So, you want to do astrophotography!? Congrats! It is a very rewarding hobby, but there is a lot to think about.
Here’s 10 things to consider before heading to the nearest department store and buying a telescope. (Not recommended)
- Different Equipment is Better for Different Things
Dont expect an all in one solution. The same equipment for one thing e.g. viewing planets may be nearly useless for taking photos.
2. A Telescope is Not Required
Camera lenses can be an effective alternative to telescope. I’ve been using a Samyang 135mm Canon Lens for years and have taken some of my best images with it. Lenses can be fast, lightweight, and less expensive, plus you might already have one (see 10). *lower F ratios aka F Stop = faster/more light gathering power.
3. Darkness is Key
Do you live in the City or the Suburbs? Is you house surrounded by neighbors lights or street lights? Well, all of these things will impact the quality of astrophotos. Although, I do not think this should be a deterrent for someone starting out, just something to be aware of. I myself shoot from a Bortle 6 area most of the time, Bortle 1 is the lowest and 9 is highest. You can see where your location lands by visiting a Light Pollution Map.
4. A Wide Range of Brightness
The Moon and most Planets are very bright, while many of the photos I take are of very dim objects and are photographed very differently.
5. Everything Is Moving
Well, mostly it’s all moving since we are spinning. Motorized tracking is used to keep objects in the field of view. Without it constently moving the telescope is needed. (lower focal lengths make this less of a problem.)
6. The Weather Is Always Fighting You
Between clouds, smoke, wind, fog and more, some there are often obstacles to having a clear night to take photos. Be prepared to set up gear just to take it back down again.
7. It Can Consume A Lot Of Time
Astrophotography is not just as simple as snapping a photo and posting on Social Media. It involves taking many long exposure images and stacking them together using software, then processing the images before a final image. Setting up, tearing down, and possibly driving to a dark site also should be considered.
8. You Dont Have To Spend Money To Familiarize Yourself
This one sort of bleeds into the next two, but there are plenty of ways to get familiar with the hobby, a search for astrophotography on youtube will show plenty of creators, to observe. Some are very entertaining as well. There is also plenty of reading to do. I personally learned alot from CloudyNights.com and Ask Astrophotography on Reddit Reddit – Dive into anything
9. There Are Free Ways To Start Learning The Night Sky
There is plenty you can do to familiarize yourself with the night sky. Start by just getting outside and looking around. Any pair of binoculars can help get a better look at things. Plan out what to look for with a planetarium app or something like Stellarium Web Online Star Map (stellarium-web.org)
10. You Might Already Have Enough To Get Started
You may have a DSLR camera sitting around or if you have a modern phone. To take a photograph of the night sky, make sure your camera is very steady and try to take as long of an expsoure as possible. Holding it or even touching it may not be an option. Setting a delayed timer and stepping away is recommended or an intervelometer if using a DSLR.