09/01/2025
✨ One Year with Andromeda ✨
From my driveway here in St. Thomas, Ontario, I’ve spent the past year chasing light from 2.5 million light-years away. 🌌 Tonight I wanted to share a before & after look at my shots of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) — a year apart.
The difference is huge. 📸 The first image was taken when I was just learning the ropes, full of trial and error. The second is the result of months of late nights, a steep learning curve, and countless tweaks to my setup and workflow. It’s far from perfect — but that’s what makes this journey so rewarding. There’s always more to improve, more to discover, more to learn.
I’ve been humbled by the incredible astrophotographers and people who’ve inspired me along the way, showing what’s possible with patience and dedication. 🙏 Every step forward reminds me: we’re all just scratching the surface of what’s out there, and what we can achieve.
Looking at these three images side by side reminds me of one thing — progress is possible. 🚀 No matter how big the challenge, if we keep pushing forward, we can capture a little more of the universe each time. I hope you all enjoy!
Here’s to the next chapter under the stars. 🌠
Equipment used:
🔭 William Optics RedCat 51
🔍 Zwo AsiAir Plus
🔍 Zwo Asi 533MC Pro Camera
🔍 Zwo Asi120mm Guide camera
🔍 Zwo 30F4 Mini Guide Scope
🔭 Skywatcher HEQ5 Mount
🚧 Stacked 120 Lights and 25 per Flats, Darks, Dark Flats at 30 Second Exposures
💻 Software: Pixinsight, Photoshop, Lightroom
