Photographing the 2015 Perseid Meteor Shower
[caption id="attachment_2361" align="aligncenter" width="688"] I captured one Perseid meteor from my backyard - better luck next year![/caption] 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, and above. Using Backyard EOS, I set the camera to shoot 200 - 25-second exposures, at ISO 800. Then I went to bed! Unfortunately, my battery died afte…
Astrophotography from a Light Polluted Backyard
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 this area. Last night, I set out to gather as much light on the Lagoon Nebula and the Trifid Nebula as possible before they dipped below the trees. With the nights being so short at this time of year, it is important to have your astrophotography eq…
LRGB Processing Technique for Orion
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. Lonelyspeck.com is an informative and beautiful website created by Ian Norman - A full-time traveller and photographer. In the following video he will explain how to process a photo of the Orion Constellation using the LRGB processing technique. He stacks…
Astrophotography Telescope Buying Guide – Under $2000
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 on a tight budget. I am often asked which telescope I use, and which one I would recommend for beginners. The quick answer is a high-quality, doublet or triplet refractor. Larger models can be very expensive (and heavy…
Official Canon Astrophotography Video
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 extremely professional, and features stunning images and time-lapses throughout. Not surprising - seeing as how the video was published by Canon Australia! If you are new to astrophotography, I hope you enjoy the video and maybe even learn a thing or two:
Stargazing at Ontario Campgrounds
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 campgrounds in Ontario, and most campers are settling in for cozy sleep in their sleeping bag. But if you're anything like me, your night is just beginning. The parks listed in this article are some of the best stargazing sites near Toronto. Selkirk Provincial Park is only a 1.5-hour drive from Toronto…
California Nebula Imaged with Modified 450D
[caption id="attachment_2340" align="aligncenter" width="688"] NGC 1499 - The California Nebula by Trevor Jones[/caption] 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 from Gary Honis below. The photo above was taken on the night of October 25th under clear skies in Wellandport, Ontario. I feel like I want to shoot every deep-sky…
Wizard Nebula through 80mm Telescope
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 to a new subject, but this attractive nebula is in the sweet spot of the sky right now. View an updated image of the Wizard Nebula using my current astrophotography equipment. [caption id="attachment_7268" align="aligncenter" width="650"] The Wizard Nebula using an 80mm Refractor…
