M31 - Andromeda Galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy is the closest spiral galaxy to our own Milky Way and is some 2.5 million ly away. Andromeda is believed to be moving towards us to finally merge with the Milky Way in around 3 billion years from now, leading to a new galaxy: The Milkydromeda :D
Image setup:
FS102NSV @f/6.2 + IDAS 2"
SBIG ST2000XM self-guided
MaxIm DL & CS4
4x 900"
9x 300"
Leiria, Oct. 14th 2009

full resolution

NGC253 - Sculptor Galaxy

The Sculptor Galaxy (NGC253) lies about 10 million ly away from Earth, in the Constellation Sculptor, discovered in 1783 by Caroline Herschel.

Imaging setup:
FS102NSV @ f/6.2
SBIG ST2000XM - self-guided
IDAS 2"
18x 300"
darks
flats
bias
MaxIm DL & CS4

Leiria, Oct. 13, 2009 @22h29m/00h07m Oct. 14 UT

full resolution

full resolution

Amateur APOD October 7, 2009

This is my first AAPOD ever.
This is a nice feeling... ;-)

http://astronomy.fm/aapod/2009-10-07_Jupiter.html