Backyard Astrophotography Summer would not be complete without spending a night enjoying the dazzling beauty that is the constellation Sagittarius. The “teapot” asterism just clears my fence to the south of my backyard in central St. Catharines. From my latitude, August is my last chance to image the many star clusters and nebulae that populate…
Astrophotography LRGB Processing Technique A useful guide to processing the Orion Constellation using a DSLR Camera and Tripod From the very moment this video started, I knew I was in for a real treat. The motion control time-lapse of the Milky Way moving across the sky was the perfect primer for this high production, quality tutorial. …
Astrophotography Telescope Buying Guide Note: This post was created back in July 2015, I have since purchased a new astrophotography telescope, the Explore Scientific ED102 (The number 1 telescope on this list)! So you’re in the market for an astrophotography telescope, are you? There have never been so many affordable options for the amateur astrophotographer…
Astrophotography video from Canon Canon shows you how to take great astrophotography and night sky photography The is the type of video I have envisioned creating for years now. The video features award winning photographer Phil Hart, as he explains the basics of astrophotography in a simple and easy to understand way. The video is…
One of the best ways to enjoy astronomy under a dark sky is to go camping. Campgrounds are usually well away from city light pollution, meaning that you will be able to enjoy many more stars in the sky than you are used to seeing at home. In mid-summer, the sun sets very late at…
Canon Rebel Xsi – Recently Modified 450D I am proud to say that I am now the owner of a Modified 450D. My recent “self-modification“ has really helped bring out the colour of this Emission Nebula. If you are interested in modding your own Canon Xs or XSi, you can find the tutorial…
The Wizard Nebula through my 80mm Telescope Clear August Nights More consecutive clear summer nights have allowed me to put in some serious time on the Wizard Nebula! In fact, this is the most amount of exposure time I have put into any object! Over 7 Hours! Truth be told, I would have hopped over…
IC 5164 – The Cocoon Nebula Imaged with an 80mm Refractor We have had a stretch of clear nights this summer, and I have been taking full advantage! This year I decided to spend some time in the sweet spot of the sky, Cygnus the Swan. This area of the night sky rises high overhead…
The unspoiled dark skies of Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania are a real treat to stargazers who attend the Black Forest Star Party. Now, this is what our night sky is supposed to look like! Whether you’re a visual observer or an amateur astrophotographer, it’s hard to find a place as special as Cherry…
I had a long, eventful night at the CCCA Observatory this past Saturday. This is a private observatory owned by my local astronomy club here in Niagara, Ontario (RASC Niagara Centre). I started packing up my astro-gear at 7:45 p.m. With the sun setting at 8:05 pm, and a 45-minute drive ahead of me, I…
In early February 2014, I captured the Witch Head Nebula using my camera and telescope. This is a good example of what you can expect to capture using a stock DSLR camera under relatively dark skies. IC 2218 is a reflection nebula in the constellation Eridanus, bordering Orion. It is illuminated by the bright star, Rigel,…
How the Rosette Nebula looks with a Stock DSLR Will an unmodified Canon DSLR pick up the red nebulosity? Happy New Year! I was finally graced with some clear skies that showcased the beautiful winter milky way on Monday. The moon was about 19% lit, and it didn’t set until about 10:30 pm, so about…