Astrophotography

When you go on vacation, most people like to take photographs of where they've been. This helps people to remember details that they might have otherwise forgotten. Touring the night sky is no different. As good as logbooks and journals are, a single photograph can convey much more information at a glance.

Click on the images to get a full-sized picture.






OBJECT: Sun
CAMERA: Kodak Easyshare V803
DATE: July 20, 2016
METHOD: Afocal with handheld camera
EXPOSURE: 1/202 seconds
GUIDING: None
TELESCOPE: Zhumell Z12 12" f/5 Dob
MAGNIFICATION: 50x
FILTERS: Astrosolar filter
ENHANCEMENTS: Exposure, brightness, contrast, color balance, and HDR adjustments performed in photoshop.



OBJECT: Jupiter
CAMERA: Logitech QuickCam 4000
DATE: March 6, 2015
METHOD: Prime focus attached to 8" dob
EXPOSURE: 500 frames at 1/750th second
GUIDING: None
MAGNIFICATION: 192x
FILTERS: None
ENHANCEMENTS: None



OBJECT: Partial Solar Eclipse with Large Sunspot
CAMERA: Kodak Easyshare V803
DATE: October 23, 2014
METHOD: Afocal with handheld camera
EXPOSURE: 1/400 seconds
GUIDING: None
TELESCOPE: Discovery 8" f/6 Dob
FILTERS: Astrosolar filter
ENHANCEMENTS: Exposure, brightness, contrast, color balance, and HDR adjustments performed in photoshop.



OBJECT: M45 (Pleiades)
CAMERA: Kodak DC-4800 digital camera
DATE: August 16, 2003
METHOD: Tripod-mounted camera
EXPOSURE: 16 seconds
GUIDING: None
MAGNIFICATION: 6.0x zoom
FILTERS: None
ENHANCEMENTS: None



OBJECT: Mars
CAMERA: Kodak DC-4800 digital camera
DATE: August 15, 2003
METHOD: Afocal with tripod-mounted camera
EXPOSURE: 1/125 seconds
GUIDING: None
TELESCOPE: 8" Discovery f/6 dob
EYEPIECE: 6mm Orion Expanse
MAGNIFICATION: 203x
FILTERS: None
ENHANCEMENTS: None



OBJECT: Sun
CAMERA: Kodak DC-4800 digital camera
DATE: June 28, 2003
METHOD: Afocal with handheld camera
EXPOSURE: 1/350 seconds
GUIDING: None
TELESCOPE: 8" Discovery f/6 dob
EYEPIECE: 25mm Pl�ssl
MAGNIFICATION: 49x
FILTERS: Baader AstroSolar Film on telescope, #15 Deep Yellow filter on eyepiece
ENHANCEMENTS: None



OBJECT: Lunar Eclipse - Totality
CAMERA: Kodak DC-4800 digital camera
DATE: May 15, 2003
METHOD: Afocal with tripod-mounted camera
EXPOSURE: 1/6 second
GUIDING: None
TELESCOPE: 8" Discovery f/6 dob
EYEPIECE: 25mm Pl�ssl
MAGNIFICATION: 49x
ENHANCEMENTS: None



OBJECT: Lunar Eclipse - After totality
CAMERA: Kodak DC-4800 digital camera
DATE: May 15, 2003
METHOD: Afocal with tripod-mounted camera
EXPOSURE: 1/20 second
GUIDING: None
TELESCOPE: 8" Discovery f/6 dob
EYEPIECE: 25mm Pl�ssl
MAGNIFICATION: 49x
ENHANCEMENTS: None



OBJECT: Lunar Eclipse - After totality
CAMERA: Kodak DC-4800 digital camera
DATE: May 15, 2003
METHOD: Afocal with tripod-mounted camera
EXPOSURE: Auto
GUIDING: None
TELESCOPE: 8" Discovery f/6 dob
EYEPIECE: 25mm Pl�ssl
MAGNIFICATION: 49x
ENHANCEMENTS: None



OBJECT: Waxing gibbous Moon
CAMERA: Kodak DC-4800 digital camera
DATE: May 21, 2002
METHOD: Afocal with tripod-mounted camera
EXPOSURE: 1/90 second
GUIDING: None
TELESCOPE: 8" Discovery f/6 dob
EYEPIECE: 25mm Pl�ssl
MAGNIFICATION: 49x
ENHANCEMENTS: Gamma correction to darken twilight sky background.





OBJECT: Alcor and Mizar A/B in Ursa Major
CAMERA: Kodak DC-4800 digital camera
DATE: May 21, 2002
METHOD: Afocal with tripod-mounted camera
EXPOSURE: 1/2 second
GUIDING: None
TELESCOPE: 8" Discovery f/6 dob
EYEPIECE: 25mm Pl�ssl
MAGNIFICATION: 49x
ENHANCEMENTS: None



OBJECT: Waxing crescent Moon. Several mare and craters are visible.
CAMERA: Kodak DC-4800 digital camera
DATE: May 18, 2002
METHOD: Afocal with handheld camera
EXPOSURE: 1/90 second
GUIDING: None
TELESCOPE: 8" Discovery f/6 dob
EYEPIECE: 25mm Pl�ssl
MAGNIFICATION: 49x
ENHANCEMENTS: Gamma correction to darken twilight sky background.

OBJECT: Waxing crescent Moon.
CAMERA: Polaroid PDC-700 digital camera
DATE: April 27, 2001
METHOD: Afocal with handheld camera
GUIDING: None
TELESCOPE: 8" Discovery f/6 dob
EYEPIECE: 15mm Pl�ssl
MAGNIFICATION: 81x
ENHANCEMENTS: None

The large "sea" in the center of the photo (sticking out a little from the terminator) is Mare Nectaris.

OBJECT: The double star Alkalurops in Bo�tes
CAMERA: Polaroid PDC-700
DATE: April 27, 2001
METHOD: Afocal with handheld camera
GUIDING: None
TELESCOPE: 8" Discovery f/6 dob
EYEPIECE: 25mm Pl�ssl
MAGNIFICATION: 49x
ENHANCEMENTS: None

An unrelated field star is at the upper right of the photo.


The double star Mizar, with nearby Alcor standing off to the side. Taken afocal at 81X, using a Polaroid PDC 700 camera handheld to the eyepiece of a Discovery 8" DHQ dob.
 
 

Reflection of Moon on helmet of astronaut in Earth orbit. No, not really, but that's what it reminded me of. My camera slipped on this photo and I caught some of the glare from the eyepiece. Taken afocal at 49X, using a Polaroid PDC 700 camera handheld to the eyepiece of a Discovery 8" DHQ dob.
 
 

The Sun on February 3, 2002. The picture was taken with a Kodak DC-4800 digital camera pointed at the eyepiece of the telescope. The telescope was an 8" dobsonian with a full-aperture homemade solar filter using Baader AstroSolar film.
 
 

This photo was also taken on February 3, 2002. The camera was held at a slight angle to the eyepiece, reducing the solar glare and increasing contrast. This technique resulted in the sunspots being much easier to see photographically.
 
 

This view of Jupiter was taken afocal at 81x. Although slightly out of focus, the equatorial bands can still be easily seen. May 14, 2002, using Kodak DC4800 digital camera.
 
 

The crescent Moon and Venus make a lovely pair. May 14, 2002, using Kodak DC4800 digital camera.