Astrophotography is the type of photography specializing in celestial objects such as the sun, moon, stars, and sky.
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How do I set the proper exposure for nighttime moon photos?
All my attempts to get a good shot of the full moon with my DSLR result in an overexposed circle on a black background. I've used a tripod, remote shutter release, low ISO, and long exposure, but ...
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5answers
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How do I get started in Astrophotography?
I have a Canon 20D. I'd love to take some photos of the moon and stars.
How do I get started? I've search the web and the information is sparse and cryptic.
I'd like to know what equipment is the ...
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4answers
13k views
Tips for landscape+stars photography?
I'm leaving for holidays tomorrow, and there's a good chance that I'll be able to be by night on a field with no artificial light around, and no moon in the sky.
I'd love to take some picture of the ...
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3answers
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How do you photograph a lunar eclipse?
Tonight is the night of a lunar eclipse, and I'm curious, what kinds of tips do you guys have for photographing one? I'd like solutions for both consumer-grade equipment, as well as DSLRs, so that ...
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2answers
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What kind of camera do I need to capture deep space images?
By deep space image, I mean below kind. In the background it is space dust, I think.
Is it dependent on camera or location? If on camera, what kind of cameras are capable to capture this kind of ...
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5answers
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How does Peter Lik manage to capture the stars in such detail in the following photograph?
Here's the picture:
I'm curious to know what techniques (i.e. shutter speed, aperture, ISO, etc...) he uses to capture the stars so vibrantly (assuming it wasn't Photoshopped). I'm guessing it was ...
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2answers
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How do I digitally post process Moon photos?
I've created a few photos of the Moon using a Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope and a DSLR. I've tried different ISO settings, shutter speed, bracketing to find the best settings.
Here I show a (reduced ...
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4answers
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What's the best technique and kit for taking a picture of the Milky Way in a nearly pitch black landscape?
I've tried but I don't think my kit is good enough. How do you take pictures of something like the milky way?
And if you've never actually SEEN the milky way, then you definitely MUST take a trip to ...
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6answers
818 views
How to photograph a partial solar eclipse?
There will be a partial solar eclipse tomorrow visible from Europe, Africa, Asia. I'm looking for photography tips. Looking for ideas for a typical amateur photographer but also for someone having a ...
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7answers
3k views
How to nail focus for DSLR astrophotography?
I've been doing a bit of astrophotography and the problem that I almost always have is nailing focus. I'll manually focus on a bright star or the moon (which hopefully isn't an option!) by magnifying ...
14
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4answers
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How can I avoid star trails without an expensive tracking mount?
I want to take pictures of the Milky Way or a lunar eclipse or earth glow on the moon, but I don't have an equatorial tracking mount, and don't want to spend that much money on one.
How can I get ...
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3answers
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What is the “Rule of 600” in astrophotography?
This question mentions the "Rule of 600" for avoiding star-trails in astrophotography.
What is this rule?
How was it derived?
How should it be applied?
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6answers
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How do I capture the milky way?
Can the milky way actually be photographed like this? I know the image is manipulated, and is probably a composite, but how do you capture such contrast in the milky way? Is an equitorially mounted ...
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5answers
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How can they take pictures of the Milky Way?
I have had a trivial question for a long time. I can't understand how you can take a picture of outside of a thing, when you are a very small dot in it.
Really, how did they take these pictures of ...
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4answers
2k views
How can I simulate a long exposure photo using a set of shorter exposure photos?
I'm shooting towards the sky to capture the stars. The exposure time is 15 seconds, so I can see the stars still, without a trace. These photos are taken continuously one after the other, because I ...
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6answers
2k views
How were these Astronomy Photographer of the Year images produced?
Looking at the winner of Astronomy Photographer of the Year, I'm wondering, how can one produce shots like these:
...
11
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1answer
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What is image stacking as it relates to astrophotography?
What is 'image stacking' and how can I apply it to my astrophotography to create better looking photographs? Are there any 'must have' resources for learning how to image stack for the purposes of ...
11
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1answer
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How to plan the composition of astrophotography?
I want to shoot the Milky Way, some constellations, and planets. I want to include some natural landscapes in these photos, similar to these:
...
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6answers
486 views
Are meteors dim?
I was out last night trying to shoot the Geminids meteor shower. I was using a Canon 5D2, 17-40mm f4.0 lens set to 17mm and f4.0, ISO 400. The camera was mounted on a non-tracking mount (only because ...
10
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5answers
737 views
What is a decent beginner's camera for astrophotography?
I have a Celestron Astromaster 114EQ and live in a city (so light pollution is pretty bad). What would be a reasonable DSLR camera for taking photos of the moon and planets? My budget is under £250 ...
10
votes
1answer
28 views
What can I do to prevent sudden “jumps” in the tracking motor during long time exposures?
I occasionally have sudden jumps (visible after the exposure as all stars are "doubled") in the tracking stepper. How do I fix this problem?
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votes
4answers
991 views
What times and settings should I use for taking pictures of stars at night and falling stars?
The season of the falling stars started and I want to try to achieve some picture of stars and falling one too.
I see a lot of picture with a immense number of stars but they are still. Now I'm ...
9
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2answers
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Astro-Photography with Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope and Canon EOS?
I have a Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope from Celestron C70 and I am interested in the Astro-photography.
I want to know, if I can use this telescope to attach with my Canon 600D? Do I need anything ...
9
votes
3answers
720 views
Astrophotography: real aperture vs f-number?
Reading up on astrophotography, there seems to be a movement that believes real aperture (diameter of iris) is more important than f-number when talking about speed. How and where did this come from? ...
9
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1answer
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Are hot pixels just one pixel?
I have been taking a few astro photos on a very high ISO, and have found what I think to be a few hot pixel. I though at first that I had managed to get a few very sharp pic of some red and blue ...
9
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2answers
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How to shoot stars much bigger without trails?
I know it looks unreal/fake, but how can I take photos like this example? It's not a very long exposure because there are no trails. Also Betelgeuse looks noticeably red and it's cool. You can also ...
8
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5answers
232 views
How do I know what celestial events will be visible soon?
I want to get into astrophotography, and would like subjects that are a bit more unusual than the things we see every night like constellations and the moon.
Where can I read about upcoming celestial ...
8
votes
6answers
922 views
How do I set the focus in long exposure night sky shots?
I want to catch a good long exposure (5 - 15 seconds) shot of the International Space Station in the night sky as it passes over my city.
Setting the ISO higher (say, to 100) and the exposure time is ...
8
votes
3answers
380 views
Practicality of using a telescope as a super telephoto lens?
This might earn me stupid question of the week honors, but reading this question made me wonder whether it would ever make sense to use a astronomy telescope + camera mount as an earthbound zoom lens?
...
8
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1answer
129 views
How important is a camera with improved Hydrogen Alpha sensitivity to astrophotography?
Right now I'm just using an unmodified digital SLR when I take photos, but I've heard that ordinary DSLRs have a filter on them that reduces what it picks up on the low (red) end. How much of a ...
8
votes
1answer
175 views
What do I need to know before attempting to photograph Venus in transit?
This Tuesday will be the last chance to view Venus in transit for the next 100+ years, so I'm planning to make the most of it. I'd also like to capture what I see for posterity, but this type of event ...
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4answers
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Astrophotography picture with too much noise. How do I correct this in postprocessing?
This is the Milky Way above Kakadu National Park, Australia, and my first try at astrophotography.
Thirty second exposure, f/4.0 at 17mm with ISO 12800 (!!) which in hindsight probably was way too ...
7
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2answers
405 views
Why don't usual pictures of Sun show any protuberance or explosions?
I was just looking at this picture :
http://i.imgur.com/69in3.jpg
and wondered why no Corona or trace of the little explosions on the surface of the Sun are visible ...
How should the Sun be ...
7
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6answers
5k views
Which intervalometer for time-lapse astrophotography will work with a Canon 450D?
I've long been interested in astrophotography, and it was one of the primary reasons I purchased my Canon 450D about 15 months ago. I've been working on getting milky way shots for the last 6 months, ...
7
votes
3answers
241 views
How to predict when the moon will appear large?
Over the last few days, here in Eastern Canada, the moon (Full and close to it) has been appearing very large in the atmosphere around sunset. I know that also happens at around 2->3:00 am in the ...
7
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3answers
737 views
Does long exposure cause hot pixels in photos?
Today, I was taking some shots of night sky. For each, I had 20 sec exposure. During picture review, I found a red dot which is referred as "Hot Pixel" according to some people on the Internet. ...
7
votes
3answers
179 views
Increasing field of view for astrophotography
I have a camera adapter for my 1200mm reflector that I can put eyepieces in and I've tried it a few times but the area I'm photographing is too narrow, even at prime focus. (no eyepiece) I only get a ...
7
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3answers
384 views
Co-linear dual tripod mount for huge lenses
I am about to buy a fun super-zoom mirror lens which is so long it has its own tripod mount. To protect the camera, I am wondering if there is a mount accessory which will allow for two items to be ...
7
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1answer
643 views
What technique and settings should I use to capture meteor showers?
I'm just starting out with astrophotography and have read that this years most spectacular meteor shower display (at least where I live in Canberra, Australia) will be the Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower:
...
7
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3answers
2k views
Best opensource/ free stacking software for mac for astrophotography
I am using snow leopard and mainly want it to automate the stacking as much as possible. I have seen that PixInSight looks pretty awesome, but that's not free, in-fact far from it, so I want something ...
6
votes
2answers
545 views
Are there any decent telescopes for around $250 that I can mount my Canon 60D to?
I am looking to buy a telescope for about $250, are there any at that price range that can be mounted on a Canon body?
6
votes
3answers
196 views
What variable maximizes color in astrophotography?
I'm doing some research in astrophotography before my trip to Yellowstone and I'm most interested in pulling the color of the galaxies. I will be using a Canon 7D.
What should I be focusing on in ...
6
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3answers
1k views
How to shoot images from a home telescope using a digital SLR?
I have a Meade Refracting Telescope and I have a Nikon D-50 camera.
I would love to take pictures of Moon, etc as seen in my telescope using my camera.
What is the best way to do that?
6
votes
2answers
2k views
What filters are commonly used in photographing the moon with a DSLR at night without a telescope?
All my, very limited, experience photographing the moon has been through small telescopes with low resolution mono-chrome cameras. Limited in that I prefer deep space objects with large scopes at very ...
6
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3answers
589 views
Does the Canon 60Da offer significant advantage over 60D with infrared filter for astrophotography?
I am looking to buy a new camera to upgrade from my 1000D. I found the 60D to meet most of my needs but came across the 60Da variant when trying to make a decision.
The price difference is ...
6
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1answer
596 views
Can I combine two photos to get a good image of a non-full moon?
Is there a good combo of longer exposure and shorter exposure that I can use to get two photos of the moon that I can then combine to show the sun-lit side and the earth-lit side together so I have ...
6
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2answers
110 views
Can I intercept and interpret the autofocus signals sent to the lens?
I would like to use a Nikon D80 body with a reflecting telescope as the lens to take pictures of bright/textured objects in the night sky (e.g. the moon). The D80 has autofocus capabilities; the ...
6
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2answers
124 views
Deep Sky Photography with telescope without Tracking
I tried photographing moon and Saturn with a 8'' Dobsonian (without tracking). And it was a breeze. But I had to follow the '600 rule', i.e I only exposed it for less than (600/f) sec ~ 1/2 sec.
But ...
5
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3answers
4k views
How can I get correct focus on the moon or stars with my DSLR? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to nail focus for DSLR astrophotography?
I don't know if D5100 is right camera for this kind of stuff, but I would like to shoot night sky covering moon, stars and ...
5
votes
2answers
843 views
Pixel-to-RA/DEC mapping in digitized astrophotography
I have a 1443x998 picture of the stars (taken w/ a 35mm camera and
then scanned) with the following stars at the following pixel locations:
Altair x=782, y=532 [19h50m46.9990s RA, +08 52'05.959'' ...
