Back to the 1980s - My First Astrophotography

[AMcD]

Whilst tidying my study this morning I came across my first ever astro photos.  The first, of M31 was taken with, I think, a Tasco 3” refractor and a Pentax film camera.  The second, of M45 and NGC1499, was with the same camera and, I think, a 35mm lens. I believe they were taken on Kodak colour slide film in the early 1980s (likely developed at Boots!) and then printed some years later when it became possible to scan slides onto computer discs and do basic processing.  They were taken in Suffolk under very dark skies.  Film cameras and manual guiding - those were the days...

[Astroscot2]

Kodak Ektachrome 200 was the choice of film for astrophotographers back in the 80s or Tech Pan 2415 for those who could Hyper their film.  I have lots of slides from late 80 taken with a Zenit B and a star tracker made from the clock mechanism from a gas lamp.  We dont know how easy we have it now. 

 

Mark 

Edited December 21, 2022 by Astroscot2