New boy in the skies

[Mick the Lob 16]

Just got my first scope had a couple of casual looks around the sky this going to be a bit of a learning curve. Would like to get into Astro photography eventually. 

The ccd cameras are hugely expensive so would be going DSLR route. From what I can gather  I would also need a tracker other than the Audiostar system that’s currently part of my setup any suggestions as to which one would be helpful. 

Only ever used a DSLR on a normal tripod up to now with normal lenses. Here are few  that I have taken in the past. Would like get some moon shots, galaxy shots in fact anything st all really. 

[JRM 169]

Hello Mick, welcome to the lounge, nice images.

 

Rick 

Edited January 21 by JRM

[Swoop1 814]

Some cracking images there Grommet (sorry, I mean Mick!).

What you will need for astrophotgraphys is a driven equatorial mount which will track the movements of the targets accross the sky as well as keeping the orientation of your telescope consistant with the target.

I don't know wheter your mount is an EQ (equatorial) or ALT/AZ (Altitude and Azimuth). The issue with ALT/AZ is that the telescope and therefore the camera stays on the same plane in exactly the same was as panning and tilting on a camera tripod. The movement of the styars accross the sky follws an arc so the telesope needs to move from east to west and also 'twist' so that the target remeains orientated the same way for the whole capture period.

A basic EQ mount would be a EQ3/2 like this which can be motorised-https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/skywatcher-eq3-2-deluxe.html

Other optios are available with bigger capacity and slicker drives such as the HEQ5- https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/skywatcher-heq5-pro-synscan.html

many options exist either side of the HEQ5 price point.

For straight DSLR astrophotography there are mounts like this that fix to your tripod- https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/skywatcher-star-adventurer-astronomy-bundle.html

Good luck and enjoy.

[banjaxed 330]

Hi Mick, welcome to SGL. Judging by those images you are off to a great start with Astro photography.

[laudropb 6,652]

Hello and a warm welcome to the SGL.

[Kimboman 2]

Wow  I am impressed

[Floater 2,900]

Welcome. Great images. Have lots of fun.

[rwilkey 1,200]

Hi Mick, a warm welcome from me way down south, some great images you have there, I love the Milky Way one with the Moon rising - brilliant.  Clear skies!

[Ships and Stars 691]

Excellent photos! I'm a visual astronomer but admire all the astropics, the processes behind it are amazing. You'll be able to get some really good advice here on SGL. 

Edited January 21 by Ships and Stars

[sloz1664 1,105]

Hi Mick, and a very warm welcome to the Lounge. Fabulous images btw

Steve

[Mick the Lob 16]

Thank you chaps and chapesses think I will buy a wedge as my mount is Alt/Az l have eq mount that is motorised but have not got round to using it all's I will need is a dovetail to mount my camera on, with the static star trail stuff will I still need to take lots of say 30 second images and use star stacker to process the images. I will be limited to f5 with 440 mm of reach iso 1600 or 800 full frame. Think this should do assuming I manage to set up the mount correctly seems like a lot of messing around as far as I can see but the only way to keep things in registration. Could still use the lx90 as is for shorter exposures. Just got to learn to walk before i run.

[Dave Lloyd 1,932]

Hi Mick welcome. Judging by those pix I'll be asking you for advice. 

[cletrac1922 432]

Mick

Welcome from Land Down Under

Agree with all previous comments, great pics

Moon rising, you have caught it at the right moment

John

[Mr Spock 6,360]

Hi Mick, welcome to SGL 

[stevetynant 466]

Fantastic Images Mick really enjoyed them 

[ronl 895]

Hi Mick, welcome to the community,  great images, see you around the forums.

Clear Skies.

[Taman 96]

Hi Mick, welcome to SGL and thanks for sharing the beautiful images!

[Pete Presland 10,221]

Hi welcome to SGL from Peter in Bedfordshire 

[Stephen Green 295]

Hi welcome to the SGL

[Lenny147 1,931]

Nice nice images there, welcome along