Very first attempt at Night Sky Photography using a compact digital

[JetDragon]

Hi all

Very new here so please be gentle:D

I had a go at taking a couple of night sky shot using a Canon compact digital camera a couple of days back - using the night setting with a 15 sec exposure - I was thrilled to get any result at all so was more than happy with this first go.

I hope to learn from you guys to improve what I can do with this basic camera while I'm saving up for a DSLR

cheers

JD

[niko]

Well done JD,you've framed Orion very nicely. It's a tough gig with the compacts.

I was disappointed to see I couldn't get mine to go to 15sec at 3200ISO - that would have opened up a few choices. It seems when I set on 15sec I can't then crank up the iso as well.

I got some pretty decent images of the moon holding the compact up to the eyepiece of a dob. Do you have access to a scope as well? There are also some eyepiece adaptors out there that let you mount the compact up to the eyepiece. Not too expensive.

I always had to remind myself to turn the flash off, turn the flash off, turn the flash off!

Good luck - the bug has bitten

niko

[JetDragon]

Thanks Niko

Yes - I do have access to a 70mm refractor - and have a few decent shots of the moon by holding to the eyepiece - I have to set on "beach" due to the brightness of the image but comes out reasonably well - I'll post a few shots as an example shortly.

Thanks for the kind words re Orion too - can't wait for some more clear nights to try a few other settings on the camera. This particular image was taken with the camera on the floor wedged against a brick to provide the correct angle up. I have since found an old tripod which fits the camera so next time will be a bit easier.

I was thrilled just to get a recognisable image with this one though.

cheers

JD

[JetDragon]

This is the kind of stuff I'm getting of the moon by holding the compact up to the telescope eyepiece as discussed.

All advice very gratefully received - thanks all

[CarlJoseph]

Welcome Dave. That's not a bad shot at all just holding the camera to the eyepiece. :thumbsup:

[ballaratdragons]

Great Start Dave :thumbsup:

Very similar to my first attempt at Afocal imaging 7 years ago with a Kodak happy Snap camera up to the eyepiece
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=2178&highlight=afocal

Keep at it and you will get even better :thumbsup:
Many of us started out this way. You are now off and running :)

P.S. keep your images to around max 800 pixels wide when you post in here. It makes them easier to see and also makes them look better :thumbsup:

[JetDragon]

Thanks for your kind words guys, and your advice Ken. Will certainly keep trying and experimenting.

cheers

Dave

[Ric]

Nice shots Dave, a great start.

Keep notes on all your images, it will really help as you progress. You'll be able to look back at old shots and plan better for the next one.

[JetDragon]

Guys - one question - the camera has a number of settings for image size between 3648 x 2736 to 640 x 480 - is it best to select the largest size to get the best quality image or does image quality not suffer with smaller sizes?

thanks

Dave

[irwjager]

Hi Dave,

There is actually a lot you can do with just a simple digicam. If you're adventurous, see if there is a version of CHDK (http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK) for your particular Canon model.

Once you acquired and installed CHDK, you can start shooting in RAW (you'll get a much better signal) and do remote triggering of your camera, so you don't have to physically touch the camera and scope.

Always shoot the highest resolution you can get and (for DSLRs and Digicams) bin down later (binning is a form of scaling where multiple pixels form a new, more precise pixel with reduced noise).

The attached image was my first DSO image ever, taken with an old 6MP Canon digicam that ran CHDK, through a really bad/cheap 25mm eyepiece on beat-up 8" GSO newt in a backyard close to the CBD.

Digicams are really good these days, even though their sensors may be fairly small. You can get a lot of mileage out of them.

Hope to see more of your endeavors here on IIS! :thumbsup:

Cheers,

[ballaratdragons]

Yes Dave, set your camera to 3648 x 2736

After you have tweaked the image in the computer to your liking keep the original large scale image for websites, printing, etc, but make a copy of about 800 pixels wide for posting in here. :thumbsup:

If you want to show your image in large scale, put it into a website and supply a link to it in your post.

That way people can choose to look at the attached 800 wide image in here and/or go see the large original version via the link. :)

[JetDragon]

Thanks guys - the skies are clearing here in NSW at last so hopefully tonight I'll have a try at taking some better images

cheers

Dave

[jjjnettie]

Ivo, you beat me to it.
I used the Russian Hack on my Canon s3is. It went from 15 second exposures up to 60 seconds, captured in RAW.
Dave. You're doing great work. A few of us here started exactly the same way.
If you don't have a tripod to mount your camera, make yourself a bean bag out of a bag of rice.
Do you use your built in timer for the shot? If not, you should. It will stop any camera shake from when you press the button.
Have you considered stacking your shots using Deep Sky Stacker?

[skysurfer]

I have an S100 for which CHDK is not available yet. This camera has a stupid limitation of max 1 second exposure time. At longer times the ISO will be limited to 80.
I use normally my 40d for astrophotos.

[JetDragon]

Hi all - had another go yesterday - reasonably pleased with the Canis Major shot considering the amount of moon interference. The sun shot is a snap of a projected image onto white paper but coloured for effect in Windows Picture Manager.

Looks like tonight might be another good night so I'll keep trying. Thanks for your kind words of encouragement. Sorry about the size of the sun image - I;ll get the hang of this!!

Dave

[JetDragon]

Here's that shot of the sun projction resized - thanks for your patience:thanx:

[DavidLJ]

Hi Dave. I was intrigued at something in your image of Orion. Something didn't seem quite right. And then it dawned upon me that the bright “star” just to the right of the three belt stars shouldn't be there! Attached is a copy of your image with the “interloper” arrowed. Also attached is a comparison star field taken from SkyTools. But you have clearly captured something there and it appears to be equally as bright as the mag 3.4 star to the right of the bottom of the arrow. So what is it? SkyTools shows no minor planet in that location on 28th Jan. - the night that I believe you took the image. And in any event it's too bright to be a minor planet. But since the “object” is very slightly elongated and since your exposure time was only 15 seconds it must have been moving quickly across the sky. My best guess is that you captured an orbiting satellite as well as Orion's star field.

David

[Poita]

Yeah, I was wondering what that was too!