Astrophotography

Astrophotography is not as hard as it seems. You don't need to have a Hubble Space telescope to take good photographs of the night sky, all you really need is a camera. Some of the most spectacular photos are the ones without a telescope. They are the "star-trails" and can be made by lying the camera to face the sky, and taking a long exposure picture. The new fully automated cameras are practically useless for astrophotography, you need to have a camera where you can set the exposure time, or with an infinity exposure. Astrophotography really isn't as hard as it seems, but you need to be patient, a three-hour exposure doesn't happen in two minutes. If you happen to own a video camera, then great! You can use it for astrophotography, digital cameras are even better for it. Modern camcorders have wonderful light sensitivity.
We are looking forward to photographing the partial solar eclipse visible in the USA on Christmas morning in the year 2000. If you want to take a look at it, remember NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN!!!!!!!
Enjoy our gallery! (click on the thumbnail to see the larger image)
That star is Capella, and the sky looks so bright because of light pollution.
Those dots to the top left are the blinking lights of an airplane (look closely).
Warp-speed? Nope, just star trails. Notice the meteor at the top of the photo, and the different colors of the stars, and how long this caption is, and how long the star trails are, and how...
More star trails! Through a tree! (To shield the camera from light pollution.)
Fireflies can be a big nusiance. But not as big as the light pollution.
Organ playing "Sunrise, Sunset" (the Sun is setting here). Don't worry, aliens didn't squash the Sun - it looks squashed because of the atmosphere.
A digital camcorder is nice for astrophotography.
A digital camcorder again. (Can you see the face?!)
Astrophotography!!!
A bright Moon,
and a dark Moon, notice the stars to the left.
Too long of an expousere (that's the Moon too.)
No telescope here! That's still the moon.
AAAAAAGGGGGGRRRRAAAAUUUUUUUUIIIIIiiiii... You looked at the Sun!!!
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