So.. you want to try Astrophotography?

If you are interested in getting started in AP (Astrophotography) or have just begun AP post your questions here. You can also post images if you want suggestions on how to improve them.
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UlteriorModem
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So.. you want to try Astrophotography?

#1

Post by UlteriorModem »


This question always comes up in one form or another "I want to take pictures with my telescope!"

There is no 'simple' answer, so lets refer people to this series by Forrest Tanaka that kind of gives a brief overview to get them started :D





Tom

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Re: So.. you want to try Astrophotography?

#2

Post by smp »


Thanks a million, UM. AP is quite daunting (for me, anyway) and I need all the instruction I can get.

Perhaps this post and more tutorial posts like it can get "pinned" so folks can have a ready reference?

smp
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Re: So.. you want to try Astrophotography?

#3

Post by Kanadalainen »


Thanks Tom,

Very helpful to us newbies!

Ian

P.S. Nice Flounder avatar too.
Ian

Fracs: Stellarvue 70T f6; SW 120mm Esprit f7; "Mark Mk. II" - 60 mm Tasco f6; C80 frac f 11.4
SCT: C8 Edge f10 or f7 with reducer
Dob: 14.5" homebuilt strut dob (f4.5 ZOC mirror), Nexus II, Moonlite focuser
Mounts - Ioptron Skyguider pro, Astro Physics GTO900
Cameras and lenses - ZWO 2600 mc, 290 mm mini, Canon 60D modded with Rokinon 10mm 2.8; Rokinon 135mm f2

Skysafari 6 Pro, Astro Pixel Processor, Pixinsight - using Mac tablet and ASIair pro to run the AP rig.

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Re: So.. you want to try Astrophotography?

#4

Post by Lady Fraktor »


Yes there is a simple answer!
In the infamous words of Ed Ting on the topic of astrophotography,
Don’t.... just don’t.... :lol:

I like the new Flounder avatar as well :)
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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Re: So.. you want to try Astrophotography?

#5

Post by UlteriorModem »


Glad it could be of some help!

I knew Gabby would chime in with the 'don't do it' quote :)

BTW it's nice to finally see your smiling face Gab!
Tom

Current Equipment:
Mount: Celestron CGX-L
Scope: 130mm f7 APO
Cam: ASI071mc-pro
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Re: So.. you want to try Astrophotography?

#6

Post by JayTee »


And just to add a tidbit to the excellent post by Tom, don't forget to do the metric conversion to your budget. To do the conversion, take your maximum budget amount then double it and add 30.

Cheers,
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
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∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
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Re: So.. you want to try Astrophotography?

#7

Post by Aidi »


Now there's a blast from the past... those were some of the first videos i ever watched on the subject. Certainly a series which gives a good taster into what its all about.
Rgds
Aidi

Equipment: Skywatcher Esprit 120 | Altair Astro 70mm Quadruplet| EQ-6 R Pro | QHY PoleMaster | QHY5L-II Autoguide Camera | ZWO OAG | PHD2 | EQMOD/ASCOM | Atik 460ex Mono| ZWO ASI 1600mm Pro| Pegasus UPB & Focusers | SGP Pro | CDC | PS 2017 | PixInsight
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Re: So.. you want to try Astrophotography?

#8

Post by Lady Fraktor »


UlteriorModem wrote: Sun May 12, 2019 4:59 pm Glad it could be of some help!

I knew Gabby would chime in with the 'don't do it' quote :)

BTW it's nice to finally see your smiling face Gab!
It is wise advice I have followed for years :lol:
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
My day was going well until... people
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Re: So.. you want to try Astrophotography?

#9

Post by Jennifer Christine »


Do or do not. There is no try.
Start simply. Throw away your wallet, there'll never be anything in it.
Get some really good dishwashing gear. You'll be doing quite a bit of penance so make sure it's as easy as it can be.
Buy single beds. Put one in the observatory.
Scopes, 100x900, 102x500, 150x 1000, 200x2000, 200x 1260. 80x400.
Canon lenses 100 to 400 L series, 18 to 135 usm.
Mount's, 2x alt az, 2 x eq (adventurer an neq6pro.)
70dw cam. Ssag guider. Observatory and pier setup.
Binoculars Saxon 20x80.
FRIED wallet.
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