The Andromeda Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy and is the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way. It was originally named the Andromeda Nebula and is cataloged as Messier 31, M31, and NGC 224. Andromeda has a diameter of about 152,000 light-years and is approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth. Scientists think the galaxy could be anywhere from 5 and 10 billion years old. However, it may not have existed in its current form until two or three billion years ago, when two smaller galaxies orbiting each other merged to form the current Andromeda Galaxy, according to a 2018 study (https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/475/2/2754/4839413?login=false).


This image is a combination of primarily RBG data (30 hours) with about 10 hours of narrowband data to highlight the Ha nebulosity our neighbouring galaxy.

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  Telescope: Redcat51
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  Camera: ASI183 MC Pro
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  Filters: Antlia Triband and Antlia ALP-T (dual narrowband)
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  Integration time: 40 hours
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  Guide camera: 120 mm mini
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  Control unit: Asiair Plus
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  Mount: EQ6r Pro
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  Pre-Processing: Pixinsight
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  Post-Processing: Pphotoshop
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  Location: El Claro Noche Observatory (my backyard), Kelowna