{"id":36433,"date":"2022-09-12T12:51:07","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T12:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=24149"},"modified":"2022-09-12T13:09:15","modified_gmt":"2022-09-12T13:09:15","slug":"a-beginners-guide-to-astrophotography","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/a-beginners-guide-to-astrophotography\/","title":{"rendered":"A beginner\u2019s guide to astrophotography"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Jamie Carter\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 12 September 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Photographing the night sky \u2013 known as \u2018astrophotography\u2019 \u2013 is surprisingly easy. Armed with a DSLR or mirrorless camera on a tripod-mounted tracker, even novice astrophotographers can capture great shots of star clusters, nebulae, galaxies<\/a> and other deep-sky objects.<\/p>\n

C<\/span>apturing the night sky for posterity is indeed a gripping passion and, although the days of wet processing may be long gone, now there are new camera functions to uncover and much to consider when creating an imaging setup.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Milky Way Rises over Landmark Trust\u2019s Clavell Tower by Mark Pelleymounter, Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset, UK. Equipment: Canon 5dmkiii, Canon 24-105 f4 @ 24mm, f4. Skywatcher Star Adventurer tracking mount.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

You might wish to photograph nightscapes: images that are similar to the views of the constellations and the Milky Way that you would see with the naked eye.<\/span><\/p>\n

Or perhaps you want to photograph the Solar System via the Moon, the Sun and the planets, or extaned beyond the influence of our star and into the realm of deep-sky objects such as globular clusters and nebulae.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Cone Nebula, by Anas Albounni, Abu Dhabi & Dubai, UAE, January \u2013 March 2022.Equipment: ZWO ASI183mm pro camera, Sky-Watcher Esprit 100mm telescope, Starizona Apex reducer, 8p ASI filter wheel, Chroma filters 3nm, OAG, Astronomical Solutions Power station.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

In this beginners\u2019 astrophotography guide, we\u2019ll explore how to get started, what equipment you\u2019ll need and what sort of targets you can aim for.<\/p>\n

And we have loads more astrophotography guides<\/a> to help you capture photographs of the night sky, including how to photograph stars<\/a>, constellation astrophotography<\/a>, how to photograph planets<\/a>, how to photograph the Moon<\/a> and, once you\u2019ve made your capture, how to make it look amazing with image processing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Equipment for astrophotography<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Camera<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Many astrophotography beginners start off using a DSLR camera.<\/span><\/figcaption> Jamie Carter<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

You\u2019ll need a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a manual mode.\u00a0Since deep-sky objects are faint, imaging them is about opening the shutter for as long as 90 seconds (in our setup) to allow as much light as possible to hit the camera\u2019s digital sensor.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll also need a 38mm ball-head mount so that the camera can move independently of the tracker once it\u2019s in a fixed position.<\/p>\n

What can you capture with your camera?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Smartphone camera<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Daylight phenomena and bright twilight scenes; afocal shots of the Moon and bright planets through\na telescope, the latest models can now even take basic constellation images<\/p>\n

Compact camera<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Daylight phenomena and bright twilight scenes; afocal shots of the Moon and bright planets through\na telescope, the latest models can now even take basic constellation images<\/p>\n

Prosumer camera<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Daylight phenomena, twilight scenes and some basic night scenes; afocal shots of the Moon and planets; some have limited deep-sky capability for pictures of galaxies, nebulae and star clusters<\/p>\n

DSLR\/Mirrorless interchangeable lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n

All daylight phenomena and night scenes; the Moon through a long lens or attached to a telescope;\none-shot-colour deep-sky imaging; basic planetary capability<\/p>\n

High frame rate<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Optimally suited for Moon, Sun and planets through a telescope; some have basic to intermediate\ndeep-sky capability<\/p>\n

Cooled astronomical CCD<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Optimally suited for long-exposure deep-sky imaging; capable of imaging the Moon and Sun; basic\nplanetary capability, but good for picking out faint moons<\/p>\n

For more on this, read our guides to the best cameras for astrophotography<\/a> or the best telescopes for astrophotography<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Keep your camera in pristine condition with our guide How to clean a DSLR camera<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Get more out of your camera with our DSLR guide<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Camera lens<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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With a relatively basic star tracker (see below), you can experiment with both wide-field and medium focal length DSLR lenses.<\/p>\n

What you use obviously affects magnification. That in turn affects the amount of blur in the finished photo; wide-angle lenses can be used for much longer exposures than telephoto lenses before stars begin to trail.<\/p>\n

The trackers we\u2019ve mentioned can support anything up to about 600mm lenses.<\/p>\n

Using a star tracker mount<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Mount your DSLR on a star tracker for longer exposures that enable you to follow the stars. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Earth rotates fast \u2013 at almost 1,600km\/h \u2013 and since we\u2019ll be taking long-exposure photographs, your camera needs to move in sync with the stars to prevent them from appearing as blurred trails on your photos.<\/p>\n

So you\u2019ll need a small EQ3 equatorial mount or a lightweight star tracker<\/a> like the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer<\/a> or iOptron SkyTracker.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re simple motorised equatorial mounts aimed at astrophotographers,\u201d says Allan Trow, manager at Dark Sky Wales<\/a>, who teaches astrophotography workshops.\u00a0\u201cThey\u2019re very portable and the polar alignment is easy.\u201d<\/p>\n

He suggests avoiding altaz mounts, which don\u2019t track the sky in a smooth motion.\u00a0Sitting between a camera and a tripod, these trackers initially need to be aligned to Polaris, the Pole Star.<\/p>\n

For more info, read our guide to telescope mounts<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Targets for astrophotography beginners<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The Andromeda Galaxy by Nishant Revur, Washington, USA, 19 June 2020.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Three popular targets for beginners are the Perseus Double Cluster (NGC 869 and NGC 884), the Orion Nebula<\/a> (M42) and the Andromeda Galaxy (M31).<\/p>\n

For in-depth guides on imaging the latter two, read our tutorials on how to photograph the Orion Nebula<\/a> and how to photograph the Andromeda Galaxy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The all-in-one portable star trackers don\u2019t have built-in autoguiding software, though you can add an autoguider to any EQ3 mount.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not so important because most people go for objects they know to begin with, that they can find themselves,\u201d says Trow.<\/p>\n

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The Orion Nebula by Derek Foster, Sheffield, UK, 18 November 2019.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The easiest way to get great results without spending hours processing images is to take one, long-exposure photograph of your object of choice.\u00a0Experiment with shutter speeds up to about 90 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith a 600mm lens, 90 seconds is as long as you\u2019ll get before stars start to trail, but that\u2019s more than enough for most deep-sky objects, particularly since newer cameras can bump up ISO,\u201d says Trow.<\/p>\n

Use a variety of settings \u2013 including different levels of white balance \u2013 and you\u2019ll soon learn what works best for different lenses and targets.<\/p>\n

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The Double Cluster in Perseus by Bill McSorley.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

As you become more experienced, you may want to experiment with longer exposures, and \u2018stacking\u2019 your images to increase contrast, which means using more expensive equatorial mounts that are also more complicated to align.<\/p>\n

But armed with the relatively basic astrophotography setup we\u2019ve described here, you can be taking stunning images in no time.<\/p>\n

Astrophotography: the basics<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Conditions & location<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Good seeing and a clear night sky away from light pollution are essential for astrophotography. Credit: Misato Nomura \/ EyeEm \/ Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Naturally, you\u2019ll need clear skies and a dark location, but astrophotography also requires good \u2018seeing\u2019 (a lack of atmospheric turbulence) and \u2018transparency\u2019 (a lack of the moisture and dust in the air that typically occurs after heavy rain).<\/p>\n

Perfect conditions will greatly improve your final photographs, but so will advice from experienced amateurs, so a good place to begin your astrophotography adventure is at your local astronomy club.<\/p>\n

Preparation<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Credit: The Secret Studio<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

You need to focus your camera and align the tracker, and if you\u2019re not used to doing this, it\u2019s best to practise during the daytime.<\/p>\n

Finding the infinity focus point on your lens is best done before it gets dark by auto-focusing on something as far away as possible, using \u2018live view\u2019 to magnify the image.<\/p>\n

Mark where infinity focus is on your lens then switch it to manual focus.\u00a0Now you need to perform a polar alignment using the tracker\u2019s built-in polarscope, though its built-in spirit level is also important.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlways make sure the tripod is level otherwise your tracking will be out immediately,\u201d says Trow.\u00a0Now orientate the polarscope generally towards Polaris, the north star, which you can find using our guide to star-hopping<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Where exactly Polaris must be positioned on the tracker\u2019s polarscope clock face depends on your latitude and the time of night; free smartphone apps like Astro-Physics PolarAlign and Polar Scope Align will give you a simple visual guide.<\/p>\n

Once that\u2019s done, lock the position of the tracker securely.\u00a0You can then swing the camera towards your chosen deep-sky object.<\/p>\n

Check your camera settings<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

All photography is about balancing aperture (which controls how much light reaches the image sensor), ISO (which controls the light sensitivity of the imaging sensor) and shutter speed\/exposure time (which controls how long the image sensor is exposed to light).<\/p>\n

Start with an aperture as wide open as the lens goes (perhaps f\/4.5 for a zoom lens or f\/2.8 for a wide-angle lens). ISO 100 is used for bright conditions, so consider ISO 800\u00a0for astrophotography for more sensitivity, though ISO 1600 or 3200 may work better depending on how advanced your camera is.<\/p>\n

For the shutter speed, begin at 30 seconds and build up.\u00a0Whatever your settings, it\u2019s crucial not to introduce camera shake, so use a remote shutter release cable, rather than pressing the button on the camera itself.<\/p>\n

Take the shot<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Attaching your camera to a sturdy tripod will help to eliminate blur from your images.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

For the likes of NGC 869 & NGC 884, M42 and M31 try a variety of settings and see what works best.\u00a0If you\u2019re using a wide-angle lens, you could also try for a long exposure on the Milky Way in late spring and summer.<\/p>\n

Whatever you do, always shoot in RAW rather than JPEG so that you can use photo editing software such as Photoshop or Corel to produce a brighter, more detailed image. It makes a massive difference.<\/p>\n

10 simple astrophotography tips for beginners<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Credit: iStock \/ Getty Images Plus<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>

1<\/span>

Switch to manual<\/h3>\n<\/div>

Switching your camera to M mode will give you full control over your camera\u2019s settings.<\/p>

2<\/span>

Pick a good location<\/h3>\n<\/div>

Find a good spot from which to take your astrophoto. Choose a dark spot away from light pollution where you stand a good chance of seeing a starry night sky. If this is not possible, make the best of what you\u2019ve got: turn off all lights and use objects to shield your camera from streetlights.<\/p>

3<\/span>

Check your camera\u2019s exposure<\/h3>\n<\/div>

A slow camera shutter speed of around 20 seconds allows plenty of starlight to be collected for astrophotography. For speeds slower than 30 seconds switch to the B (Bulb) function and use a cable release.<\/p>

4<\/span>

Check your ISO<\/h3>\n<\/div>

The ISO controls the sensitivity.\u00a0Higher ISOs are more sensitive, revealing more stars in your astrophoto but at the expense of picture quality, giving you a more grainy image.<\/p>

5<\/span>

Watch out for noise<\/h3>\n<\/div>

Switch on noise reduction in your camera, which can be found in the menu, to improve image quality.<\/p>

6<\/span>

Pick a suitable lens<\/h3>\n<\/div>

Use a wide-angle lens to start with and you\u2019ll capture a surprising array of objects like planets, star clusters, dust lanes and nebulae.<\/p>

7<\/span>

Control your aperture (f-number)<\/h3>\n<\/div>

The iris controls the amount of light that passes through the camera lens.\u00a0The lower the f-number, the more dilated the iris is, meaning more light enters your camera. Aim for f\/4 or lower if your lens allows it.<\/p>

8<\/span>

Focus<\/h3>\n<\/div>

Because it\u2019s dark focusing is often a case of trial and error.\u00a0Switch to manual focus and set it to infinity.\u00a0Take a test shot and slowly adjust the focus ring until your image is sharp.<\/p>

9<\/span>

Keep your camera steady<\/h3>\n<\/div>

The slightest movement has a significant effect on an astrophoto. A steady tripod and cable release help alleviate movement caused by wind or your finger clicking off a shot.<\/p>

10<\/span>

Pay attention to composure<\/h3>\n<\/div>

Use the rule of thirds to compose your image.\u00a0Add something in the foreground to provide impact and perspective.<\/p>\n

What to do next<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Credit: Misato Nomura \/ EyeEm \/ Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

So where do you go from here? There is no single right answer.<\/p>\n

Some astrophotographers specialise in imaging particular objects \u2013 galaxies, for example. Some never use a telescope, relying solely on a DSLR and tripod for wide-angle nightscapes.<\/p>\n

Some only make timelapses<\/a>. It really is up to you, but here is some more advice to help you discover where astrophotography can take you.<\/p>\n

Plan ahead<\/h3>\n

No astronomical target is visible in the night sky all the time \u2013 and even when it is, it may not be well placed for astrophotography. So it\u2019s worth planning your imaging in advance.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are various planetarium programs that can help you, including the freeware Stellarium<\/a> and Cartes du Ciel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Planning also extends to your setup: make sure your telescope is collimated<\/a> and has cooled beforehand. Sadly, no amount of preparation can account for the weather!\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Transform your astrophotos with image processing. Credit: Farknot_Architect \/ iStock \/ Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Challenge yourself<\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve shown you the techniques \u2013 now it\u2019s up to you to test them out on the other denizens of the night sky.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re beguiled by the Moon, explore it as the terminator<\/a> moves and throws new features into relief; if you\u2019re enchanted by the planets, try for Venus\u2019s crescent; if you\u2019ve seen enough of NGC 7000, try for another nebula, such as famous M42 in Orion.<\/p>\n

Practise processing<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Despite its formidable reputation, image processing has the potential to give you an equal if not greater thrill than that of getting the initial capture \u2013 especially once you start to see details emerge from what may be rather flat original images.<\/p>\n

Of course, this thrill can easily overtake you: knowing where to stop is as important as knowing where to start.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Have you managed to capture a beautiful image of the night sky? We\u2019d love to see it! Email it to us via contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com<\/a> or get in touch via Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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By Jamie Carter Published: Monday, 12 September 2022 at 12:00 am Photographing the night sky \u2013 known as \u2018astrophotography\u2019 \u2013 is surprisingly easy. Armed with a DSLR or mirrorless camera on a tripod-mounted tracker, even novice astrophotographers can capture great shots of star clusters, nebulae, galaxies and other deep-sky objects. Capturing the night sky for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":36434,"template":"","categories":[34],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"12"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/09\/a-beginners-guide-to-astrophotography.jpg",921,570,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/09\/a-beginners-guide-to-astrophotography-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/09\/a-beginners-guide-to-astrophotography-300x186.jpg",300,186,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/09\/a-beginners-guide-to-astrophotography-768x475.jpg",768,475,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/09\/a-beginners-guide-to-astrophotography.jpg",800,495,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/09\/a-beginners-guide-to-astrophotography.jpg",921,570,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2022\/09\/a-beginners-guide-to-astrophotography.jpg",921,570,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Jamie Carter Published: Monday, 12 September 2022 at 12:00 am Photographing the night sky \u2013 known as \u2018astrophotography\u2019 \u2013 is surprisingly easy. Armed with a DSLR or mirrorless camera on a tripod-mounted tracker, even novice astrophotographers can capture great shots of star clusters, nebulae, galaxies and other deep-sky objects. Capturing the night sky for…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/36433"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}