First DSO

First Deep Sky Object using DSLR + fixed tripod

The Great Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

Andromeda Galaxy

Nikon D610 + AF-S Nikkor 70-300 VRII

DSS + Photoshop

I actually took my first DSO (deep space object) last September 2014 from my backyard using a standard DSLR setup on a fixed tripod. Exposure was 5 secs @ iso 3200 x 30 shots. Stacked in Deep Sky Stacker and processed in photoshop. The end result was horrible but it actually gave me hope on what a proper telescope and a tracking mount might be able to do, given these results from a fixed setup. It was a good test of equipment. I was able to bring out just a tiny bit of the dust lane detail and i can see the smaller satellite galaxy just above it called M32.

M31 is easy to spot during the fall when it can be seen easily almost overhead.

Milky Way with M31

Here is a shot of the Milky way from a semi dark sky last September 2014. M31 can be seen as fuzzy blob of light amongst the sea of stars.