Astrophotography is Easy!: Basics for Beginners

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Cameras
	Cleaning Your Camera
	Meet SAAS
	Smartphones and Tablets
		Camera Tip: Protect Your Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Panel
	Pocket Cameras
	Film Cameras
	Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras (DSLRs)
	DSLRs Modified for Astrophotography
	Mirrorless Cameras
	Video Astrophotography
	“Pure” Astrocameras
	Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) Cameras and Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Cameras
	First Look: The ZWO ASI 120
	Matching Your Camera to Your Optics
Chapter 3: Lenses
	Basic Lens Terminology
	Basic Lens Types
	“All Sky” Lenses
	Smartphone and Tablet Lenses
	DSLRs
	Lens Lineup
		14 mm f/2.8 Ultra-Wide Angle Lens
		35-mm f/1.4 Standard Lens
		50-mm f/1.4 Standard Lens
		28 to 300-mm f/3.5-f/5.6 Zoom Telephoto
		300-mm f/4 Prime Telephoto
		200- to 500-mm f/3.5-f/5.6 Zoom Telephoto
	Lens Focusing Basics
		Lens Focal Length vs Exposure Time on Fixed Tripod
	Bottom Line on Lenses for Camera Only and Camera and Telescope
Chapter 4: Telescopes
	Choosing a Telescope
	Buying Your First Telescope
	Decision Factors to Consider
	Rental Telescopes
	Basic Telescope Terminology
		Aperture
		Focal Length
		Focal Ratio
		Magnification (Power)
		Optical Performance of Telescope and Eyepieces
		Atmospheric Conditions
		Resolution
		Collimation
	Telescope Types
	Cleaning Your Telescope and Its Optics
	Tube Currents
	Finder Telescope
	Focusing
	Smart Telescopes
	Bottom Line on Telescopes
Chapter 5: Imaging Methods with Your Telescope
	Afocal Method
	Prime Focus
	Barlow/Extender
	Eyepiece Projection
	Bottom Line
Chapter 6: Mountings
	Camera Only Mountings
		Tripods
		Changing Lenses While Using a Tripod
		Tripod Heads
		Smartphone/Tablet Tripod Adapter
		Locking Ball Heads
		Three-Way Geared Tripod Head
		Three-Way Pan Head
		Gimbal Head
	Tracking Mounts
	Bottom Line for Camera Only Mounts
	Camera and Telescope Mounts
		Manual or Motorized?
		GOTO Computer Mounts
		Telescope Driving Tip
		Alt-Az Mounts
		Fork Mounts
		Equatorial Mounts
		Balancing the Mount
	Mount Polar Alignment
		Daytime Polar Alignment
	Guiding the Telescope
	Piggyback
	Bottom Line on Camera and Telescope
Chapter 7: Software and Other Vital Accessories
	Software for Camera Only and Camera and Telescope
		Mount Control with Sky Safari Pro
		Wi-Fi Mount Control
	Polar Alignment and Daytime Polar Alignment
	ZWO ASiair
	Clear Sky Chart
	Other Accessories
		Eyeglasses
		Camera Backpack
		Quality Red/White LED Headband
		Batteries and Power Supply
		Optics Cleaning Kit
		Camera Memory Cards
		Camera LCD Protection
		Cable/Shutter Release
		Observer’s Chair
		Folding Table
		Hard Copy Sky References, Star Charts, User Manuals
		Clothing, Bug Spray, Sunscreen
		Light Shield for Face
	Camera and Telescope
		Eyepieces
		Reducer
		Extender/Barlow
		Diagonals
	Camera to Telescope Attachment Accessories
		Storage/Transport Cases
		Dew Shield and Reflective Protective Cover
	Bottom Line
Chapter 8: Astrophotography Rules to Live By
	Rule #1: Read All User’s Manuals
	Rule #2: Per Rule #1: Know Your Camera, Lenses, Telescope, Mount and All of Your Equipment
	Rule #3: Keep a Hand on Your Camera at All Times
	Rule #4: Have a Red Headlamp for Nighttime
	Rule #5: Take What the Sky Gives You
	Rule #6: Focus, Focus, Focus
	Rule #7: Use the Highest ISO Feasible
	Rule #8: More Is Better – Shoot, Shoot, Shoot Pictures
	Rule #9: Keep the Color Real
	Rule #10: Learn from Each Astropic
Chapter 9: Getting Acquainted with the Sky
	Twilight
		Civil Twilight
		Nautical Twilight
		Astronomical Twilight
	Star Color and Brightness
	Celestial Coordinates
	Celestial Sphere
	Finding Your Way in the Sky
	The Big Scheme of Things in the Sky
	Bottom Line
Chapter 10: Location Matters
	Home Observatory
	Going Mobile
		Star Parties
		Designated Dark Sky Sites
		National and State Parks
		Beaches
	Location Tips
		Operating Mode
		Private Property and Fee Access
		Latitude/Longitude/Time Zone and Amenities
		Light Pollution
		Physical Layout of Site
	Keep Notes
	Special “Going Mobile” Sites
	Site Selection Survey Checklist
	Bottom Line
Chapter 11: It’s Astrophotography Time!
	Astronomical Object(s) of Interest
	The Sun
	The Moon
	Eclipses
	Planets
	All-Sky
		Constellations
		Stars
		Meteor Showers
		Aurorae
		Sky Glows
		Satellites
		DSOs
		The Milky Way
	Pre-Astrophotography Session Planning Checklist
		Listing Astronomical Objects of Interest
		Date
		Weather Forecast
		Session Mode
		Astrophotography Technique
		Equipment
	Astrophotography Session Checklist
		On Site Setup
		Equipment Check
		Taking Astrophotographs
	Bottom Line
Chapter 12: The Sun
	Sun Safety
		Eyes Only
		Camera Only
		Camera and Telescope
		Binoculars or Other Optical Aids
		Camera Only Mode
	Photographing Solar Features
	Photographing Solar Transits
	Photographing Sunrise and Sunset
	Earth’s Shadow
	Photographing the Sun: Camera and Telescope Mode
	Specific Wavelength Viewing of the Sun
	Bottom Line
Chapter 13: The Moon
	Earthshine
	Bright Planets and Moon Astropics
		Star Clusters, Milky Way and Moon Astropics
		Moon Photography Tip
	Lunar Occultations
	Photographing the Moon
		Moon Pic Tip
		Moon Phases
		Waxing/Waning Crescent Phase
		Waxing Crescent to First Quarter Phase
		Full Moon
		Waning Gibbous Moon
		Last Quarter Moon
		Waning Crescent Moon
	The Moon and Planets
	Lunar Occultation of a Planet or Star
	Camera and Telescope
		Earthshine
	Bright Planet or Star Conjunctions
	Lunar Occultations
	Moon Phases and Surface Detail
		Tip for Close-up Lunar Imaging
	Bottom Line
Chapter 14: Eclipses
	Eclipse Basics
		Camera Only or Camera and Telescope?
		Astrotourism
	Solar Eclipses
		Solar Eclipse Tip – Pinhole Projection
		Solar Eclipse Safety
		Solar Eclipse Phases (*See Baily’s Beads and Diamond Ring Sections)
		Solar Eclipse Maps
		Totality (and All Solar Eclipses) Tip For Both Modes
		Total Solar Eclipse Photography Sequence – Camera Only and Camera and Telescope
		Diamond Ring
		First Diamond Ring Solar Eclipse Safety
		Baily’s Beads
		Baily’s Beads Solar Eclipse Safety
		C2 Totality
		C3 Second Baily’s Beads and Diamond Ring*
	Solar Eclipse Safety
		C4
		Annular Solar Eclipses
		Annular Solar Eclipse Safety
		Baily’s Beads Annular Solar Eclipse Safety
		Hybrid Eclipses
		Hybrid Solar Eclipse Safety
		Partial Solar Eclipses
		Partial Solar Eclipse Safety
		Camera Types for Solar Eclipses
		Camera Only
		Camera and Telescope
	Lunar Eclipses
		Total Lunar Eclipse
		Partial Lunar Eclipses
		Penumbral Lunar Eclipses
		Lunar Eclipse Maps
		Lunar Eclipse Photography
		Total Lunar Eclipse
		Partial Lunar Eclipses
		Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
		Camera Only
		Camera and Telescope
	Have an Eclipse Plan
		Eclipse Type
		Date
		Timing of Eclipse Events
		Altitude/Azimuth of the Sun or Moon During Eclipse Event
		Planned Astropic Setup and Settings
		Other Pre-Eclipse Considerations
		Eclipse Day
	Bottom Line on Eclipses
Chapter 15: The Stars and Planets
	Camera Only
	Stars with Camera Only
	Camera and Telescope
	Photography of Planets
	Camera Only Mode
	Camera and Telescope
		Advanced Techniques for Planetary Photography
	Mercury
	Venus
	Mars
	Jupiter
	Saturn
	Uranus
	Neptune
	Pluto
	Bottom Line
Chapter 16: International Space Station and Satellites
	Camera Only
	Camera and Telescope
	Bottom Line
Chapter 17: Asteroids, Comets, Meteors, Fireballs, Bolides, and Meteor Showers
	Meteors
	Asteroids
		Camera Only
		Camera and Telescope
		Spooky: The 2015 Halloween Asteroid
	Comets
		Camera Only
		Camera and Telescope
	Photographing Meteors, Fireballs, Bolides, and Meteor Showers
	Bottom Line
		Comet NEOWISE 2020
Chapter 18: Aurorae and Glows in the Sky
	Aurorae
	STEVE
	Airglow
	NLCs
	The Zodiacal Light
	Zodiacal Band and Gegenschein
	Bottom Line
Chapter 19: The Milky Way
	Bottom Line
Chapter 20: Deep Sky Objects
	Camera Only
	Bottom Line
	Camera and Telescope
		Manual Guiding
		Auto Guiding
		DSOs Imaged With Camera Attached Piggyback To Mount or Telescope Tube
	Remote Imaging
	Bottom Line
Chapter 21: Process, Print, and Post Your Astropics
	Keeping Track and Backup
	Processing Astropics
	First Look
		What to Look For
		Brightness
		Quality of Image Composition
		Focus
		Image “Jitters”
		White Balance
	Processing
	Case Study: Image Processing End States
	Printing Astropics
	Post Online with Social Media or Traditional Media
	Astrophotography Ethics
	Bottom Line
		2020 Mosaic Capable Software Update
			2020 Mac OS Stacking Software Update
Chapter 22: The Astrophotography Bug
	Astrotourism
	The Masters
	Mia Stålnacke
	Damian Peach
	Sean Walker, Associate Editor, Sky & Telescope
	Johnny Horne, Contributing Editor, Sky & Telescope
	Final Thoughts
Chapter 23: Suggested Reading and Internet Links
	Chapter 1: Introduction
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			Astrophotography
			History of Astrophotography
			Digital vs. Analogue
	Chapter 2: Cameras
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
			Smartphones and Tablets
			Film Cameras
			Memory Cards
			DSLRs
			Mirrorless Cameras
			Canon EOS Ra Astrophotography Dedicated Mirrorless Camera
			Astrophotography Basics
			Video Astronomy
			Mirrorless vs. DSLR
			CCD/CMOS Manufacturers
			CCD vs. CMOS
			Color vs. Monochrome
			Matching Camera to Optics
			FOV
			Pixels
			Modified DSLRs for Astrophotography
			CCD vs. DSLR
	Chapter 3: Lenses
		Internet Links
			Lens Basics and Astrophotography
			Cleaning Lenses
			Focal Length
			Field of View (FOV)
			f Number
			Lens Aperture and f/Stops
			Telephoto Lenses
			Infinity Focus
			Setting Exposure: Rule of 500
	Chapter 4: Telescopes
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			Choosing a Telescope
			Optical Terms & Characteristics of a ‘Scope
			Seeing and Transparency
			Clear Sky Chart
			Limiting Magnitude
			Telescope Types
			Refractors
			Other Reflector Designs
			Remote Telescopes
			Smart Telescopes
			Star Testing a Telescope
			Collimation
			Tube Currents and Mirror Cool Down
	Chapter 5: Imaging Methods with Your Telescope
		Internet Links
			Imaging Methods at the Telescope
			Eyepiece Projection Calculator
			Afocal
	Chapter 6: Mountings
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			Tripods
			Camera Star Tracking Mounts
			Types of Telescope Mounts
			Polar Alignment
			Drift Method
			Daytime Polar Alignment
			Polemaster
			Field Rotation
			Periodic Error
			Guiding
	Chapter 7: Software and Other Needed Accessories
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			Astronomy Software
			Eyepiece Selection
			Dew Shields
			ZWO ASIAIR
	Chapter 8: Astrophotography Rules to Live By
	Chapter 9: Getting Acquainted With the Sky
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			Night Sky Network
			Twilight Definitions
			Stellar Magnitude
			Star Colors
			Zodiac
			Ecliptic
			Star Charts
			Constellations
			Southern Sky
			The Milky Way
			Double Quasar 0957+561
			Celestial Sphere: Seasons
			Daytime Planet Viewing
	Chapter 10: Location Matters
		Internet Links
			Telescope Mobile Platforms
			Astro-tents
			USGS Topographic Maps
			Dark Skies Finder
			National Park Service
			National Park Service Night Sky Events
	Chapter 11: It’s Astrophotography Time!
		Internet Links
	Chapter 12: The Sun and More
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			Solar Viewing
			Certified Solar Glasses And Solar Filters
			How to Photograph The Sun
			How to Shoot Solar Eclipse Images & Videos
			Solar Features in White Light
			Solar Features in Hydrogen Alpha Light
			Daystar
			Lunt Solar Systems
			Coronado Personal Solar Telescope (P.S.T.)
			Mercury Transits
			The Sun
			Sunrise & Sunsets
	Chapter 13: The Moon
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			General Guides on the Moon
			Earthshine
			Lunar Occultations
			Conjunctions
	Chapter 14: Eclipses
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			Solar Eclipse Safety and Solar Eclipse Photography
			Pinhole Projection
			Certified Solar Glasses and Solar Filters
			How to Shoot Solar Eclipse Images & Videos
			Smartphone
			Solar Eclipses
			Diamond Ring and Baily’s Beads
			Lunar Eclipses
	Chapter 15: Stars and Planets
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			Turning Older iPhones into an Astrocamera
			Constellations
			Asterisms
			Stars
			Nightscape Astrophotography
			Star Trails
			RGB Filter Planetary Imaging
			Color Camera Planetary Imaging
			Venus
			Daytime Observing
			Pluto
	Chapter 16: International Space Station and Satellites
		Internet Links
			ISS
			Satellites
	Chapter 17: Asteroids, Comets, Meteors, Fireballs, Bolides, Meteor Showers
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
	Chapter 18: Aurorae and Glows in the Sky
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			Photographing Aurorae
			STEVE
			Airglow
			Noctilucent Clouds
			Zodiacal Light
			Zodiacal Band
			Gegenschein
	Chapter 19: The Milky Way
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			Night Skyscapes
	Chapter 20: DSOs – Deep Sky Objects
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			DSO Catalogs
			Trailed Star Images
			Guiding
			Remote Telecopes
			DSOs with A DSLR
			DSO Stacking
	Chapter 21: Process, Post and Print Your Astropics
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			Free Image Processing Software
			Mac Image Processing Software
			High Resolution Planetary Astrophotography
			Linear vs. Stretched Images
			Histogram
			Signal Noise
			White Balance
			Astrophotography Ethics
	Chapter 22: The Astrophotography Bug
		Suggested Reading
		Internet Links
			Learn more about the Masters
Appendix A
	Camera Only Recommendations
	Camera and Telescope
	Camera Only and Camera and Telescope Mode Table
	All-Sky (Comprised of the following)
	Planetary/Lunar
	DSOs/MW (Deep Sky Objects/Milky Way)
	Eclipses
Index