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, and it can be overwhelming for a beginner. If you have ever gotten lost in the technical specifications of a certain telescope or…
This video may change the way your shoot and process astro-images forever. It covers the few simple steps needed to create an ultra high-resolution master frame with a high signal-to-noise ratio. This tutorial covers the capturing, processing and production of gorgeous wide-field astrophotography images using a camera lens or small telescope. If you are…
2015 Perseid Meteor Shower Above photo taken August 13th, 2015 – 12:22am I was not able to travel to a pretty location to shoot the Perseids last night, so I just set up shop in the backyard! I planted my Canon 7D firmly on my tripod and aimed above my house towards the constellation Perseus,…
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…
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…
Contact Us Frequently Asked Questions Included Below Contact AstroBackyard Our goal is to share helpful astrophotography information and resources. We do this through our website and YouTube channel, sharing beginner information with as many people as possible. As a team of only two people, we don’t have the resources to provide custom email responses (especially…
To view my latest image of the Pelican Nebula, have a look at the version captured using a dedicated astronomy camera (ZWO ASI294MC Pro). Narrowband filters can make capturing faint emission nebulae like the Pelican Nebula easier from the city, as it separates the light wavelengths associated with the target from a washed out sky….
I have been spending a lot of time photographing the night sky towards the core of the Milky Way. My 80mm refractor has a focal length of 480mm, which magnifies many deep-sky objects in the area of Sagittarius. The Lagoon Nebula and the Trifid Nebula lie very close together in the night sky, as far…