Star trails forming concentric circles around Polaris.

[Moonshed]

Hi,

I intend to put my Canon, with a wide angle lens fitted to a 58mm lens, onto a tripod, centre it on Polaris and do a long enough exposure to capture concentric star trail arcs.

My only question is what to set the ISO at? I’m thinking maybe 200 to start with but not sure. This will be done on a moonless night and my sky is Bortle 4 to 5.

I’m doing this as a way of easing myself back into astronomy and astrophotography since I have lost my usual enthusiasm. I know this is as basic as it gets but at least it’s a start and when done well makes for an interesting and informative image.

Thanks

Keith

[happy-kat]

you could take lots of images say 20 seconds each and stack then using startax or similar as another way then you wouldn't potentially blow highlights out

[happy-kat]

and I've just looked sequator is also doing trails now and that's great as can I think mark that static foreground in the picture

[AstroMuni]

1 hour ago, Moonshed said:

centre it on Polaris and do a long enough exposure to capture concentric star trail arcs.

This should help https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astrophotography/astrophoto-tips/how-to-create-a-24-hour-star-trails-image

and

https://www.naturettl.com/how-to-shoot-and-process-star-trails/

Good luck and look forward to seeing your images

Edited September 28, 2023 by AstroMuni

[Swillis]

2 hours ago, Moonshed said:

what to set the ISO at?

Depends what Canon you have. This link should help. 

https://astrophotography.app/EOS.php

Simon 

[Moonshed]

Thanks to all the above. I will take a number of say 1 minute  subs. (probably around 120) at ISO 500 and stack them and this method will avoid any overexposure.

Thanks

Keith

Edited September 28, 2023 by Moonshed