Becoming a 'backyard astrophotographer' is easier now than it has ever been. You can capture clear sights of the night sky these days with the following tools:
1) Cell phone camera
2) Tripod
3) Inexpensive telescope (optional)
4) Free Image processing software (optional)
For the most economical telescopes and tripods, stop by your local consignment shop for second-hand products - you should be able to pick up a used telescope for about $100 USD. For anybody who is saving up their money for a telescope, in the meantime you can capture wondrous photos of the Moon using only your cell phone and a stable tripod.
Let's get started!
Step 1: Set up your tripod in a dark area (attach telescope if possible). It's important for the tripod to be stable because the exposure times of your snapshots may be longer than a few seconds.
Step 2: Align tripod with planetary targets (you can find lists of planets in view online, or in various mobile apps)
Step 3: Adjust camera settings* Low F-Stop (Large apertures will gather more light)* Exposures between 15-30 seconds (avoid star trails as the Earth rotates)* Higher ISO number (although be careful about grainy photos)
Step 4: Line up your camera lens on the tripod (with the telescope lens)
Or use your DSLR with a simple adapter between the housing of your DSLR and the telescope. You can pick up an adapter from your local camera store for only about 20 dollars
Step 5: Capture images!
(Optional) Step 6: Process & enhance images
Once light travels through Earths atmosphere, the light becomes a little hazy. Using free software, you can add multiple images of these planets together which will help to sharpen the final image and reduce the effects of atmospheric distortion. RegiStax is one such software that takes individual frames, combines them, and performs clarity enhancements to the images. The results are incredible! See below for a few examples from amateurs using this method.
Check Out These Stunning Examples!
Jupiter (And one of Jupiter's moons above and to the left)
Beautiful Night Sky
Zoomed-In View Of Moon (taken with a DSLR and a telescope)
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