Here are the exact camera settings I use to take pictures of stars with a DSLR camera and lens. The following steps will help ensure that your photos are clear and sharp and include plenty of stars in the night sky. Mount your DSLR to a tripod to avoid camera shake Set the aperture (f-stop)…
Right now is the absolute best time of the year for backyard astrophotography. The days are warm and the nights are clear, summer star gazing is here! The core of our Milky Way galaxy has returned to our night sky here in the Northern Hemisphere, and with it comes many celestial delights such as the…
When I purchased a new laptop computer back in 2016 for image processing and video editing and was quickly reminded of the importance of having a well-calibrated computer monitor. The brightness of my new laptop screen was intense. It appears to be about 25% brighter than my well-calibrated 23 Inch external IPS monitor. When…
Staying Inside – Image Processing The unseasonably cold weather and precipitation we have experienced here in Southern Ontario have given me the perfect opportunity to go through my old astrophotography images and reprocess the data. I have been advancing my image-processing skills by studying current astronomy images taken by the pros. Being a creative professional myself, I…
What is Astrobackyard.com? This astrophotography blog creates an outlet for me to share images, information and tips about my favourite hobby. I received lots of help when I began this hobby in 2011, and it’s my turn to pay-it-forward to the next wave of astrophotographers. I have watched the hobby grow in the short years that I…
Located below Orion’s Belt, the Orion Nebula is now gracing our skies each night The skies were clear in Niagara last weekend, so I set up my telescope for a night of astrophotography imaging. There are so many great imaging options at this time of year. The Pleiades, the Pacman Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, the…
M27 – The Dumbbell Nebula The Dumbbell Nebula is well photographed by professional and amateur night sky photographers alike. It was one of the first deep-sky objects I imaged way back in 2011. A member of the astronomy forum I was a part of suggested that I give it a try, as it is a…
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,…
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…
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…