Some astrophoto tips....
To see the colour of a star, a defocussed image is better - it spreads the light over more pixels.
Star trails are a lot of fun - try a one hour exposure, or longer!
Take multiple 15 -or 30 second images. Then align and stack them.
The real light adds up, the noise averages so you get an imporver s/n ratio compared to a longer single exposure.
This is good for deep sky objects on a dslr. Also - they don't move much in 15s so you can manage without a tracker..
Then take all the images and align & stack them. I use some very expensive stuff, but there's good free stuff too, eg:
registax
Also consider a sky tracker eg:
https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/ioptron-skytracker-pro-camera-mount-with-polar-scope.html
Mostly - have fun! 🙂
To see the colour of a star, a defocussed image is better - it spreads the light over more pixels.
Star trails are a lot of fun - try a one hour exposure, or longer!
Take multiple 15 -or 30 second images. Then align and stack them.
The real light adds up, the noise averages so you get an imporver s/n ratio compared to a longer single exposure.
This is good for deep sky objects on a dslr. Also - they don't move much in 15s so you can manage without a tracker..
Then take all the images and align & stack them. I use some very expensive stuff, but there's good free stuff too, eg:
registax
Also consider a sky tracker eg:
https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/ioptron-skytracker-pro-camera-mount-with-polar-scope.html
Mostly - have fun! 🙂
I ran into this problem with borrowed full frame f1.8 prime Nikon FX lenses on my small frame DX Nikon D60. f1.8 came out as f3.5... never figured it out! The speed-dial sometimes controlled aperture and sometimes it just controlled time.
I have forgotten what your camera is, a Canon EOS D9 or something, but there might be a switch on the lens itself that needs flipping to manual if it is like mine.
Your camera might slip down the rock and break, especially in the dark. A plank and a bolt, which might be an old Imperial size because I just tested some metric bolts, that fits the bottom of the camera looks a more promising "Quick Fix" for long exposure.
Edit: Just checked, camera mounts use an ancient Whitworth 1/4-20 or 3/8-16 UNC thread. Whatever it is, my tripod works! With a sort of square mounting plate that locks in...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripod_(photography)
You might use the one-button 10s timer mode too, to avoid vibrations. Thing I find tricky is getting the focus right in the dark. Especially with my 18-55mm zoom.
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Here goes... started with the lens cap on... looked dark 😉
By all means click the picture - it's large 🙂 yellow arrow points to same heavenly body as I first posted a picture of i.e. the colour shifting object.
Lots of stars out there :-D
Strange strobe/line coming from the mystery star!?
Shooting details...
I was very satisfied with the result and just did 2 or 3 shots.
Also added the original zipped as I don't know what the forum software do to pictures...
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By all means click the picture - it's large 🙂 yellow arrow points to same heavenly body as I first posted a picture of i.e. the colour shifting object.
Lots of stars out there :-D
Strange strobe/line coming from the mystery star!?
Shooting details...
I was very satisfied with the result and just did 2 or 3 shots.
Also added the original zipped as I don't know what the forum software do to pictures...
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Oh come on! It's Capella! Magnitude 0.
Use the W of Cassiopeia as a reference. Pole star there too, so we know it's North. No sign of the Milky Way. 🤣
Very fine image as it goes. I am impressed. Perhaps you can keep an eye out for the blaze star too. Skies hopeless tonight in Blighty.
FWIW, the f3.5 Canon lens is small format, so should do f3.5 at 10mm, less at 22mm.
https://kenrockwell.com/canon/1022.htm
Best, Steve.
Use the W of Cassiopeia as a reference. Pole star there too, so we know it's North. No sign of the Milky Way. 🤣
Very fine image as it goes. I am impressed. Perhaps you can keep an eye out for the blaze star too. Skies hopeless tonight in Blighty.
FWIW, the f3.5 Canon lens is small format, so should do f3.5 at 10mm, less at 22mm.
https://kenrockwell.com/canon/1022.htm
Best, Steve.
Ok, North Star 😲 Milky way would be more straight up I would believe!? But it didnt flicker like the other night... Atmospheric disturbance account?
For an other night...
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For an other night...
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Woah! I think @TNT gets a prize here... I was looking around the full downloadable image, and I see a fuzzy thing where the centre of the M31 Andromeda Galaxy ought to be.
We are seeing 2 Million light years here! 😛
Centre of frame, highest up. Bottom left is Almach, the bright one is Mirach. Makes a right angle triangle with M31.
To get the whole thing takes lots of processing of multiple frames, we understand.
We are seeing 2 Million light years here! 😛
Centre of frame, highest up. Bottom left is Almach, the bright one is Mirach. Makes a right angle triangle with M31.
To get the whole thing takes lots of processing of multiple frames, we understand.
Aha - thanks Steve! 🙂
I really tried ti follow your description but I still think I would need a little arrow to help me get where M31 / Andromeda is in the picture. And perhaps what is what? 🙂
I must try stacking next good night - the two upcoming is overcast here...
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I really tried ti follow your description but I still think I would need a little arrow to help me get where M31 / Andromeda is in the picture. And perhaps what is what? 🙂
I must try stacking next good night - the two upcoming is overcast here...
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Get yourself an app like sky safari, it'll show you what's in the sky where you aim your phone, and help you locate objects. Or, get a desktop planetarium program, https://stellarium.org/ is a great free program...
Mobile Phones are the work of the Devil....er, IMO! And will destroy your night vision along with your brain, apparently due to G5 mast radiation or Higgs radiation or something. 🤣
No, a good astronomer just needs a map of Andromeda constellation, which I have provided.
My brother bought me Norton's Star Atlas for Christmas when I was 10... I merely memorised the stars. 😎
Anyway, here's my effort in MS Paint, and I have to admit I am guessing a bit with M33:
The yellow arrow marks bright Capella and the W of Cassiopeia helps you zoom in on M31 (Andromeda) and M33 (Pinwheel or Triangulum) Galaxies in Andromeda. Few rogue pixels there I think.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andromeda_Galaxy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangulum_Galaxy
But M33 is the furthest thing you can see with your bare eyes. May be a small satellite of M31 apparently.
The trick with stars is to construct straight lines between them in your mind, and then see triangles and things pointing to others.
Bit of a geometry approach using a visual and spatial imagination. So follow a line from Almach to Mirach, turn left to Mu and continue the same distance to Andromeda.
Here's a better picture of M31 and M33 either side of Mirach gleaned from Flickr. Multiple exposure or Telescope, IDK.
Best, Steve.
No, a good astronomer just needs a map of Andromeda constellation, which I have provided.
My brother bought me Norton's Star Atlas for Christmas when I was 10... I merely memorised the stars. 😎
Anyway, here's my effort in MS Paint, and I have to admit I am guessing a bit with M33:
The yellow arrow marks bright Capella and the W of Cassiopeia helps you zoom in on M31 (Andromeda) and M33 (Pinwheel or Triangulum) Galaxies in Andromeda. Few rogue pixels there I think.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andromeda_Galaxy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangulum_Galaxy
But M33 is the furthest thing you can see with your bare eyes. May be a small satellite of M31 apparently.
The trick with stars is to construct straight lines between them in your mind, and then see triangles and things pointing to others.
Bit of a geometry approach using a visual and spatial imagination. So follow a line from Almach to Mirach, turn left to Mu and continue the same distance to Andromeda.
Here's a better picture of M31 and M33 either side of Mirach gleaned from Flickr. Multiple exposure or Telescope, IDK.
Best, Steve.
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Get it now - I couldn't make up the need for an almost full 90 deg left rotation of the map to fit the sky. Thanks for your help and insights!
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My mood was not lightened following investigations of Andromeda at Wiki.... 🙁
The Bad News is we are DOOMED, my friends.
The Good News is it won't be for a while.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andromeda_Galaxy
This is all @TNT's fault. And Gravity, I suppose.
Adios, Steve. 😢
The Bad News is we are DOOMED, my friends.
The Good News is it won't be for a while.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andromeda_Galaxy
This is all @TNT's fault. And Gravity, I suppose.
Adios, Steve. 😢
Haha LOL.... So it is a 3 way crash... did only know about the Andromeda encounter... apparently there are hardly any collisions, just a big waltz...
I'm not really working up any sweat about it today at least.... 🙂
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I'm not really working up any sweat about it today at least.... 🙂
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There is so much empty space between the stars that the two galaxies will simply pass through each other and no actual collisions will take place.
After the two galaxies pass through each other, their mutual gravitational attraction will pull them back together.
After oscillating back and forth for a billion or so years they will eventually coalesce into one giant galaxy.
The present discussion provides another opportunity to post this image of how the Andromeda galaxy would appear in the sky if the light from it was not so dim.
Given a clear and dark sky, the Andromeda galaxy is visible to the naked eye as a faint, fuzzy patch which stretches as long as the full width of the Moon.
With powerful magnification, we can actually see that it stretches six times that length!
The superimposed image was actually shot in UV, so Andromeda wouldn't look exactly like this to our eyes, but the relative sizes are about right.
Read more here: https://slate.com/technology/2014/01/moon-and-andromeda-relative-size-in-the-sky.html
EDIT: There's a guide to locating and observing Andromeda here: https://www.wikihow.com/Find-the-Andromeda-Galaxy
With powerful magnification, we can actually see that it stretches six times that length!
The superimposed image was actually shot in UV, so Andromeda wouldn't look exactly like this to our eyes, but the relative sizes are about right.
Read more here: https://slate.com/technology/2014/01/moon-and-andromeda-relative-size-in-the-sky.html
EDIT: There's a guide to locating and observing Andromeda here: https://www.wikihow.com/Find-the-Andromeda-Galaxy
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So my mystery star is a star group of four and not the North star?
Wiki: "A prominent object in the northern winter sky, it is circumpolar to observers north of 44°N. Its name meaning "little goat" in Latin,..."
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The Milky Way has merged with other galaxies many times over its long history. In fact, our galaxy was built on such mergers.
With each merger, the shape, size and movement of our galaxy changed, ending up with the spiral shape we recognise today.
Researchers used an AI algorithm to unwind the spiral and came up with evidence that the Milky Way has undergone mergers at least five times over the last 10 billion years.
With each merger, the shape, size and movement of our galaxy changed, ending up with the spiral shape we recognise today.
Researchers used an AI algorithm to unwind the spiral and came up with evidence that the Milky Way has undergone mergers at least five times over the last 10 billion years.