Introduction to Basics of Astrophotography

Slides Compiled & Presented by Parimal Dave (JVP Life member)

What is astrophotography?
Taking images of the sky (celestial objects or phenomena)
Can be done any time of the day or night

A typical session
Choose your subject Choose your technique Take the image(s) Process the image(s) Display your results

Techniques vary from very basic to highly technical

Can your eyes store Light ?

No they cannot then how to I store captured light ? Use a Camera ? Either Film camera or Digital Camera (SLR) Single Lens Reflex

Film
Take a snapshot of the projected sun Use an SLR Film is chosen based on the subject Can get very technical & time consuming Is diminishing in popularity with the advent of digital techniques instant output

Digital cameras integral lens

Dual purpose astrophotography and holiday snaps Popular Coming down in price Sensors Contains Pixels

Digital cameras DSLRs

Dual purpose Very sensitive Expensive Can purchase variety of lenses for different applications

Astronomical CCD imagers

Purpose designed Very sensitive $300 to $40,000 Can be used for science Superb deep sky images

Digital cameras - Webcams

Cheap, easy to use, lots of free software for capturing and processing images Stunning planetary images Very popular

Basic Techniques
Point and click Camera & tripod Camera with telescope Eyepiece projection (afocal method) Prime focus CCD for advanced level Guiding for advanced level

Point and click

Hold your camera and click! Works with digital/film cameras Doesnt work with CCDs (no lens) Can piggy-back your camera on your OTA

Orion Constellation 10 seconds exposure Canon powershot digital

Milky Way exposure by DSLR camera with Piggyback by Dr. Sagar Gokhale

Milky way using still camera on tripod with 13 sec. exposure by Mayuresh Wagh

Polar region Leonid meteor (2001) 4 minute exposure Film SLR camera

Milky Way Galaxy (March 2011) approx 5 mts exposure DSLR camera on tripod photo by Kapil Pandav (JVP member)

Total Lunar Eclipse Dec 2012 Using a simple tripod, Nikon DSLR & a cable release Photographer: Dr. Sagar Gokhale Location: New English School, Tilak Road, Pune, India Date: 10 December 2011; 6.14 to 9.40 pm Camera: Nicon D3000; Lens: AFS Nikkor 18-55 mm 1:3.5-5.6G ISO - 200; Focal length: 24 mm; F 4.5 Exposure for each image range from 1/100 to 1 sec Description: Total Lunar Eclipse observed from Pune, India Stacked 44 images, clicked with the duration of 5 minutes

Lunar Eclipse approx 3 hours exposure Film SLR camera on tripod photo by Devdatta Mulay & Parimal Dave (JVP members)

Eyepiece projection
Hold your camera to the eyepiece and take an image Can purchase t-adapters and rings to get the camera lens as close to the eyepiece as possible

Moon photography

Jupiter

Saturn

Crescent Venus

This is how planets look captured through a 4 inch with afocal method of photography

*All photos by parimal dave

Sunspots photography & observations

DANGER - Never look at the SUN through a telescope Need to be done under special guidance
*All photos by parimal dave

Lunar Eclipse 10th Dec 2011 series using Canon Powershot attached to a 3 refractor - photo by Ketaki Dave (JVP members)

Prime focus
Your Telescope becomes the lens Webcams, DSLRs, CCDs

Moon a very good object for prime focus photography

Orion Nebula using Canon 550 D attached to Celestron 4 - stack of 10 X 3 minute exposures at ISO 800

Lunar Eclipse 10th Dec 2011

Photo processing or Stacking

Original Photo

Stacked photo

Processed photo

Omega Centauri through 8

M 57 Ring Nebula
Through 8 telescope

Through 4 telescope

M 16 Eagle Nebula

Using Canon DSLR at Prime focus of JVP 10 telescope

M 27 Dumbbell Nebula

Using Canon DSLR at Prime focus of JVP 10 telescope

M 20 Trifid Nebula

Using Canon DSLR at Prime focus of JVP 10 telescope

M 83

Using Canon DSLR at Prime focus of JVP 10 telescope

M 51 Whirlpool Galaxy

Using Canon DSLR at Prime focus of JVP 10 telescope

JVP members during the Saturn observing session at Kesariwada

JVP members during the Messier Marathon session

Thank You
Hope this is a new beginning to Star Gazing see you at the Star Party