Messier 31 - The Andromeda Galaxy imaged by Craig Stocks at the Utah Desert Remote Observatories using a 16" f/3.75 Dream Aerospace Systems astrograph. LRGBHa 2 hours and 15 Minutes.  Messier 31, also known as the Andromeda Galaxy, is one of the most popular deep-sky objects to photograph for several compelling reasons. Firstly, its sheer size and proximity to Earth make it a striking subject. M31 is the closest spiral galaxy to our Milky Way, residing a mere 2.537 million light-years away. Its immense size, approximately 220,000 light-years in diameter, means it covers a significant portion of the night sky. This makes it an ideal target for astrophotographers, allowing them to capture intricate details of its spiral arms, dust lanes, and stellar populations. Another reason for M31's popularity is its relative brightness. With an apparent magnitude of about 3.4, it's visible to the naked eye under dark skies, making it easily accessible for both amateur and professiona...