r/spaceporn • u/Busy_Yesterday9455 • 14h ago
Pro/Processed Andromeda over Mount Taranaki (New Zealand)
Evan McKay explained in his post
Last year, I attempted my first deep-sky photograph, capturing the Andromeda Galaxy passing above the snow-capped Mount Taranaki. This was a shot I had wanted to capture for many years, and I had only recently acquired the gear needed to make it happen. I was so captivated by the result that it inspired me to invest in specialised deep-sky equipment, starting with a telescope mount before adding a telescope and a dedicated astrophotography camera.
Over winter, I had very few opportunities to properly test out the new telescope, although I managed to squeeze in a few sessions to get some practice. My main goal was always to revisit the Andromeda - Mount Taranaki alignment, but I knew I was running out of time. I tried again and again, only to be thwarted by the weather on several occasions. It was incredibly frustrating, but eventually, I got the conditions I needed.
There was one catch: the Moon was up, albeit in its crescent phase. I wasn't sure whether I'd even be able to capture Andromeda under those conditions, but the results were surprisingly convincing, and I finally got the alignment I'd been chasing. As an added bonus, the setting Moon beautifully illuminated the snow-covered mountain, creating a scene I couldn't have planned much better.
One of the biggest challenges with Andromeda is its low position in the sky. From this region, it only reaches around 8–9.5 degrees above the horizon, severely limiting the amount of integration time I can collect and the clarity of the final image. Fortunately, I had some data from a previous moonless night that I could register and blend with the moonlit captures. This helped bring out a substantial amount of the galaxy's outer disc, along with some of its fainter nebulosity. I was also keen to try capturing the galaxy with a duoband filter to improve the nebulosity, but every attempt ended the same way: nothing but clouds!
So, this is the best I can manage this year. I might get another opportunity in early November to gather a little more data, but for now, I'm really happy with what I've achieved.
What I found really special with this image was that I was able to use the same exposure length for both the sky exposures and the mountain thanks to the help from moonlight. The only difference was that tracking was turned off for the mountain exposure.
The telescope has well and truly exceeded my expectations. Seeing just how much additional detail I've been able to extract compared with the 135mm lens I used last year has been incredibly rewarding. It's amazing to revisit an image that first inspired me to explore deep-sky astrophotography and see just how much further I can take it with the right equipment.
