Galaxies

M 31 Andromeda Galaxy		My first M31 Andromeda is the nearest major galaxy to our own Milky Way Galaxy. Our Galaxy is thought to look much like Andromeda. Together these two galaxies dominate the Local Group of galaxies. The diffuse light from Andromeda is caused by the hundreds of billions of stars that compose it. The several distinct stars that surround Andromeda's image are actually stars in our Galaxy that are well in front of the background object. Andromeda is frequently referred to as M31 since it is the 31st object on Messier's list of diffuse sky objects. M31 is so distant it takes about two million years for light to reach us from there. [*] Equipment:  Orion ED80 Camera:  Unmodified Canon Rebel XT350D Prime Focus with a 2" adapter 92 - 30 seconds exposures ISO 1600 Darks, Flats, Offsets applied Stacked with DeepSkyStaker Processed with PhotoShop CS © 2007 Antonio Pascarella
M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy		My first M51 For the amateur, M51 is easy and a showpiece if the sky is dark, but is quite sensitive for light pollution which easily makes it fade in the background. Under very good conditions, even suggestions of its spiral arms can be glanced with telescopes starting from 4-inch. Low magnification is best for viewing this pair. [*] Equipment:  Orion ED80 Camera:  Unmodified Canon Rebel XT 350D Prime Focus 30-30 seconds images Darks, Flats, Offsets applied ISO 800 Stacked with DeepSkyStacker Processed with PhotoShop CS © 2007 Antonio Pascarella
M 101 Pinwheel Galaxy		My first M101 M101 is a relatively large galaxy compared to the Milky Way. With a diameter of 170,000 light-years it is nearly twice the size of the Milky Way. Less is known about the mass of M101. A frequently cited number is an equivalent mass of about 16 billion solar masses. That value is almost certainly too low, and probably stems from M101's low surface brightness. New insights in its HII regions and rotational velocities have put the number between 100 and 1000 billion suns. [*] Equipment:  Orion ED80 Camera:  Unmodified Canon Rebel XT 350D Prime Focus 25-30 seconds images Darks, Flats, Offsets applied ISO800 Stacked with DeepSkyStacker Processed with PhotoShop CS © 2007 Antonio Pascarella