Galaxy M31 in Andromeda-100mm telephoto lens/MX5C color ccd camera @ f3.9;  4 min. hand guided LRGB exposure ; 07/2002 Canton, Ohio

Notes:   Detail(dark lanes) is visible in the spiral of the galaxy . This image was shot while M31 was low in the sky. Color information was not intense. This shot was made using an inexpensive Albinar 80 - 200mm zoom lens fitted to the MX5C color camera. An IR blocking filter was used in front of the CCD chip to avoid large"bloated" stars since ccd camera chips are sensitive to the infra red.  In addition,  an inexpensive modified "department store" refractor mount was used. This mount has been improved by the addition of  AC  RA drive and  DC DEC motors  by son Matt. This allows guiding the mount by hand to allow for speed and alignment errors. Click here to see mount.