M31 The Andromeda Galaxy

This image was acquired with an unguided mount, but despite that, the tracking was excellent, which I attribute to perfect polar alignment and good equipment. This is the least light-polluted site (grey) that I have worked in; no LP filters were used. Air was very calm and clear except to the south.

Irvine Lake airstrip, Ontario; November 11 2009, 9:50-10:45 PM; T=-2 C, seeing excellent. 200mm lens at f/3.5, ISO 800, on unmodified Canon XSi; unguided; 3x5 minutes + 2x10 minutes.