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Hello From Light Polluted Hampshire!

TimBarber

By TimBarber
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TimBarber

TimBarber

Posted
Posted

This is my first post on this site, in fact any site at all, so please go easy on me.

I'm just starting to realise that Astrophotography is really something that i want to get into. Sitting for hours trawling the internet  looking at the amazing images of Nebula, galaxies and planets has got me to a point where i really want to give it a go. 

I'm in the process of trying to decide whether i need a tripod or whether just a zoom lens and decent mount., which mount to buy, whether a GOTO setup would be good. To be honest the amount of information on the internet and the wealth of conflicting opinions is only increasing these difficult decisions.

I decided in the mean time i should use the equipment i have got.

Canon Eos 60D

Manfrotto 190 XPROB Tripod

Manfrotto Ball Head

Cable Release

18-55 iS 3.5 Kit lens  

I'm going to attempt the Milky way, star trails and the moon (Basically the only things i can do with my setup) and see how it goes.

I would really appreciate any comments or feedback, help or support if anybody can spare just a few moments.

Last night i tried the Milky way........It was so light polluted where i was i couldn't even be sure that i was photographing the correct thing. I used the above set-up at 18mm - 3.5 aperture - iso 3200 - 30 sec shutter.

bright200056.jpg

I must admit i was a little disappointed as the picture looks nothing like these mind blowing images haunting me on the internet!!

PLEASE can someone tell me if this is the Milky way and if so why it look, for want of a better word, Rubbish.

Thanks in advance 

Tim

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swag72

swag72

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Hi Tim and welcome to SGL - Imaging can be a cruel mistress that's for sure, but some of us keep going back!! You certainly did capture the Milky Way there. The way that people get more detail is by taking many images and then stacking them in free software such as DSS (Deepskystacker) this will increase the signal to noise ratio.

Don't be disheartened - I think a huge percentage of imaging is the processing part and for some that will take many hours on just one image.

Great pictures can be taken without all the bells and whistles - Take a look in the widefield imaging section as that's the sort of thing you'll be looking at with your kit. If you want a telescope and mount that becomes more specialised and much more expensive.

The book 'Making Every Photon Count' available from the FLO site is a good starter if you think you'd like to progress further.

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TimBarber

TimBarber

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Thank you so much Main Sequence for taking the time to reply to my post. You have made someone really happy knowing that i did at least capture the Milky way!!!

I will also purchase that book.

Thanks very much again!!

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Viewmaster

Viewmaster

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As a next, relatively cheap, step up you might consider making a simple barn door tracker out of wood if you are a DIYer type, 

and so take longer exposure images that are tracked.

You will then learn how to PA (Polar Align ) with it as an introduction to better (and more expensive! )

mounts later on if the AP bug bites.

Google, barn door for tons of info on the net.

Good luck.

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Vox45

Vox45

Posted
Posted

Hello Tim

I am also new in astrophotography and here are some humble advices that may help you

-> go online and start making friends on a forum. Obviously, you did that and that is an excellent move

-> attend star parties. It's a good way to learn from experts and it gives you the chance to look into other people's telescope so you get a better idea before you go out and buy anything

-> I have the chance to be able to take live online lessons through the French Astronomy Association... There may be something of the sort in your country, it's fun and you learn a lot through this medium

-> buy second hand stuff, and buy small. You want to be able to get out quickly and not spend 1 hour setting up your gear, especially in  a light polluted environment

when you reach a certain point you will be able to decide wich stuff you need and the trusted brands. You can then resell your stuff. Second hand material prices are pretty stable so you'll may not lose any money at all.

-> Once you are ready, go for a small scope and a light pollution filter, it will help a lot. Filter like 'Astronomik CLS (for city light suppression)' are not too expensive

There... my humble 2 cents

Welcome to the forum and clear skies

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ronin

ronin

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Well you have the milky way and it can be made out, so you are in the right direction.

If camera and tripod then you will have to make the most of the chances.

As ever in AP a dark sky is the most relevant, that is something you can either do nothing about or wander off to somewhere better is at all possible.

I guess a cable release allows you to take an exposure without shake on the camera AND that you get a 20-30 second exposure.

If it does not allow 20-30 seconds then get a remote timer - from Amazon about £25 often sold under the name Shoot.

I assume that you do have the camera set fully manual?

Focus it on something at infinity - bright star, or presently the moon as it is still small.

Likely the best you can try is 20 second exposure, lens set to about 35mm and f/4, ISO 800.

Have the noise reduction feature On.

Point the thing at Cassiopeia and take a shot, Cassiopeia has the milky way behind it.

Another is the Deneb end of Cygnus.

The above allow the possibility of going to 25 seconds and ISO 1600.

At 25 seconds I would expect some trailing to show.

A tracking/goto mount will open up other possibilities and you can get several exposures and stack them. That is for later.

You MAY presently be able to take 4,5,6,.. shots of say Cassiopeia and stack them in DSS so bringing out more of the milky way. You would have to make minor adjustments to pointing the camera and I am not sure how good at aligning images DSS is - someone else may know. If that was possible then you have the chance of taking even 4 or 5 images and stacking one on another.

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Jonk

Jonk

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Welcome Tim - I have also recently started AP and tried a wide lens shot of the MW. All I did is point due South and slightly West, there it was.

Although I couldn't see it with the naked eye due to Pompey's light pollution etc, I was pleased with how the image turned out (see http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/226137-milky-way-from-a-pompey-back-garden/ for my 1st attempt).

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hobsey

hobsey

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Hello and Welcome.

Good start on the Milky Way.

I'm so sorry if I have got the wrong person but are you the same Tim Barber that used to work at TPS in Guildford? As it's quite hard to tell from your avatar.

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hobsey

hobsey

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Good to hear from you too mate.

I wasn't into this when we worked together.

I was more into the visual side but very rapidly starting to get into imaging, just waiting on a new tracking mount.

Be warned, imaging can get very expensive but you have made a good start using the kit lens.

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glowjet

glowjet

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Hi Tim and welcome to SGL, for your widefield imaging you might like to consider the AsroTrac camera mount, some wonderful pictures have been taken with this unit. You would also see quite a difference with your MW shot if it had been taken from a light pollution free environment, but at least give yourself a pat on the back for finding it in light polluted skies :) 

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