AstroSource By Caleb (aka; @ashen_ap, @calebs.astro)
Welcome to AstroSource
AstroSource is my personal blog-style website dedicated to helping amateurs with a compilation of resources that I find helpful. Along with my personal tips and tricks I've learned in my astrophotography journey.
Astrophotography
Astrophotography is the art and science of capturing images of the night sky, from starry landscapes to distant galaxies. It is a rewarding and challenging hobby that requires patience, skill, and creativity.
There are three main categories of astrophotography (listed below):
Deep Sky Astrophotography
This involves capturing the faint objects beyond our solar system, such as nebulae, star clusters, or galaxies. You will need a telescope with a low focal ratio and a large aperture, a dedicated astrophotography camera or a modified DSLR that can attach to the telescope, and a computerized equatorial mount that can track the rotation of the earth. You will also need to take multiple long exposures and stack them together using software to reduce noise and enhance detail.
Planetary Astrophotography
This involves capturing the details of the planets in our solar system, such as Jupiter, Saturn, or Mars. You will need a telescope with a high magnification and a stable mount, a planetary camera or a webcam that can attach to the telescope, and a laptop with software to control the camera and process the images. You will also need to track the movement of the planets and align them in your field of view.
Landscape Astrophotography
This involves capturing the stars as part of a scenic foreground, such as mountains, trees, or buildings. You can use a standard DSLR or mirrorless camera with a wide-angle lens, a sturdy tripod, and a remote shutter release or an intervalometer. You will also need to find a dark location with minimal light pollution and clear weather conditions.