hector
11-06-2008, 10:13 PM
Hi All
I recently purchased my new camera the Nikon D300. Nikon dont usually feature here in the Astro photo section as until now they were lousy at it. The D300 changes that as its performance is as good as the Canon's.
This photo of the Milky Way was taken with the D300 and an 11mm Tamron at f4.5. Two exposures were taken and layered. The telescope used was Steve Lee's set up at Coona, so a great sky was available.
I was amazed by the pic and I hope you will be to.
As a side note, there is some real science to be learnt from this picture.
From the Coal sack to just above Jupiter in Norma you will notice a LOT of Blue stars. The Dark lanes of the Milky way are also quite blue with numerous bright nebula as well. After jupiter you notice that the Dark lanes a DARK with a complete absence of blue stars and they have a more red appearence.
if the other end of the Galaxy was visible thru Cygnus you would see this reddening continue on. From this the direction of rotation of the galaxy can be discovered. The bright Blue stars in a spiral arm form on the leading edge as new stars are born. the inside of the spiral arm is where the galactic dust is most visible and the older redder stars are found. Our galaxy rotates clockwise as indicated in the photo.
Hope I didnt bore you to much. :)
Andrew
I recently purchased my new camera the Nikon D300. Nikon dont usually feature here in the Astro photo section as until now they were lousy at it. The D300 changes that as its performance is as good as the Canon's.
This photo of the Milky Way was taken with the D300 and an 11mm Tamron at f4.5. Two exposures were taken and layered. The telescope used was Steve Lee's set up at Coona, so a great sky was available.
I was amazed by the pic and I hope you will be to.
As a side note, there is some real science to be learnt from this picture.
From the Coal sack to just above Jupiter in Norma you will notice a LOT of Blue stars. The Dark lanes of the Milky way are also quite blue with numerous bright nebula as well. After jupiter you notice that the Dark lanes a DARK with a complete absence of blue stars and they have a more red appearence.
if the other end of the Galaxy was visible thru Cygnus you would see this reddening continue on. From this the direction of rotation of the galaxy can be discovered. The bright Blue stars in a spiral arm form on the leading edge as new stars are born. the inside of the spiral arm is where the galactic dust is most visible and the older redder stars are found. Our galaxy rotates clockwise as indicated in the photo.
Hope I didnt bore you to much. :)
Andrew