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M31 Andromeda core globular clusters map

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 3:06 pm
by Menno555
Okay, this was a little project since I was bored cause clouds, clouds and clouds ... and then some more clouds :(

I did capture the M31 Andromeda core (see viewtopic.php?f=16&t=3116) and that was fun to do.
But the topic of RonAM and the replies there (see viewtopic.php?f=16&t=3070) sparked my interest: there is a lot more then meets the eye with M31: the globular clusters.

So, looked up several online resources and made my own map (including magnitudes) of the globular clusters of the M31 Andromeda core. And this was really so much fun :) Kept me busy for several hours during 3 days and it's so worth it and satisfying.

Full 4000px resolution on https://i.imgur.com/SRi9jEm.jpg

Info and sources used:
https://www.chromosphere.co.uk/2017/03/ ... catalogue/
https://www.astronomy-mall.com/Adventur ... /gcm31.htm
http://www.bo.astro.it/M31/
https://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/AND ... rames.html
https://www.cloudynights.com/articles/c ... -m31-r1510

Image

Re: M31 Andromeda core globular clusters map

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 4:23 pm
by admin
Very neat :-) M 31 certainly has quite a lot of globulars doesn't it!

Cheers, Robin

Re: M31 Andromeda core globular clusters map

Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2020 4:55 pm
by Menno555
Thanks!
And yes, I did read that the count is now around 500 confirmed and 200 unconfirmed globulars. This for the whole M31 (see https://www.flickr.com/photos/dcrowson/11519967314 as example) and not the core region.
Here in my capture, mag 18.9 is the faintest one to show. But there are way more in this FOV that are fainter. So I guess there would be like around 3 times more in this FOV then I have mapped now :)

Re: M31 Andromeda core globular clusters map

Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 11:44 am
by oopfan
That's great, Menno! It's good to have scientific pursuits.

I might get some clear skies tonight. Edwin Hubble's variable star in M31 is at minimum light: magnitude 19.8. I'm running the numbers now: 180x60s in luminance (3 hours) should capture it at SNR 12.5. That's not great but I'll be happy if I can just record it. With some luck I'll be able to do photometry on it although the accuracy won't be great.

Either that or NGC 205, a satellite elliptical galaxy of M31. I've seen long exposure images of it that show an interesting gravitational effect. I'll try my new Wratten #12 (minus blue) in order to tame those nearby bright blue stars due to my cr*ppy refractor.

Brian

Re: M31 Andromeda core globular clusters map

Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:32 pm
by timh
That is really interesting Menno and Brian ..thankyou

Following the initial post from Ron I too have been doing the same with my recent M31 images. It really does add something to understand better what you are seeing and to differentiate foreground stars from the galaxies globulars.

Tim

Re: M31 Andromeda core globular clusters map

Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2020 12:32 pm
by Menno555
Thanks Tim!
And yes, it really adds a lot ... I even got a bit of spatial awareness out of it :)

Re: M31 Andromeda core globular clusters map

Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 1:55 pm
by RickEvans10473
Wow. Very impressive. I will be looking at my own M31 core image to see how many globulars I might have picked up.