The Andromeda Galaxy, designated M31 or NGC 224, is a barred spiral galaxy and is the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way. It is named after the constellation in which it can be seen with the naked eye, even with moderate amounts of light pollution. It is approximately 2,5 mil ly from Earth and has a diameter of around 152,000 ly. It is expected to collide and merge with the Milky Way in around 4-5 billion years.  The two much smaller satellite galaxies have the designations M32 and M110. This image was taken with the full colour SIGMA fp L from a moderately dark location in the Rhön, German. Here the use of a dual band filter has enhanced the hydrogen emission nebulae present in the galaxy, which can be seen as faint red/magenta structures in the surrounding dust lanes of the spiral.

TS94EDPH (with Reducer)
10Micron GM1000 HPS
SIGMA fp L (colour)
Optolong L-Extreme filter
ca. 2 hrs, ISO 1600, F4.4, 414mm 

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