Image Release: Messier 31 - Calar Alto

[vicent_peris]

Hi all,

We have released a new photo acquired at Calar Alto Observatory with the 1.23 and 3.5 meter Zeiss telescopes. You can see it at 800 pixel wide here:



You can see the more information about the image and a full resolution version by following this link:

http://astrofoto.es/Galeria/2011/M31/M31_CAHA_en.html

Direct link to the full resolution image:

http://astrofoto.es/Galeria/2011/M31/M31_CAHA_full.html

And a direct link to the full resolution image with the emission line objects:

http://astrofoto.es/Galeria/2011/M31/M31_CAHA_emission_full.html

We used seven filters to make this photo. In the 3.5 meter telescope we acquired data with four, 30 nm wide filters centered at 458, 489, 551 and 644 nm. The 458 and 551 contained mostly continuum data, while the 489 and 644 contained emission from O-III, H-beta and H-alpha. Thanks to this filter combination it has been possible to separate the emission objects from the rest of the galaxy. You can see in my website both versions of the image (with and without emission line object enhancement). The RGB exposures with the 1.23 meter telescope were used for the mid and large scale structures of the image, giving to the photo a more "broadband color".

Hope you like it.
Best regards,
Vicent.

[Alejandro Tombolini]

Very interesting, excellent work!

Saludos. Alejandro.

[kwalker]

Very nice image of the core
Thanks for the tut in the other thread...a little to digest but excellent info.
M31 is my favorite and the core has always been a chore to process.
Its nice being able to see deep into the structure in your image.