The Andromeda Galaxy, cataloged as M31, stretches across this wide field along with its companions M32 and M110. The long dust lanes that cut through its disk appear sharply defined, while an extended halo of faint particulate material surrounds the galaxy and blends into the background. Careful processing brings out subtle hydrogen alpha regions that trace knots of star formation and hint at the dynamic activity within Andromeda’s spiral arms.

Combining broadband and narrowband data reveals both the classic structure of M31 and the diffuse outer features that are often lost in shorter exposures. The satellite galaxies stand out with their own distinct profiles, adding depth and balance to the frame. This view offers a detailed look at our nearest major galactic neighbor and the complex environment that surrounds it.

Our neighboring spiral, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), lies about 2.5 million light-years away and dominates this detailed composite image. Captured over seven clear nights in September for a total of more than 27 hours of exposure, the frame combines HOO and RGB data to reveal the galaxy’s structure in striking color. The rich red knots scattered along the spiral arms mark vast H II regions—nebulae of ionized hydrogen where new stars are forming. Dust lanes and bluish star clusters trace Andromeda’s immense disk, while its small companion M110 glows below.

Andromeda is the largest member of the Local Group and is moving toward the Milky Way at over 100 km per second. In roughly four billion years, the two galaxies are expected to merge into a single giant elliptical system. This image, blending natural color with narrowband enhancement, highlights both the galaxy’s familiar beauty and its dynamic role in the ongoing evolution of our galactic neighborhood.

The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as M31, is our nearest large galactic neighbor, lying about 2.5 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda. This striking portrait combines broadband LRGB data with Hydrogen-Alpha (Ha) to reveal not just the classic sweeping spiral structure but also the delicate reddish glow of HII regions scattered throughout the galaxy’s disk. These Ha regions highlight zones of active star formation, most prominent in the spiral arms, where cold gas and dust collapse into new stars.

Data for this image were collected from two sites in Poland: Kraków and Lublin, under varying conditions that required careful calibration and integration. The total exposure time amounts to approximately 80 hours, allowing for an exceptionally clean and detailed view of both faint outer structure and fine internal features. The small elliptical galaxy M32 can be seen just above the bright core of M31, while the larger, fuzzier companion M110 lies below the disk, slightly offset.

The Andromeda Galaxy (M31), located approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth, is the closest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way and one of the most iconic objects in the night sky. This image of Andromeda is the result of an extensive data collection process, utilizing over 100 hours of exposure time across multiple locations. The image showcases not only the galaxy’s core, but also the faint hydrogen-alpha (Ha) clouds and ionized oxygen (OIII) arc that encircle it.

Captured from two distinct locations, the first set of data was gathered from Texas, USA, at a remote observatory with dark, clear skies ideal for deep-sky imaging. The second set of data was captured from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where urban light pollution posed additional challenges. Despite this, the combination of both data sets enabled a comprehensive view of the galaxy and its surrounding nebulosity.

This image of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) was captured from Rudka Wieś, located in the Masuria region of Poland, on August 29th and 30th, 2024. Known as one of the most iconic and closest spiral galaxies to our own Milky Way, Andromeda lies about 2.5 million light-years away. The image showcases the grandeur of M31, with its sweeping spiral arms and bright, dense core, highlighting the beauty of a galaxy that is on a collision course with the Milky Way in several billion years.

The process behind this image is a two-night effort, with RGB data being collected on the first night. A total of 100 frames were taken, each lasting 180 seconds, to capture the galaxy's visible light in red, green, and blue wavelengths. The second night focused on capturing the hydrogen signal from the galaxy’s interstellar medium, utilizing an L-Ultimate filter. This filter allowed for a clearer image of the emission nebulae within the galaxy, highlighting regions of star formation in its spiral arms. For this, 20 frames, each 600 seconds long, were acquired.

Taken under relatively dark skies in Rudka Wieś, a location that offers a good balance of dark-sky conditions, this image beautifully showcases the Andromeda Galaxy, not only in its full grandeur but also in the intricate details of its star-forming regions, making this capture a testament to both the beauty of the cosmos and the power of modern amateur astrophotography.

Image Description and Details: The kilohour project on Messier 31 stands as our most extensive effort yet, demonstrating the remarkable outcomes of collaborative work. By dedicating nearly 500 hours to Oiii observations, we've managed to bring out the arc's features with unprecedented clarity and define its structure accurately. This endeavor also allowed us to detect numerous extragalactic nebulae and resolve distinct stars within the galaxy. Opting for Sii exposures along with the usual Ha and Oiii was a beneficial choice, enhancing our findings.

In total we gathered 1056h of integration spread over LRGBHaOiiiSii

488h Oiii/314h Ha/169hSii/26h35L/17h15R/26h17G/15h37B

Equipment Details: Cams: QHYCCD QHY268 M, QHYCCD QHY600PH M, RisingCam ATR3-26000KMA, ZWO ASI2600MC Pro, ZWO ASI2600MM Pro, ZWO ASI294MM Pro, ZWO ASI6200MM Pro

Telescopes: APM Apo 107/700, Askar FRA600, Celestron C9.25 SC XLT, Celestron RASA 8”, CFF Telescopes Refractor 135mm f/6.7, Sky-Watcher Equinox 80, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100ED, Sky-Watcher Esprit 150ED, Stellarvue SVX130T, Stellarvue SVX90T, Takahashi FSQ-106EDX4, TS-Optics Photoline 140mm f/6.5, William Optics Fluorostar 120 / FLT120, William Optics Fluorostar 132 / FLT132, William Optics ZenithStar 81 / ZS81

We would like to submit the attached image as a candidate for this competition. We are a small community of astrophotographers with similar equipment who collaborate on different projects; we coined the name “Association of Widefield Astrophotographers” because of the wide field of view that our budget gear provides. The image is a 100 hour project with data from 6 different contributors. It features the famous Andromeda Galaxy, (M31) and its extensive outer halo. Our deep broadband integration also revealed faint IFN structures surrounding the galaxy. The 87 hours of narrowband data …

While the Andromeda Galaxy, or M31, is celebrated as our Milky Way's nearest spiral neighbor, there are intriguing lesser-known aspects to this cosmic wonder. Recent measurements hint that Andromeda might be a bit closer than the widely quoted 2.5 million light-years, emphasizing the ever-evolving nature of our astronomical knowledge.

Andromeda's invisible halo of dark matter, its history of galactic cannibalism, and its impending collision with the Milky Way in about 4.5 billion years add layers to its mystique. Within its vast expanse lie ancient star clusters, older than their Milky Way counterparts, offering insights into the early cosmos. Beyond its beauty, M31 harbors a universe of secrets, making it an enduring subject of astronomical wonder.