M 110 Dwarf Galaxy (NGC 205)

clic for 35% size 1313 x 935 (388 kB)

clic here for 50% size 1875 x 1336 (730 kB)


About this Image

M 110 (also known as NGC 205) is a dwarf elliptical galaxy about 2.9 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda. M 110 is the brightest satellite galaxy of the famous Andromeda Galaxy (M 31) and therefore a member of the Local group of galaxies. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1773 but he did not include this object in his catalogue. M 110 contains some dust and hints of recent star formation, which is unusual for a galaxy of its type. Several globular clusters have been discovered in M 110, see ref 1.
The good seeing conditions allowed the resolving of the faint stars in this galaxy. To the lower right the star density increases (Halo of M 31).
North is up.

Find a wider view on M 31 at f/3 here.

Below you find a closeup on M 110 in 37/75% size.

clic for 75% size 900x1182 (370 kB)


Technical Details
Optics

16" cassegrain in secondary focus at f/10

Mount MK-100 GEM
Camera SBIG STL-11000M at -15C, internal filter wheel
Filters Astronomik LRGB
Date July 24-30, 2006.
Location Wildon/Austria
Sky Conditions mag 5 sky, 1.5-1.8" seeing, temperature 23 C,
Exposure LRGB= 210:50:50:50 min (10-minute sub-exposures)
all 1x1.
Processing Image aquisition in Maxim DL 4.54; Preprocessing in CCDStack;
Photoshop: Curves, color balance, light unsharp mask;