Example of an astrophotograph
Astrophotography is a type of photography that involves taking pictures of astronomical phenomena. Since the late 1800s, astrophotography has proven an essential tool for astronomers, who use photography to capture objects in outer space that cannot be viewed by the naked eye with a telescope. Astrophotography also attracts a number of amateur enthusiasts, who record images from the night sky for aesthetic rather than scientific purposes.
Instructions
Instructions and Tips
1. A basic piece of equipment for the beginning astrophotographer is a webcam.
Choose a webcam. Webcams are surprisingly effective for astrophotography and an excellent option for beginners. Though they present problems with low resolution and image quality, their quick acquisition speeds allow them to capitalize on fleeting moments of clear skies that a point-and-shoot camera can easily miss. "Clear seeing," or good visibility in the night sky, is an important factor in photographing planets--which is where you will start as a beginning astrophotographer.
2. Modify the webcam for astrophotography. Remove the camera's objective, which comprises the lens and lens holder. Using an adapter, align the camera into the focuser of the telescope.
Consider buying a webcam and adapter made specifically for deep sky imaging. This may require some research as astrophotography has a large and dedicated fan base, many of whom have designed and marketed special equipment for their needs. Figure out where your specific interests lie, and find the webcam/adapter combo best suited to your purposes.
3. Install an astro-imaging software driver for your webcam. There are a number of freeware options available, like Peter Katreniak's K3CCD Tools. Most of these programs use the same methods to capture images, so try them out and decide which interface you prefer.
4. Before you begin to photograph, get acquainted with the software and learn the control panel. Make sure that the camera connects and recognizes the software.
Choose the resolution you want and set the acquisition speed. Specify a default directory for the night's session; it's best to keep all your photographs in one place. Establish a default naming convention, so that you can easily find your images later. Make sure you have plenty of disk space.
5. Find an area with few clouds and little light pollution--you want as clear a sky as possible. Mount your telescope to an equatorial mount (a mount that follows the rotation of the earth and sky). Use the eyepiece to select the view you want.
6. Remove the eyepiece from the telescope and insert the webcam. Focus--and then let the webcam do its work for a while. A webcam's autoexposure is generally sufficient to obtain decent images.
Beginners should consider photographing the moon before moving on to objects that are farther away.
Tags: beginning astrophotographer, Make sure, webcam adapter
