Astrophoto thread (your own photos please)

[JEL]

Northern star-trail.

Photo date: 20120227 02:40-03:16 UTC (03:40-04:16 local)
Frames: 1
Dark frames: 1
Exposure time (each single image): 2170 sec (36m10s), ISO-100, f/8, focal length: 10 mm
Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Lens: Tamron SP AF 10-24 mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II, model B001E
Software used: DPHDR 5, Gimp 2.6.11

 

[Unstung]

JEL, is there an accurate way to meter that scene without guessing the exposure? Half-an-hour is a pretty long time, too long without using the bulb mode or CHDK.

 

[JEL]

I just go by trial&error, and then keep the best pictures. In my experience; at f8/iso100 +- 10 minutes doesn't seem to make any major difference with these types of night-images.
It's taken in bulb-mode, and then the contrast was processed (I'm a bit worried about that CHDK thing, so I haven't tried using that yet)

 

[RisingFury]

Not sure if you know that or not or if you use it or not, but you can use a filter that filters out Sodium light. That way, the sky won't be as orange and less of the light from street lights will make it to the image.

The filter should be very narrow band, so it doesn't block out the rest of the light.

 

[JEL]

Thanks, I'll look into that
I'm not using any filters currently, and I do get a lot of orange from the street-lights on long exposures. Green from some of them actually, and orange from others (there are different types of lights located around the water-tower, and they're never turned off at night). The orange ones are the most powerful/dominant though.
Thanks for the tip

 

[NovaSilisko]

Webcam + small telescope = terrible photo of Saturn:

 

[Codz]

That's actually pretty good. You should give Mars a whirl.

 

[RisingFury]

That's actually pretty good.

Don't mean to be bashing NovaSilisko here for his attempt, but how on Earth can you say it's pretty good? You can't even tell it's Saturn.

 

[Codz]

Don't mean to be bashing NovaSilisko here for his attempt, but how on Earth can you say it's pretty good? You can't even tell it's Saturn.

I mean if he's using a small telescope.(65mm-90mm) Considering the equipment he's using, it's pretty good.

 

[ED_4]

You think that's bad. Imagine what Galileo had to deal with when he actually described in fine detail how Jupiter was? It's amazing how he can see with such primitive telescopes back then. He even managed to see Jupiter's four big moons.:blink:

 

[NovaSilisko]

I mean if he's using a small telescope.(65mm-90mm) Considering the equipment he's using, it's pretty good.

Yeah, 90mm Maksutov Cassegrain. I can make out the rings easily just looking through it normal, as well as the bands (and moons) of jupiter, but my less-than-optimal-quality camera didn't agree. :facepalm:

---------- Post added at 12:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:17 AM ----------

Also, the only reason it's even vaguely oval shaped is due to me accidentally rotating the scope as I reached over to click the button to take a picture.

 

[Gerdih]

I tried the same with a 127 mm Maksutov and I couldn't :lol:

 

[NovaSilisko]

Well then, TIL webcams make terrible astrophoto cameras

 

[RisingFury]

Well then, TIL webcams make terrible astrophoto cameras

No, I've seen people use them with quite good quality, it just takes a bit of effort.

 

[NovaSilisko]

No, I've seen people use them with quite good quality, it just takes a bit of effort.

More effort than my method of "hold camera in left hand, press button on laptop five feet away to take picture"? That seems unlikely :lol:

 

[agentgonzo]

Webcam + small telescope = terrible photo of Saturn:

This photo is massively overexposed. If you have controls on your camera to modify the exposure .simplest ones have an 'EV' setting (meaning Exposure Value). Whack this down to as many minuses as you can and it'll take a shorter exposure and hopefully show you more detail of Saturn rather than an overexposed white smudge.

 

[NovaSilisko]

After some investigation I have determined the object I was looking at was actually Venus.

Also, I should open my window before attempting to use a telescope through it :facepalm:

 

[ED_4]

After some investigation I have determined the object I was looking at was actually Venus.

Also, I should open my window before attempting to use a telescope through it :facepalm:

Venus typically is the brightest of the planets that shine out there. Being that it's closest to us of all the others. And also that the atmosphere is highly reflective.

 

[Codz]

After some investigation I have determined the object I was looking at was actually Venus.

Also, I should open my window before attempting to use a telescope through it :facepalm:

I'd recommend Stellarium if you really want to know what you're looking at.

 

[NovaSilisko]

I'd recommend Stellarium if you really want to know what you're looking at.

Well, once I got it focused, it was a waning crescent. Unless the moon is very tiny now, I'm pretty sure it's venus