Guidance for an Amazing Hobby
With solar eclipses, most people (rightfully so) are focused on the mechanics of this event. As interesting as those events are, most people don’t think about the fact that solar eclipses are usually followed or preceded by a corresponding lunar eclipse separated by 2 weeks. The reason for this is that when the moon passes … Read more
I have always been fascinated by the dance of celestial bodies, and nothing quite captures the imagination like a solar eclipse. For those who haven’t seen one, I highly recommend seeing one in your lifetime. If this is your first time, don’t bother with photography. Just enjoy the show. But for those who are set … Read more
If you’ve ever gazed up at the night sky and yearned for a closer look at its wonders, you’re in for a treat. Astronomy, a time-honored hobby that has captivated humans for millennia, is now embracing modern technology in a way that’s revolutionizing the field. I’m talking about the advent of smart telescopes. This isn’t … Read more
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and been captivated by the moon’s serene beauty? You’re not alone. The moon has been a source of wonder for eons, and capturing its essence with a camera is a fascinating challenge for many photographers. The nice thing is that the moon is up nearly every … Read more
Notable Dark Sky Sites If you’re eager to witness the splendor of the night sky in its purest form, you’ll want to pinpoint locations known for their pristine stargazing conditions. Dark Sky Reserves are such coveted destinations because they offer unparalleled views of the cosmos, thanks to the concerted efforts to minimize artificial light pollution. … Read more
If this is your first total solar eclipse, make sure you soak in the whole thing. Many people who are witnessing their first eclipse focus too much on trying to capture the event with a camera. Getting really good photos of eclipses is really a highly specialized field of photography. Because of the changing lighting … Read more
While most of us assume astrophotography is a nighttime hobby, there is one object that is reliably visible during the daytime every day of the year as long as the sky is not entirely cloud-covered. You may have guessed this object is the sun. This is especially true in the summer when the sky cloud … Read more
The term magnification or “power” is often used to describe department store telescopes in order to oversimplify the “quality” of the scope. It makes it sound like a telescope with a magnification of 100x is more powerful, and therefore of higher quality, than one with 50x magnification. This is really far from the truth and … Read more
There are other objects to photograph other than galaxies and nebulae, also known as deep sky objects (DSO’s). Solar system objects including the planets, sun and moon are also favorite targets for astrophotographers, especially when you can tease out detail, such as the bands of Jupiter or rings of Saturn. Planetary imaging is not quite … Read more
What is Plate Solving? Plate solving is comparing an astronomical mage with a known database to determine the exact coordinates to which the telescope is pointing. Plate solving is done either with a local database on the users computer or by sending the image to an internet database. As accurate as the pointing is for … Read more