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Ursa Major - my first astrophotography attempt with my new star tracker

submitted by veo to Space 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 01:18:14 ago (+32/-1)     (files.catbox.moe)

https://files.catbox.moe/0xqj2w.png

Ursa Major, taken this evening! Well, it's not a good picture, but it's my first with my star tracker. Technically not my first either, because the first one was a 5 minute exposure of the back of the lens cap.
Was getting too cold and too late to continue to fiddle, but i think i have polar alignment down ok, and the app figured out.
Now, if i knew how to use a camera at all, this image would be in focus, and if i knew how to use software editing at all, I probably to figure out how to correct the colors being washed out a bit. but those are further steps down the line.

star adventurer pro 2i with nikon D3100, f/2.8, 5 minute exposure with 35mm lens.


15 comments block


[ - ] deleted 6 points 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 01:33:38 ago (+6/-0)

deleted

[ - ] heygeorge 5 points 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 02:06:45 ago (+5/-0)

Awesome!

[ - ] Sh1tt1ngMys3lf 2 points 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 12:18:55 ago (+2/-0)

Awesome. Now let me help you up your game on astrophotography... put together a guiding scope and use it to correct the guiding errors. Your stars will look more like points of light. And my favorite is this little program below. I used the first iteration using 120mm refractor as the main scope and a 66mm doublet as the guiding scope to get a shot of comet Holmes back in 2005-2006 (I think?) https://files.catbox.moe/ew1kgt.jpg

Good luck on your journey, astrophotography is demanding in time (and frustration) but its a great hobby!

https://openphdguiding.org/

[ - ] veo [op] 0 points 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 16:54:41 ago (+0/-0)

Excellent suggestion, thanks!

[ - ] account deleted by user 2 points 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 10:59:10 ago (+2/-0)

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[ - ] veo [op] 1 point 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 11:24:25 ago (+1/-0)

Good idea! I'll have to try that!

[ - ] account deleted by user 3 points 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 11:47:52 ago (+3/-0)

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[ - ] account deleted by user 2 points 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 10:55:49 ago (+2/-0)

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[ - ] veo [op] 2 points 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 11:23:56 ago (+2/-0)

It's just the nikon kit 35mm lens. I was actually only planning on testing getting polar alignment last night, but while I was waiting for some time to pass so that I could verify alignment, I was looking at that clear sky forecast tool I posted the other day, and noticed I wasn't going to have another opportunity in the next week to try any actual long exposures. Normally I'd have my wife helping me with the camera settings and stuff (she does photography as a side business, so I defer to her on that stuff). We're renting a 600mm telephoto lens for an upcoming trip to God's country in Colorado soon. Should have some neat pics with that thing!

[ - ] account deleted by user 1 point 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 11:46:49 ago (+1/-0)

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[ - ] veo [op] 0 points 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 16:55:35 ago (+0/-0)

Sure, I'll post more as I have time to take them :D

The lens rental was 120$ for 9 days.

[ - ] bob3 1 point 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 04:38:08 ago (+1/-0)

are you happy with it? how big is your mirror?

[ - ] veo [op] 1 point 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 11:28:46 ago (+1/-0)

The tracker just lets me mount my dslr and it moves the camera with the rotation of the earth so that I can take long exposures without the stars moving in frame. Pretty happy with it given my inexperience. It wasn't terribly difficult to figure out once I figured out how to adjust focus on the polar alignment scope. Was difficult finding a suitable tripod though. Ended up using a surveyors tripod with an adapting plate to mount the tracker on. After I came up with that setup, leveling and alignment was pretty simple. Plus it's really quite sturdy as it pokes into the ground a bit.

[ - ] SparklingWiggle 0 points 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 10:01:50 ago (+0/-0)

I see a swaztika. Anyone else?

[ - ] account deleted by user 0 points 3 yearsApr 16, 2021 10:56:40 ago (+0/-0)

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