Guides

What is a meteor shower? A meteor shower is a celestial event where meteors appear to emanate from a single point. They are named for the constellation from which they seem to originate These recurring events are caused by the Earth traveling through debris left behind in the paths of comets. Imagine a night sky … Read more

Astrophotography, one of photography’s most awe-inspiring pursuits, invites us to capture the magnificence of space. Within its vast scope, deep sky and planetary photography emerge as two specialized fields, each rewarding explorers with their unique blend of wonder and challenge. In deep sky astrophotography, my eyes, through the camera lens, reach out across the cosmos … Read more

Remember the first time you looked up at the night sky with a sense of wonderment, that pure awestruck feeling? Now imagine capturing that moment forever through the lens of astrophotography. As you start this journey, you will face the initial challenge of orientation – knowing what you’re looking at and when it’s visible. The … Read more

What are Flat Field Optics? Flat field optics are specially designed optics that bring all light wavelengths to focus at the same plane. In other words there will be no chromatic aberration or coma across the entire field-of-view. Telescopes with built-in flat fields are typically more expensive because they involve bringing additional lenses into the … Read more

I’m going to kick things off by setting the stage for an age-old debate that’s captivated everyone from the budding astronomer to the seasoned stargazer: choosing the right camera for astrophotography. Now, for those about to start this journey, it’s not just about snapping night skies. It’s also about capturing the elusive beauty of celestial … Read more

How do camera settings for astrophotography differ from daytime settings? The answer is not a simple comparison. For daytime photography or even astrophotography using camera lenses instead of telescopes, the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings each affect the others. The f-stop setting controls the aperture or amount of iris opening. A lower f-stop translates … Read more

I consider the capture of the night sky one of the most captivating aspects of photography. We’re not just framing landscapes on Earth; we’re peering into an infinite cosmic gallery. Understanding the tools at our astrophotographer’s disposal, such as color palettes, is key to translating this celestial art. The Red Green Blue (RGB) color palette … Read more

I find photographing meteor showers to be one of the most satisfying challenges in astrophotography. Meteor showers, like the famed August meteor shower called the Perseid meteor shower, offer a fascinating subject for photographers and astronomy enthusiasts alike. These celestial events occur when Earth passes through the debris left by the comet Swift-Tuttle, causing streaks … Read more