Astrophotography
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Presentation Transcript
Astrophotography John Dolan Finglas Library Photographers Group May 2012
Photographing the night sky • What’s up there? • Images from back gardens around the world • My best attempts so far • Getting started in night sky imaging
Section 1: What’s up there? Images from Hubble
The Pillars of Creation M16, The Eagle Nebula
Silverado Galaxy 98 million light years away Same size as our Milky Way
M101 Pinwheel Galaxy 25,000 light years away Hubble Image
Section 2: Astro images from back gardens
Horse Head Nebula, 1600 light years away Anna Morris; UK
M31, Andromeda Galaxy, our nearest neighbour galaxy 2500 light years away, Les Tilly. UK
The Great Orion Nebula and Running Man Nebula, William McLaughlin; Oregon USA
M51, Whirlpool Galaxy (Lord Rosse’s Galaxy) , 31 million light years away, William McLaughlin; Oregon USA
Rosette Nebula, Les Tilly, UK
Comet Hyakutake 1996 William McLaughlin; Oregon USA
Damien Peach, Norfolk UKAstronomy Photographer of the Year 2011 Hi magnification for planets because they are small and bright
Myth of magnification Many interesting objects are large and dim. New telescope users often assume that more magnification gives a better view. They quickly learn that this is rarely true, and that on the contrary, lower power almost always yields a better image. M31, Andromeda Galaxy 2500 light years away
Myth of magnification Many interesting objects are large and dim and don’t need much magnification. New telescope users often assume that more magnification gives a better view. They quickly learn that this is rarely true, and that on the contrary, lower power almost always yields a better image. The most important thing with a telescope is the aperture rather than the magnification particularly for large dim objects. M31, Andromeda Galaxy
International Space Station Carl O’Beirne, Balbriggan
Veil Nebula, Carl O’Beirne, Balbriggan
Section 3 Imaging from My backyard
Set up for Planets – using Video Camera (or webcam) For small deep sky targets - using CCD astronomy camera
Saturn, captured with a Webcam (Phillips SPC 900NC) on a home built Orion 150mm reflector, EQ3 mount. Image processed with free Registrax software John Dolan , 2007
Jupiter, one ring missing, Io and Europa are the two Moons shown, John Dolan , 2010
Moon on New Years Eve 2009, with Canon 400D on William Optics 66mm mounted on EQ3, processed with Photoshop Moon and Venus Dec 2, 2008 John Dolan
The Elephants Trunk, IC 1396, 15/11/10, 2500 light years away, 120mm Equinox scope on CGEM Mount. 2hours exposure John Dolan, 2010
Section 4: Getting started Basic Astrophotography techniques
Requirements • Begin with any digital camera, depending on what you want to photograph (DSLR’s are great for many subjects). • High sensitivity (ISO 400 or higher) • Self timer or remote shutter release. • Bulb setting needed. • Fixed tripod can be used for basic wide field shots up to 20-30 seconds • For all other shots telescope and tracking mount required
Basic Astronomy • Earth’s rotation causes stars to trail in long exposures. • Polaris (the North star) • Almost directly off the Northern axis of the earth, stays in same position. • Everything else in sky appears to rotate around this axis. • Use skymap or planetarium software to find and identify things in space (both FREE on web). • www.skymaps.comwww.stellarium.org • Night vision • It takes your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to dark.
