Chances are, you found this website because you’re keen on getting started in astrophotography. If you have ever witnessed an incredible image of space taken using an ordinary camera through a telescope and thought “I want to do that”, you’re not alone. You are now among the thousands of deep-sky astrophotography enthusiasts that have started…
The Pleiades is an open star cluster in the constellation Taurus. It lies about 400 light-years from Earth and is about 100 million years old. In the northern hemisphere, the fall and winter seasons are the best times to observe and photograph the Pleiades. Although the cluster consists of over 1000 stars, the “Seven Sisters”…
The California Nebula (NGC 1499) is an intense hydrogen emission nebula located in the constellation Perseus. It lies 1,500 light years away from Earth and gets its nickname due to its striking resemblance in shape to the US state of California. With an apparent magnitude of 6, this deep-sky object is challenging to observe visually…
The Triangulum Galaxy (M33). Trevor Jones. The Triangulum Galaxy (M33) is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Triangulum, that is believed to be a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy. Messier 33 can be seen visually with the naked eye under exceptionally good seeing conditions with no light pollution. The Triangulum Galaxy is a spectacular sight…
The Orion Nebula is one of the brightest nebulae in the night sky and is visible to the naked eye. This magnitude 4 interstellar cloud of ionized atomic hydrogen contains a young open cluster of four primary stars known as the Trapezium. The M42 nebula is part of a much larger nebula system known as…
The North America Nebula (Cataloged as NGC 7000 or Caldwell 20) is a large emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus. The shape of this nebula looks a lot like the continent it was named after and covers an area more than four times the size of the full moon. From the northern regions of Canada…
The Andromeda Galaxy is a large spiral galaxy located about 2.5 million light-years away from Earth. It is the largest galaxy in the local group, which also contains the Triangulum Galaxy. Cataloged as Messier 31 (M31), this deep sky object is observable for much of the year in the northern hemisphere, lying in the constellation…
The Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) is an iconic dark nebula in the constellation Orion. Along with the nearby Flame Nebula (NGC 2024), this region is one of my absolute favorite deep-sky targets to shoot with my astrophotography camera and telescope. Unlike many other dark nebulae in the night sky, this one is very easy to…
The Wizard Nebula is a collection of interstellar gas surrounding the open star cluster, NGC 7380. It lies approximately 7200 light-years away from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 7.2 in the constellation Cepheus. While impossible to observe this deep sky object visually from my backyard, it is well within reach of my current…
A basic deep-sky astrophotography equipment setup typically includes an equatorial tracking mount, a camera, and a telescope or lens. Additional accessories may be added to improve tracking (autoguiding) and automate the imaging session throughout the night. My personal astrophotography equipment profile has evolved substantially over the years, (and yours may too). This article is designed…
Deep Sky Astrophotography Equipment Note: This is an old article! Please view my new astrophotography equipment page. Over the years I have added several new pieces of astronomy equipment in an attempt to improve the quality of my images. Below, you will find a complete list of the gear I have used to capture the…
If you want to take incredible pictures of the night sky, but don’t know where to start, you’re in the right place. Astrophotography requires a very specific set of equipment and techniques to accomplish, and it can be overwhelming for a beginner. If you have ever got lost in the technical specifications of a certain…