NGC 891

NGC 891 is an edge-on spiral galaxy located about 30 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda. It is roughly similar in size to the Milky Way, spanning about 100,000 light-years across. One of its most distinctive features is a dark, central dust lane that runs along its disk, giving it a needle-like appearance when viewed from Earth. This dust lane obscures part of the galaxy’s bright starlight, enhancing its dramatic edge-on profile. Astronomers classify NGC 891 as an unbarred spiral galaxy (type SA(s)b), characterized by loosely wound spiral arms and a faint, bulging center. The galaxy is also enveloped in a halo of gas and dust, with filamentary structures extending from its plane, possibly due to supernova-driven winds. Observations in radio and X-ray wavelengths reveal active star formation within the galaxy.

Telescope: 16″ f3.75 Dream Scope
Camera: FLI ML16803
Mount: ASA DDM85
Exposure: 12.5 hours (3x24x300s RGB + 78x300s L)
Date: October – November 2024
Location: Southern Alps, France