Galaxies are vast systems of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter held together by gravity. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes—spiral, elliptical, and irregular—and can contain millions to trillions of stars, along with planetary systems, nebulae, and star clusters. Our own Milky Way Galaxy is a spiral galaxy, home to our solar system and billions of other stars. Galaxies are the building blocks of the universe, often found in groups or clusters, and their interactions—such as collisions and mergers—play a key role in cosmic evolution. Studying galaxies helps astronomers understand the structure, history, and future of the universe.
The gallery below contains images of galaxies I have taken with my astrophotography rig. Click on any of the images to go to the gallery for a better view and details regarding each image.
The Leo Triplet - M65 (lower right), M66 (lower left) and NGC3628 (above) also known as the Hamburger Galaxy are roughly 35 million light years from Earth.
The "Leo Triplet" or the M66 group is a group of galaxies located just below the hind-quarters of Leo the lion. M65 (lower right), M66 (lower left) and NGC3628 (above) also known as the Hamburger Galaxy are roughly 35 million light years from Earth. They are close enough together to be seen in the same field of view through a telescope's eyepiece. My little 70mm astrograph doesn't really do the trio justice but it was fun to shoot. This image is 2 hours and 20 minutes of exposure time. I cropped down this image in order to highlight the galaxies. Acquisition Details: Date: April 21, 2025 Scope: Meade 70mm Quad APO Astrograph Camera: QHY183C Gain 11, Offset 30 Mount: Celestron AVX Guide Scope: ZWO H30 F4 Mini Guide Camera: ASI120MM Mini Focuser: ZWO EAF, Integration: 70 x 120s (2 hrs. 20 mins.) Camera Temp: -15 C Software: N.I.N.A., Stellarium, Deep Sky Stacker, Adobe Photoshop, PhotoKemi Star Tools, 10 Darks, 40 Flats, 40 Dark Flats.
The Pinwheel Galaxy M101 in Ursa Major.
I revisited the Pinwheel Galaxy M101 in Ursa Major on April 16, 2023. I shot this same galaxy about this time last year but wasn't able to get the time I wanted on the object. The Pinwheel is about 21 million light years away from our Milky Way Galaxy. I processed 112 two minute subs (almost 3 hours and 45 minutes of exposure) on this galaxy. I cropped down this image in order to highlight the galaxy. Acquisition Details: Date: April 16, 2023 Scope: Meade 70mm Quad APO Astrograph Camera: QHY183C Gain 11, Offset 30 Mount: Celestron AVX Guide Scope: ZWO H30 F4 Mini Guide Camera: ASI120MM Mini Focuser: ZWO EAF Filter: ZWO UV/IR Cut Integration: 112 x 120s (3 hrs. 40 mins.) Camera Temp: -15 C Software: N.I.N.A., Stellarium, Deep Sky Stacker, Adobe Photoshop, PhotoKemi Star Tools, 10 Darks, 40 Flats, 40 Dark Flats.
M33 - The Triangulum Galaxy
The Triangulum Galaxy is a spiral galaxy 2.73 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Triangulum. It is catalogued as Messier 33 or NGC 598. The Triangulum Galaxy sometimes referred to as the Pinwheel Galaxy is the third-largest member of the Local Group of galaxies, behind the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way. It is one of the most distant permanent objects that can be viewed with the naked eye under ideal conditions and skies.
Acquisition Details:
Date: Dec. 2, 2021
Scope: Meade 70mm Quad APO Astrograph
Camera: QHY183C Gain 11, Offset 30
Mount: Celestron AVX
GuideScope: ASI120MM mini guide scope/camera
Filter: ZWO UV-IR Cut
Integration: 26 @ 60s (26m)
Camera Temp: -15c
Bin 1
Software: N.I.N.A,
DSS, Ps, PhotoKemi Star Tools
M81 & M82 – Bode’s Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy
M81 & M82 – Bode’s Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy. Two other galaxies NGC 2976 upper right and NGC 3077 lower right can also be seen. Imaged with a 70mm Meade Astrograph and stock Nikon D5100 on January 4, 2020. 50 x 120 second exposures (1 hour and 40 min.) at ISO 800.
M31 The Andromeda Galaxy imaged on July 18, 2020 at Fort Griffin, TX.
I shot M31 back in October last year from the house (Bortle 8 skies) and only collected about half an hour of data. This time the combination of Bortle 2 skies at Fort Griffin and more time on the target really made a big difference.
The Andromeda Galaxy is one of the most distant objects visible with the naked-eye. It's located in the Constellation Andromeda as the name might suggest, and is roughly 2.5 million light-years away. It's on a slow collision course with our own Milky Way galaxy. Two satellite galaxies of M31 can be seen in this image. M32 is just to the left of center and M110 at lower right.
Acquisition Details:
Date: July 18, 2020
Scope: Meade Series 6000 70mm Quad APO Refractor
Camera: Nikon D5100 (ISO 200)
Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
Guide Scope: ZWO 30 F4 MINI
Guide Camera: ASI120MMmini
Filter: None
Integration: 45 x 120s (1 hrs. 30 min.)
Software: Astro Photography Tool, Deep Sky Stacker, Adobe Photoshop 2020, PhotoKemi Star Tools
20 Darks
The Whirlpool Galaxy M51 in Canes Venatici.
Located in the constellation Canes Venatici The Whirlpool galaxy is 31 million light-years away. The Whirlpool has the distinction of being the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy.
Acquisition Details:
Date: February 1, 2020
Scope: Meade Series 6000 70mm Quad APO Refractor
Camera: Nikon D5100 (ISO400)
Mount: Celestron Advanced VX
Guide Scope: ZWO 30mm F4 MINI
Guide Camera: ASI120MMmini
Filter: None
Integration: 25 x 180s (1 hrs. 15 min.)
Software: Astro Photography Tool, Deep Sky Stacker, Adobe Photoshop 2020, PhotoKemi Star Tools
20 Darks
M31 - The Andromeda Galaxy
M31- This image of the Andromeda Galaxy was taken on October 21, 2019 from my driveway under Bortle 8 skies with no filters or guiding. 33 x 45 second exposures at ISO 800. Total integration time about 24 minutes. This is the same image as the M31 image on this page but I've used star reduction in post processing in order to allow the viewer to take in the galaxy.