Andromeda Astronomical Society - Piliyandala Central College

We give our heartfelt thanks to the Old Boys Association of the Andromeda Astronomical Society, Piliyandala Central College, for generously donating an 8-inch Orion SkyQuest XT PLUS Dobsonian Telescope.

This valuable addition will greatly enhance our observation sessions and inspire students to explore astronomy further.

*Geminids Meteor Shower*

• Date : 2025/12/14
• Time : 9.20 p.m.
• Location : piliyandala, sri lanka
• Seeing Conditions : bortle class 5.6

• Camera : sony A7iii
• lens : Sony FE 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS lens
• Mount : Orion Astroview 6" eq (only R.A. axis)

• Settings used : 30s, ISO 800, f/4.5
• Total exposures : 170 x 30s
•Lights : 170
•Darks : 20
•Bias : 20
•Flats : 20

•Software : for preprocessing siril, graxpert.
for postprocessing siril, adobe Photoshop

• Captured by : T.D. Sithika Sathnidu, Muditha Gunawardana 📸

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*ORION NEBULA*

• Date : 2025/12/09
• Time : 3.26 a.m.
• Location : piliyandala, sri lanka
• Seeing Conditions : bortle class 5.6

• Telescope : celestron 8" - f/5 newtonian reflector
• Mount : celestron Advanced vx
• Camera : sony A7iii
• Settings used : 13s exposures at iso 1000
• Total exposures : 205 x 13s
• Software : Deep sky stacker,Graxpert, adobe Photoshop

• Captured by : T.D. Sithika Sathnidu, Muditha Gunawardana

🌘 Eclipse 25

On 7th September 2025, Piliyandala Central College – Andromeda Astronomical Society successfully hosted Eclipse 25, a special observation of the lunar eclipse. The event provided participants with the opportunity to witness this rare celestial phenomenon through telescopes and astrophotography, while also gaining valuable insights into the science behind it.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all students, teachers, parents, and guests who attended and contributed to making the Night a memorable and educational experience. 🌌

Here are some highlights from the event, showcasing the enthusiasm of our participants.

A.A.S

```_TRIFID NEBULA (M20)```_

*Date* : 2025/04/02.
*Time* : 3.30 - 5.10 a.m.
*Location* : piliyandala, sri lanka.
*Seeing conditions* : bortle class 5.

*Telescope* : orion astroview 6" equatorial reflector.
*Camera* : nikon d5200.
*Settings used* : 20s exposures at iso 800.
*Filters* : no filters used.
*Guiding* : no guiding, only R.A axis tracking.

*Software* : used *DeepSkyStacker* for stacking and used median kappa sigma combination method,

used adobe *Photoshop* for stretching, color grading and finalizing the image,

Used *graxpert* noise reduction, stellar and non stellar deconvolution (Beta version) .

*Exposures* : 175 × 20s *total* 58mn 20s

*Captured by*: andromeda astronomical society,
T.D.Sithika Sathnidu.

Like the original post for piliyandala central college ✨️
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Astro Pixel '24 Participant Spotlight! 📷✨

Name: Senula Dinujaya Liyanage
School: Piliyandala Central College
Theme: Lunar

Check out their amazing photo on our official pages and show your support by voting! 🌠

📍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sivali_astronomy_union/
📍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sivaliastronomyunion/

*JUPITER ( GANYMEDE, OI)*

*Date* : 2024/12/09.
*Time* : 3.20 a.m.
*Location* : piliyandala, sri lanka.
*Seeing conditions* : bortle class 5.

*Telescope* : celestron 8" equatorial reflector.
*Mount* : celestron advanced vx mount
*Camera* : nikon d5200.
*Settings used* : 1/50s exposures at iso 250.
*Filters* : no filters used.
*Guiding* :only R.A axis

*Software* : PIPP, Autostakkert, RegiStax Adobe Photoshop.
*Exposure*: 75% OF 154 frames stacked

*Captured by*: andromeda astronomical society,
Muditha Mihisara Gunawardane,
T.D.Sithika Sathnidu

*orion nebula*

*Date* : 2024/11/10.
*Time* : 12.40 a.m.
*Location* : piliyandala, sri lanka.
*Seeing conditions* : bortle class 5.

*Telescope* : celestron 8" equatorial reflector.
*Mount* : celestron advanced vx mount
*Camera* : nikon d5200.
*Settings used* : 15s exposures at iso 800.
*Filters* : no filters used.
*Guiding* :only R.A axis

*Software* : DeepSkyStacker, adobe Photoshop.
*Exposures* : 60 × 15s *total* 15mn

*Captured by*: andromeda astronomical society,
Muditha Mihisara Gunawardane,
T.D.Sithika Sathnidu

*COMET Tsuchinshan-ATLAS*

*Date* : 2024/10/17.
*Time* : 7:00 p.m.
*Location* : piliyandala, sri lanka.

*Camera* : nikon d5200.
*LENS* nikkor 55- 300mm
*Settings used* : 3s exposures at iso 800.
*Total exposure time*: 6.25 min
*Filters* : no filters used.
*Guiding* : no guiding.

*Software* : deepskystaker, adobe Photoshop.

*Captured by*: andromeda astronomical society,
T.D.Sithika Sathnidu

# *A.A.S*

```ANDROMEDA GALAXY```

*Date* : 2024/09/13.
*Time* : - 1.40 a.m.
*Location* : piliyandala, sri lanka.
*Seeing conditions* : bortle class 5, Cloudy.

*Telescope* : orion astroview equatorial mount.
*Camera* : nikon d5200.
*LENS*: nikkor 55-300mm
*Settings used* : 30s exposures at iso 800.
*Filters* : no filters used.
*Guiding* :only R.A axis.

*Software* : DeepSkyStacker, adobe Photoshop.
*Exposures* : 37 × 30s *total* 18mn 30s

*Note*: no calibration frames .

*Captured by*: andromeda astronomical society,
T.D.Sithika Sathnidu

```Lagoon Nebula```

*Date* : 2024/08/27.
*Time* : 8.30 - 11.30 pm.
*Location* : piliyandala, sri lanka.
*Seeing conditions* : bortle class 5. Cloudy

*Telescope* : orion astroview 6" equatorial reflector.
*Camera* : nikon d5200.
*Settings used* : 20s exposures at iso 800.
*Filters* : no filters used.
*Guiding* :only R.A axis.

*Software* : DeepSkyStacker, adobe Photoshop.
*Exposures* : 167 × 20s *total* 55mn 40s

*Captured by*: andromeda astronomical society,
T.D.Sithika Sathnidu