M78 – Reflection Nebula in Orion I am finally done my “winter project” of M78 in the constellation Orion. The winter weather in the Niagara Region doesn’t bode to well for astrophotographers as the clear nights are slim to none. Last night, however, I was able to squeeze in another 1.5 hours of shooting on…
The following graphic provides an extremely basic break down of the steps that take place from a stacked image to a completed image. In reality, there are about 50 steps (or more) involved when processing a deep-sky astrophotography image such as this. You can click on the image for a larger view. Basic Processing of…
Here is my image of the M78 Reflection Nebula in Orion. The image below is a stack of multiple exposures combined over three nights, spanning three months! I captured this image using my stock Canon EOS Rebel XSi digital camera and my 80mm triplet apochromatic refractor telescope. M78 – A Reflection Nebula in Orion The…
The following photo of the California Nebula was captured using my DSLR camera before it was modified for astrophotography. NGC 1499 in Perseus is perhaps the best example of the difference removing the stock IR cut filter from your DSLR camera can make. For an emission nebula like this, an image with a stock camera…
To wrap up the late summer season, I photographed the North America Nebula in Cygnus using my Explore Scientific ED80 refractor telescope. The image includes nearly 3 hours of total exposure time using a stock DSLR camera (Canon EOS Rebel XSi). The North America Nebula is a fantastic beginner astrophotography target because it is large,…
I have been working on this video for the past 6 months. Not because I have been tweaking it to perfection, but because keep getting newer, better images to add to it! It’s basically a slideshow with music, but I think it does a good job a re-creating the feeling I get when I shoot…
M45 – The Pleiades Autumn Stars – Pleiades Rising Last Saturday I spent a very cold, but very dark and clear night at the RASC Observatory in Wellandport, Ontario. There were 4 of us that stayed the night, and I think every one of us complained about being underdressed! I began my night by shooting…
Back in 2012 when I wrote this post, I had no idea of the dedication needed for astrophotography. Spending a month taking pictures of and processing a single target is nothing. In fact, to spend less time than that on a particular subject now, would seem odd. I guess you could say that this experience…
The Iris Nebula is a beautiful, blue reflection nebula in the constellation Cepheus. Cataloged as NGC 7023, this deep-sky object is a superb choice for your camera and telescope. If you haven’t photographed a reflection nebula before, you are in for a real treat. The dust and reflected light associated with the Iris Nebula are…
This post showcases one of my first images of the Andromeda Galaxy. The photo was captured using a small refractor telescope on a tracking equatorial mount. I have since photographed Messier 31 several times through a variety of different telescopes. Have a look at my experiences photographing Andromeda using a William Optics Z61 refractor on…
The following image is of the Lagoon Nebula in the constellation Sagittarius. Ever since I got into Astrophotography, I’ve wanted to image this nebula because it is so big and colorful. Emission nebulae are some of the most beautiful and colorful objects in the night sky. I photographed this deep-sky target using my 80mm refractor…
On June 5th, 2012, I witnessed the Planet Venus transit the Sun from my backyard. I used an Orion 4.5″ Skyquest Dobsonian telescope with a homemade solar filter to observe the event. My parents joined me to watch with their solar glasses on. I remember the feeling of watching the Sun up close through the…