Capturing the Universe: A Photographer's Guide to Deep-Sky Imaging

by Chris Woodhouse

Overview

This book provides a thorough introduction to and exploration of deep sky astrophotography for the digital photographer.

With over 280 images, graphs, and tables, this introductory book uses a progressive and practical style to teach readers how to image the night sky using existing, affordable equipment. The book opens with a brief astronomy primer, followed by chapters that build progressively to explain the challenges, offer solutions, and provide invaluable information on equipment choice through image capture, calibration, and processing in affordable software. The book’s focus ranges from how to image sweeping vistas and star trails using only a camera body, lens and tripod, to more advanced methods suitable for imaging galaxies, clusters, nebulae, and stars.

Other features of the book include:

• Real-world assignments showing how and when to use certain tools and how to overcome challenges and setbacks
• Practical construction projects
• Evaluations of the most recent developments in affordable hardware and software
• Exploration on how sensor performance and light pollution relate to image quality and exposure planning
• Ground-breaking practical chapters on lucky imaging and choosing and using the latest CMOS cameras

Written in an accessible, easy to follow format, this comprehensive guide equips readers with all the necessary skills to progress from photographer to astrophotographer.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367366537
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/10/2020
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Chris Woodhouse was born in England. As a member of the Royal Photographic Society, he gained his Associate distinction in 2002. During the last twenty-five years, his passion for all forms of photography, coupled with a career of design experience, led him to invent and patent several unique darkroom timers and meters, which are sold throughout the world. After the success of his first book Way Beyond Monochrome, he turned his attention to digital monochrome and astrophotography. Since writing two editions of The Astrophotography Manual, he gained fellowship to the Royal Astronomical Society on account of his outreach work.

Table of Contents

Contents 3

Preface 5

About The Author 7

Introduction 8

New Horizons

The Diverse Universe 11

Terms of Reference 21

Landscape Astrophotography

Getting Started 29

Star Trails 38

Improving Quality (part 1) 42

Milky Way Vista 45

Wide-Field Deep-Sky Imaging

The Limits of Amateur Astrophotography 50

Planning for Success 59

Simple Telescope Mounts 75

Imaging Hardware 80

Setting Up a Simple Mount System 92

Orion Constellation 104

Improving Focus (part 1) 108

Image Processing (part 1) 112

Pleiades Loose Cluster (M45) 124

Improving Quality (part 2) 128

Deep-Sky Imaging

Raising the Bar 138

Dual-Axis Telescope Mounts 139

Acquisition Systems 149

Setting Up an Acquisition System 157

Improving Tracking 163

Improving focus (part 2) 174

Problem Solving 179

Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC6992) 181

Image Processing (part 2) 185

Orion Nebula (M42) 191

Extended Deep-Sky imaging

Pushing the Boundaries 197

Dedicated Camera Systems 198

Heart Nebula (IC1805) 208

Image Processing (part 3) 215

Automating Operation 221

Appendices

Deep-Sky Lucky Imaging 224

Cloudy Projects 229

Bibliography and Resources 233

Glossary and Index 236

Glossary 236

Index 238