FINAL PROJECT: Abstract and Reader's Reponse > Getting Started with Astrophotography in the Golden Age of Astronomy
J, looks like a good plan. Can you revise the opening to reflect an ABT statement. Ask your GroupMe buddies about this.
I had not thought of light pollution! Can some camera-telescope set ups counter this? Or do you need to look for rural settings.
Ask me about Mt. Whitney in CA. :) You will like this story.
I had not thought of light pollution! Can some camera-telescope set ups counter this? Or do you need to look for rural settings.
Ask me about Mt. Whitney in CA. :) You will like this story.
May 8, 2018 |
Marybeth Shea
Marybeth Shea
The beauty and mystery of the night sky has captivated humans since the dawn of recorded history. In the past half millennium or so, we began to unravel the once-incomprehensible cosmos with the help of a few clever individuals, making the heavens seem just a little bit closer. Moving forward another couple of centuries to the mid 1800’s, the advent of photography allowed astronomers to capture dazzling images of the moon and constellations for detailed study. Since then, the breakneck pace of technological development has paved the way for the emergence of an entirely new subfield of astronomy dedicated to photographing the night sky. Amateur astronomers can take breathtaking images of distant galaxies from their own backyards at a quality that would have been impossible for anyone but the most well-funded observatories just a few decades ago. This guide is intended to educate readers about the basics of modern astrophotography, and provide a solid foundation of knowledge for budding astrophotographers to delve into this exciting new field. While the technology and software associated with night-sky photography seems intimidating at first, I have broken this guide into several sections to make each topic easier to comprehend. You may be surprised to find that even the most basic digital can take stunning images when used correctly! Finally, I will include references to different blogs, masterclasses, and equipment reviews for those who wish to go beyond the fundamentals and learn more advanced techniques.
WC: 240
Reader’s Response:
READER’S PROFILE: I imagine a reader with an interest in astronomy, but skeptical of the price point for proper equipment or dubious that image-processing software is easy to learn.
READER’S RESPONSE: Despite these fantastic cameras and mounts being available on the market, most of them must still cost far too much to purchase for the sake of a hobby. Although I probably won’t be able to take professional-quality images, maybe I can still test out some of these techniques with my old digital camera and see how they turn out, or even try out a low-cost smartphone attachment just to see if I like it. I do wish that he provided more information about planning out a photography session, I wonder how much of a limitation light pollution will be…