Getting Started · Budget Astrophotography by Hall, Allan -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Table of Contents Introduction Section 1: Understanding

Problems and solutions

Field rotation Light pollution Push-to/Go-to/Manual Tracking mounts Seeing conditions

Imaging methods

Direct Prime focus Afocal Eyepiece projection

Types of astrophotography

Lunar Solar Planetary Widefield Deep space

Cameras

DSLRs MLCs Bridge cameras Point & Shoot cameras Phone/Tablet cameras Film cameras

Video cameras Telescopes

Refractors Newtonians Dobsonians Schmidt-Cassegrain & Maksutov-Cassegrain

Focusing

Bahtinov mask Hartmann mask Software aided focusing Focusing with camera lenses

Mounts

Tripods and tables Altitude Azimuth Equatorial Barn door trackers

Navigating the night sky

Celestial coordinate system

Section 2: Doing

Finding targets

Stellarium C2A Tablet software

Capturing images

Camera settings Exposure settings ISO, dynamic range, bit depth and signal to noise ratio Lights/Darks/Flats/Bias Raw versus JPG Methods of firing the shutter Video capturing Cellphone/Tablet specific issues

Processing images

Stacking Conversion Image editing software Layers Stretching Simple selections as masks Noise reduction High dynamic range images Video processing

Section 3: Building

Do-It-Yourself Projects Modifications

Dovetail extension to balance a scope Balancing a Dobsonian Improve focus capabilities Stabilizing your mount Modifying a webcam for astrophotography Dark adapting your laptop screen

Creations

Building a custom flat box Simple barn door tracker Glass solar filter for camera lenses Making your own dew heaters 36 Ah field power pack The Denver chair Cheap and easy solar/dew hutch

Targets to start with Where to get more information Glossary