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 This image was disqualified from the Science IV challenge.
Andromeda Galaxy
Andromeda Galaxy
dunzel


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Science IV (Advanced Editing VII)
Camera: Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS
Lens: Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
Location: Rio Rancho, NM USA
Date: Dec 1, 2011
Aperture: 250mm F5.6
ISO: 1600
Shutter: Bulb 2min 30 sec
Galleries: Astrophotography
Date Uploaded: Dec 20, 2011

 This is a stacked shot of the Andromeda galaxy taken in good seeing. Andromeda is about 2.5 million ly away, and is approaching the Milky Way for an eventual collision. Shot through the camera only - no telescope.
Disqualification Details
Your submission must be taken after the challenge is announced and before the deadline, based on the Current Server Time (US Eastern Standard Time) displayed at the bottom of every page on this site. You must ensure that your camera date and time are correctly set to your local time zone before shooting your entry. If the date recorded in your original image file is not within the specified challenge dates, your entry will be disqualified -- NO exceptions!

Statistics
Views since voting: 1349
Views during voting: 272
Comments: 13
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 01/05/2012 02:36:01 PM
I missed the requirement that it needed to be taken after the challenge was issued. I took the shot shortly before. That's okay. I got what I wanted out of it, which was feedback. Thanks for weighing in. Hopefully my breakdown of how it was done will help others that are interested, and encourage them to try this type of photography. That should be the main goal of any photography site that hosts contests like this.

Message edited by author 2012-01-05 14:43:15.
 01/05/2012 12:40:23 AM
Pity about the DQ. Don't let it dishearten you and hope to see more astro images from you.
 12/28/2011 05:46:21 PM
Thanks HarveyG and everyone who commented. I'm not sure most people realize what it takes to get a shot like that. But then again, that's photography! I was challenged by the council to prove the shot was taken by me and I sent in the original, so I guess that's kind of a vote in itself. If people can't believe you really took the shot, then that's kind of cool too!
 12/28/2011 05:30:41 PM
Thank you and definitely unappreciated by voters. Commentators gave you an 8.4 average. That generally is good enough an indication for me. A solid 8. More if 800px by 800px :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/28/2011 07:58:23 AM
Wow! Just wow. That is impressive.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/28/2011 04:15:49 AM
So beautiful and under-appreciated. This is the real thing. Thank you for sharing!
I've been through lots of amateur astrophotographic images (and assisted in making a few) and this one IMHO is very, very good. The details on the spiral arms and especially the clearly visible shape of the little M110 galaxy are amazing!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/28/2011 12:46:44 AM
Several members asked how this was done. Here's the break down:

This image was taken by attaching my Canon EOS 1000D "piggy-back" style on my telescope optical tube. It was necessary to counter the earth's rotation using the telescope's computerized mount. The shot was NOT taken through the telescope, but just through my Canon 250mm EF-S zoom lens. I took multiple dark, bias, and light frames. The dark and bias frames were used to cancel out hot pixels in the image, as well as any stray dust particles that may cast shadows. I used software to measure polar alignment via the drift method to cancel out star drift. I then took multiple exposures of 120 seconds each at F5.6 1600 ISO. After collecting the images, I processed them using photo stacking software called Deep Sky Stacker to increase the signal to noise ratio and bring out detail. After that I processed the single stacked shot in Photoshop using multiple actions to enhance and sharpen the image. Thanks for the votes and comments!

Message edited by author 2011-12-28 17:41:44.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
12/27/2011 11:36:52 PM
Wow!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/27/2011 07:17:17 PM
Nice.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/27/2011 04:14:14 PM
That's just technically very difficult and scientific to do. Well done on the patience and technique. Hope you give a bit of a rundown at rollover.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/22/2011 11:15:05 PM
Really cool, I would love to learn how to do this!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/22/2011 11:55:51 AM
I hope this is a real photo from a telli, it's fantastic. I'm voting as it's real.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/22/2011 11:12:55 AM
OMG is this the real thing? It looks like the real thing Either way my hat's off to you for such an amazeing capture!
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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