NGC 891 - Spiral Galaxy in Andromeda
 

Copyright 2010 Hap Griffin

Click HERE for a full resolution version (caution - 3.3 meg file size)

 

NGC 891 is a fine example of a typical spiral galaxy as seen edge-on.  The equatorial dust lane and the central bulge are very obvious in this photograph.

NGC 891 lies at a distance of 8.9 million light years.

Date/Location:    October 9, 2010     Griffin/Hunter Observatory    Bethune, SC
Camera: QSI 583wsg
Filters: Astrodon E Series Generation 2 LRGB
CCD Temperature: -10 C
Instrument:    Planewave 12.5" CDK
Focal Ratio:   f/8
Mount: AP-1200
Guiding:    Auto via the QSI camera's built in Off-Axis Guider mirror and an SBIG ST-402 Guider
Conditions:    Cool and clear
Weather:    65 - 50 F, still
Exposure: 300 minutes total (12 x 10 min Luminance, 6 x 10 min each in RGB)
Capture: CCDAutopilot 4 w/ Maxim DL Camera Control, focused automatically w/ FocusMax   
Processing:    Frame calibrations, alignment and stacking with ImagesPlus v3.80.  Finishing in Photoshop CS4.