Starting in Astrophotography...2011/07/16 · Backyard Astronomer’s Guide 3rd Ed. Canon DSLR Do...
Transcript of Starting in Astrophotography...2011/07/16 · Backyard Astronomer’s Guide 3rd Ed. Canon DSLR Do...
Starting in Astrophotography
David Haworth
www.stargazing.net/david
Copyright 2011
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Beginning Astrophotography
Goal Imaging deep sky objects (DSOs) in color
Skills No photography knowledge & skills
Astronomy observing skills
You can find & recognize in a telescope bright M objects Messier: M8, M13, M16, M31, etc.
Equipment & software No cameras, telescopes, computer, etc
Workshop assumptions
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What do you enjoy about Astrophotography?
Pretty photos for the wall/computer/website/etc.
Image processing
Analyzing the image
Taking images
Seeing the image at the telescope or in the camera
Know yourself
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Getting Advice
Source Goals may be different than yours
Experiences & skills are different than yours
No one best piece of equipment or software Expect to see different recommendations
Hard part What is good enough for your goals
Know the source
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Equipment & Software
Search the web for astrophotography examples Equipment & software you are interested in
Beware of images posted on the web Image processing can miss lead you
Join the Yahoo Tech Groups Read the history posting
Download & read the manuals, tutorials, demos, etc.
Searching for what works
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Internet Resources Astrophotography Techniques
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Internet Resources Astrophotography Techniques
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Internet Resources Tutorials
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Internet Resources Astrophotography Yahoo Groups
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Internet Resources Astrophotography Yahoo Groups
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Have a Plan
Start with wide field astrophotography DSLR & camera lens
Unguided
Tripod, barn door tracker, piggy back & low cost GEM mounts
Guided astrophotography 60-80 mm refractors
350-500 mm focal length
Mounts with guiding port
The basics
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Wide Field Astrophotography
Backyard Astronomer’s Guide 3rd Ed.
Canon DSLR Do not get megapixel envy, 3 megapixels is good enough
Remote shutter switch
Tripod Heavy is better
Build your self a barn door tracker
4 to 8 minute exposures
Laptop Display, store & image process photos
Starting out
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Canon DSLR with LiveView
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Jupiter, Venus & Moon, Home, 11/30/2008, Nikon D70 18-70mm lens, Tripod
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Tracking the Sky Star tracker is also called a Scotch mount, Haig mount, or
barn-door mount with Nikon D70 and 85mm lens
M44, Saturn & M67 Star Tracker, 1 x 183 sec, 85 mm f/2.8
Camas, WA 1/24/06
Milky Way M11 to M8
Nikon D70, 50mm lens
OSP 8/23/06
M21, M20 & M8
Mt. Bachelor SP 7/7/05
Nikon D70, 180mmED lens
M21, M20 & M8
Mt. Bachelor SP 7/7/05
Nikon D70, 180mmED lens
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Deep Sky Guided Astrophotography
Backyard Astronomer’s Guide 3rd Ed.
Canon EOS Rebel XS DSLR & T-adapter Remote Switch
Mounts with guiding port Guiding camera: Orion SSAG
70mm to 75mm refractor Do not get aperture envy
Laptop Autoguiding
Used for finding deep sky objects
Display, store & image process photos
Refractors & guided mounts
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Deep Sky Guided Astrophotography Nikon D70 on Pentax 75 mm SDHF f/6.7 APO Refractor
MBSP 2007
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M31 with PHD Guiding, Meade DSI 40 mm diameter, 160 mm focal length guide scope
MBSP 2007
M110
M32
M31
M31, M32 & M110 JPG Unprocessed Nikon D70 on Pentax 75 mm SDHF f/6.7 APO Refractor
MBSP 2007
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Free Software
Guiding software: Stark Labs PHD Guiding
Astro charts: Sky Charts
8-bit imaging processing: GIMP
Astro imaging processing: Stacking software: DeepSkyStacker
PixInsight LE Freeware
IRIS
Subaru Image Processor: Makali`i
ImageJ
Internet downloads
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Dave’s Choices for Today
Camera: Canon DSLR with LiveView for focusing Remote shutter
External monitor
Telescope: 60 – 80 mm refractor with field flattener
Guiding mount: Orion Sirius mount
Guide scope: short focal length (< 300mm)
Guiding software: Stark Labs PHD Guiding Pick guide camera to work with PHD Guiding
Starting DSLR Astrophotography
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