I thought this very specialized area of photography would interest some of you. When I have more time I will write up an explanation about some of the frustrations and obstacles involved with astrophotography. Techniques like aligning the scope, tracking the sky, and focusing are difficult. Then you have to overcome atmospheric scintillation, chromatic aberrations and refractions as well as light pollution. I don't even know where to begin with the intricate and absolutely necessary processing techniques. My brain hurts when I merely think about how much I've crammed in there about how light waves work, much less these astronomical objects that are sending them out for me to capture.

So for now, here's some teaser pics:

My best full moon (shot with Canon 350D at prime focus, 812mm f/4 Meade Newtonian, 10 images stacked in Registax)



Plane caught crossing the rising full moon, actual color (shot with Canon a75 afocally, 1000mm f/4.9 Orion Newtonian + 25mm eyepiece, 1 shot no post proc)



Mercury transiting the sun, also a few sunspots (Rebel 350D at prime focus, 812mm f/4 Meade Newt + solar filter, 10 images stacked in Registax)



Lunar eclipse rising over Austin (Canon 350D, 70-700mm @ 200mm and f/4)



M42 - the Orion Nebula (Rebel 350D prime focus, 812mm f/4 Meade Newt, 6 x 30" exposures each @ ISO 200, 400 and 800 (9 minutes total); aligned, stacked and histogram adjust in Registax; masks, levels and curves applied in Photoshop.)



M31 - Andromeda (Rebel 350D prime focus, 812mm f/4 Meade Newt, 8 x 60 second exposures @ ISO 800 and 4 x 45 second exposures @ ISO 1600 stacked in Registax, curves and levels in PS)



M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy (Meade Deep Space Imager at prime focus, 812mm f/4 Meade Newt, 10 x 30s exposures for each filter (Luminance, Red, Green and Blue) 15 minutes total; aligned and stacked in Meade Imager software, final post proc in PS)



Saturn - soft focus, unfortunately it's my best (shot with Canon a75 afocally, 1000mm f/4.9 Orion Newt + 15mm eyepiece and a 2x Barlow, approx 1500 images captured via avi's, aligned and stacked in Registax)



Jupiter (shot with Canon a75 afocally, 1000mm f/4.9 Orion Newt + 15mm eyepiece and a 2x Barlow, approx 1500 images captured via avi's, aligned and stacked in Registax)



M57 - The Ring Nebula (Meade Deep Space Imager at prime focus, 812mm f/4 Meade Newt, 10 x 45s exposures for each channel (LRBG), aligned and stacked in Meade software, final post proc in PS)




Now fire away with comments and questions!

I really want a telescope.

This is all I have....

See later post

I would LOVE to get into Astrophotography. But, everything I've read, tells me I should dig a big hole in my yard and throw money into it.
I've decided, instead, to first buy a basic telescope, and only observe for now. I'm thinking of getting an 8 or 10" Dob in the next few months. If I actually use it, I might decide to buy a nice equatorial mount for it and go from there. I could still probably do some moon stuff with that.

Also, those are some great shots!

impressive.

my best (which aren't worthy):
moon, 70~200mm f2.8 w/ 2.0 TC and XTi:


a lucky airshow shot. 1D, 70~200mm f2.8 with 2.0TC:

I simply love that Blue Angels shot. Amazing.

thanks!
a lot of luck and a bit of skill goes a long way.
I honestly had no idea the moon was there until I got home and checked them out.

how did you get the star trails?

Exif shows an exposure time of 730" or just over 12 minutes! You gotta love Canon and their low noise sensors.


The constellation just to the upper left of the gable looks like Orion. You captured fantastic star colors there eye one. Nice work.

I'll agree that that is Orion.

Hello, old thread!

So Ted,
Think we might see a few shots of Mars this month? I think it's at it's closest on the 18th. I know planetary imaging is a bit different than DSO stuff, but you can do that also, right?

We need some shots from that new CCD imager you got, or the 5D!

No kidding! I haven't taken the CCD imager out of the box yet. And I really need to take advantage of the 5D's full frame sensor and its low noise. Pathetic, I know. I keep saying I'm going to take advantage of all these clear nights we've been having but I've been a bit under the weather. Someday soon, I hope.

This is something Id like to do over the summer...

Originally Posted by subimatt

This is something Id like to do over the summer...

The thing with viewing in the summer is, you have to wait until late at night when it cools down/gets dark. The warm air creates an effect called "seeing". Think of a mirage, how the air looks like it's moving. Same thing.

I agree though, I'd rather be outside when it's not freezing. At least with imaging, you can set it up, and go indoors while it's exposing.

The cool thing about summer is doing wide angle shots of the Milky Way. I need to do some piggy-backing with the 5D + 17-40L.

Originally Posted by tardypizza

The cool thing about summer is doing wide angle shots of the Milky Way. I need to do some piggy-backing with the 5D + 17-40L.

That is exactly what I've been wanting to do. The thing is, I'm not ready to buy an EQ mount and drive setup. I've been thinking about getting this: http://www.telescope.com/control/pro...oduct_id=09441

Heard anything good/bad about it? I'd only be mounting an SLR on it...

How'd I miss this the first time around?

Those are awesome, Ted!

Originally Posted by LateApex

That is exactly what I've been wanting to do. The thing is, I'm not ready to buy an EQ mount and drive setup. I've been thinking about getting this: http://www.telescope.com/control/pro...oduct_id=09441

Heard anything good/bad about it? I'd only be mounting an SLR on it...

With an alt/az mount you're going to get image rotation in any exposure of length. If you just want a cheap equatorial mount for your SLR look into building a "barndoor tracker". A lot of guys over at cloudynights.com have built them and gotten good results.

Originally Posted by Stime187

How'd I miss this the first time around?

Those are awesome, Ted!

Thanks!

I think I found a new project. Thanks, Ted!

Originally Posted by LateApex

I think I found a new project. Thanks, Ted!

Be sure to post step by step pictures! I'd like to see how one is built myself.

OK, so I've been looking into these barndoor setups... I figured out that the best design is a Type 4 double-arm rig. My only problem is that it appears you need to be a physicist to figure out your dimensions. Granted, some of these websites have them all planned out, if I liked their design. Also to wire it for a stepper motor, I'd have to actually understand electricity/electronics.

This might be tougher than I thought. Or... I can be satisfied with shorter exposures and make a simple hand-operated one.

looks great. ted could you post you setup with the tele and camera mount. thanks.

I did a pretty quick write up here

Holler if you have more questions.

FYI, Orion is having a 5 day sale for some of their scopes if any of you are interested:

http://www.telescope.com/control/main/

Originally Posted by tardypizza

You gotta love Canon and their low noise sensors.

That's one thing I HATE about my Pentax, the sensor is a bit noisy on long exposures.

You have to love canon sensors, I notice the same noise patterns on 20 second exposures as I do on 5min+ exposures. Very easy to clean up with a few dark frames.

WOW! these are terrific wish I wasn't so near the city we have alot of light polution guess I need to take a trip to the country for some shots.

Sorry chkltcow: http://www.newschoolofphotography.co...trophotography

bumpity

Editing for mergify!

Cygnus, the swan

mergified!

Originally Posted by tardypizza

I did a pretty quick write up here

Holler if you have more questions.

Hey Ted, seriously awesome pictures

I'd like to read up on what you did, but that link is incorrect. Do you still have that write up?

Originally Posted by s7khan

Hey Ted, seriously awesome pictures

I'd like to read up on what you did, but that link is incorrect. Do you still have that write up?

Arrrgh, it's probably a link from back when we were on simple machine forums, or whatever it was called. I'll see if I can't find it....

Maybe? http://www.newschoolofphotography.co...ight=telescope