Yeah… now we’re talking.
Sure beats that other stuff posted earlier this week.
If you live in an area with dark skies, you can actually see this one with your naked eyes, although it won’t be nearly as dramatic as this pic. Binoculars are even better. To look at the faint smudge of light and realize that you are looking at an entire galaxy much like our own composed of billions of stars is an awe inspiring experience.
I’ve got an 8" Newtonian scope on an equatorial mount, and even with a good telescope, you cannot expect to see the type of field pictured above. It takes a Hubble or some multiple imaging to get that kind of shot. Nevertheless, 8" scope, binoculars, naked eye, the Andromeda galaxy is beautiful.
Most of those pretty galaxy photos are LONG exposures-- maybe hours long. You need a very stable telescope and perfect polar alignment with accurate tracking of the sky. The light from distant stars is so dim that it takes a very long time for enough of it to arrive to expose the film.
Not just long exposures. Long exposures plus colour filters, usually on B&W film/CCDs. You will never see any colours in a telescope. The human eye triggers far too soon to be able to capture colour. Even with the biggest bestest telescope you could ever hope to buy, the most you will ever see with the naked eye is a hazy smudge on a greenish grey background (the green from the effect of the glass used in the lenses).
These kinds of photos are what turned me on to telescopes. This lack of seeing the images that are in these photos is what put me off telescopes. The jump to astrophotography is possible, but a quantum leap in costs and technicality. Sometimes it really is best to leave it to the pros. That’s why I really appreciate Denny bringing these pics to us.
djm
You could always take all that equipment and turn a profit with it…ehem…blackmail.
Darn! I never thought of that. You’re way ahead of me (as usual). I suppose I should get a post office box first. Hmm … 
djm
Naw, dont bother with a PO box…
Oh! Okay. (trustingly) :naive:
djm