NASA · Space

Andromeda Galaxy: Before and After Image Processing

The Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) for September 27, 2026, showcases the Andromeda galaxy, comparing an unprocessed image with one that has undergone significant digital enhancement.

The 'before' image displays the Andromeda galaxy as captured by a digital camera with normal imperfections from a garden observatory in Portugal. It is a composite of 223 images, each exposed for 300 seconds in 2019.

This initial image contains noticeable deficiencies such as airplane and satellite trails, cosmic ray streaks, and bad pixels, which are artifacts of Earth's atmosphere and the imaging process.

The 'after' image demonstrates the result of extensive processing using software packages like Astro Pixel Processor, DeepSkyStacker, and PixInsight. These tools were employed to minimize terrestrial artifacts.

The goal of the processing was not to create a false representation but to reduce earthly interference, thereby revealing a more accurate depiction of the Andromeda galaxy (M31) itself.

The article also notes changes to APOD's email for image submissions and the relocation of its main NASA site from apod.nasa.gov to science.nasa.gov/apod.

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