpha emissions, and several extragalactic nebulae. The OIII arc, discovered in 2022, is one of the most significant recent discoveries, extending roughly 1.5 x 0.5 degrees southeast of M31’s center. Additionally, the OIII outburst and pillar, prominent in the OIII wavelength, add to the galaxy’s spectacular details.
The image also highlights the faint Hydrogen-alpha background, which lies within our own galaxy, and interesting features in SII, demonstrating the correlation between these wavelengths and the structures in M31. A total of 488 hours of OIII integration, 314 hours of H-alpha, and 169 hours of SII were gathered, culminating in a record-breaking 1056 hours of total integration time.
This collaborative effort underscores the incredible possibilities of working together in the astrophotography community. The final image not only showcases the beauty and complexity of M31 but also serves as an inspiration for ambitious astrophotographers to explore collaborative imaging. Special thanks to everyone involved in the project, especially those who developed new stacking workflows and provided crucial data from dark sky locations. This project is a testament to the power of collective effort in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in astrophotography.
Credits:
- Tim Schaeffer – @Tim Schaeffer
- Carl Björk – @Palmito
- William Ostling – @William Ostling
- Uri Darom – astrouri.com
- Steeve Body – steevebody.com
- Sébastian Brizé – @Lumotori
- Kanwar Brar – @Kanwar Brar
- Jasper Capel – @Jasper C
- Oliver Carter – @Oliver Carter
- Sendhil Chinnasamy – @Sendhil Chinnasamy
- Jake Gentillon – @jake_g
- Antoine and Dalia Grelin – galactic-hunter.com
- Stephen Guberski – @Stephen Guberski
- Charlie Hagen – @Charles Hagen
- Richard Hall – @Richard
- Florent Herrbach – @Florent Herrbach
- Jason Jacks – @jmdl101
- Tarun Kottary – @Tarun Kottary
- Brian Meyers – @Brian M.
- Justin P. – @lokisastro
- Kevin Trillsam – @Kevin
- Jens Unger – @Jens Unger
Special Thanks:
- Carl Björk, who developed a new stacking workflow and stacked over 5600 files.
- Charlie Hagen, for initial help in developing the new stacking workflow.
- William Ostling, Uri Darom, and Steeve Body, for their impressive edits and cross-checking details.
- Sendhil Chinnasamy and Tarun Kottary, for providing excellent Bortle 1/3 data.
- Justin P., for close-up data of the core to improve the final image.