GALAXY Astrophotography
There are thousands of galaxies out there waiting to be imaged! We've captured many including ones in the Messier Catalog, which has a total of 40 galaxies.
We recommend spending about 4 hours total for each galaxy, and it must be taken in dark skies. It can be a challenge for an astrophotographer to capture galaxies because they are small.
Check out the articles below to discover more about each object. By clicking on the image, you will find more about how much time we spent on it, the gear we used, and other acquisition notes.

What Types of Galaxies are There?
There are four types of galaxies: Spiral, Barred Spiral, Elliptical, and Irregular. Each type has a different look that is unique and impressive for astrophotography images.
1) Spiral Galaxy
This is the most recognizable galaxy type. Its center is a sphere and it has long beautiful "arms" extending outward in a spiral.
There are 24 spiral galaxies in the Messier Catalog, some of which are the most famous objects in the night sky!
2) Barred Spiral Galaxy
Similar to spiral galaxies, except its core appears more like a bar. This type of galaxy is considered "temporary" because it eventually rounds up over time.
The picture above is a Barred Spiral Galaxy, Messier 95, where you can clearly see the shape of the core.
The Milky Way Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy!
3) Elliptical Galaxy
Most are found in galaxy clusters such as the Virgo Supercluster. They are spherical, elongated in shape, and show no detail when photographed. It's a blob of light.
These types of galaxies lack the gas and dust that are needed for star formation activity and do not have any visible arms.
It is the least impressive-looking galaxy type.
4) Irregular Galaxy
Unlike the other types, irregular galaxies do not have a distinct shape or form. This makes them quite unique!
About one-fourth of all discovered galaxies are irregular types.
They are typically small and likely collapsed with larger galaxies in the past, explaining why they come in various forms.
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GALAXY Astrophotography Resources
Learn more about how to photograph a galaxy by reading one of our posts below. We explain what gear is optimal to use for galaxy photography, how much time to spend, and provide acquisition details for your reference.


The Triangulum Galaxy Astrophotography | 1000+ Hours on M33


Markarian's Chain Astrophotography - A Chain of Galaxies in Virgo


Messier 61 - Galaxy With a Tidal Tail in Virgo Astrophotography


Messier 106 - Intermediate Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici


Messier 63 - The Sunflower Galaxy in Canes Venatici


M88 and M91 - Spiral Galaxies in Coma Berenices Astrophotography


Messier 31 - The Andromeda Galaxy | Astrophotography and Tips


Messier 74 - The Phantom Galaxy | Astrophotography Photos and Tips


Messier 49 - Galaxy in Virgo Astrophotography Tips & Pictures


Messier 51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy | 531-Hour Astrophotography Collaboration


The Milky Way Galaxy - Wide-Field DSLR Astrophotography


Messier 101 - The Pinwheel Galaxy | Astrophotography & Pics


The Leo Triplet | M65, M66, & NGC 3628 Astrophotography


NGC 3718 - S-Shape Galaxy in Ursa Major | Astrophotography Tips & Pictures


IC 342 - The Hidden Galaxy | Astrophotography Tips & Pictures


NGC 1365 Galaxy | Pictures, Facts, What You Should Know


M81 & M82 - Bode's Galaxy & The Cigar Galaxy


The Whale Galaxy and Hockey Stick Galaxy | How to Photograph Both Galaxies


M99 & M100 - Astrophotography Tips for a Field of Galaxies


The Twin Quasar - A Rare Astrophotography Target Showing Gravitational Lensing


Messier 64 - The Black Eye Galaxy Astrophotography on a Full Moon


Messier 94 - The Cat's Eye Galaxy | Astrophotography from the city without filters


Messier 102 - The Spindle Galaxy | Tips for Astrophotographers


HCG 92 - Stephan's Quintet | A Group of Galaxies in Pegasus


M59 & M60 - Two Elliptical Galaxies in Virgo


NGC 5128 - Centaurus A | Processing Photos From an Observatory in Chile


Messier 109 - Galaxy Astrophotography in Mono LRGB


M97 & M108 - The Owl Nebula and Surfboard Galaxy Astrophotography


M96 Group - Leo I Group | 8 Galaxies in the Leo Constellation

