AstroBackyard Inc.’s Post

This is how to make the most of Takahashi FSQ-85EDX #telescope with PrimaLuceLab focuser, rotator, flat field generator, cover motor and computer for remotely controlled and automated #astrophotography!

#hobby update 😅🤫 Last few nights awesome clear skies 🌌 but full moon; and that’s challenging. Unless you want to image the moon 🌕. I didn’t. So, yeah… nothing to do about that. Wasted hours on shots getting it right. Anyway. Managed to get some done with a “normal” photography set. Some practice and some good data. 📊 Nerd stuff: Sony A7III Unmodded
Sony FE 1.4/50 GM @ F2.0
StarAdventurer GTi. 
RGB: 14x 60" ISO 1250 with Urth Night Filter
Ha: 30 x 120" ISO 3200 with Astronomik Ha 12nm MaxFR (Clip-in filter) 
20 darks
20 bias 
RGB Stacked in Astropixel processor pro (APP) and all channels seperated. 
Ha Stacked in APP and Ha extract only
Combined RGB, Ha 2x.
RGB Combined, HaRGB. Vignetting correction, Crop, Light Pollution removal, background calibration. 
PixInsight: BlurX, STF. 
Photoshop: Astroflat pro, ApxPro color reset, green cast removal, Dynamic Stretch, Haze removal, StarXterminator. Noise removal; NoiseXterminator. Final crop. Enjoy (hi-res will follow later). #astrophotography #space #aliens

I took this photo about 40 minutes before totality through my solar filter. Lots of interesting solar features I was able to capture. The most obvious are two large sunspot groups. Because sunspots are where charged particles can blast towards Earth and disrupt communications and power grids (solar flares), sunspots are closely tracked and monitored for changes in their activity- they get four-digit designations as a result of this close monitoring. The big group in the center is Region 3628 by the Moon's disk (five spots total) and I was able to capture the dark umbra (the center of the sunspot) and the lighter penumbra that surrounds the umbra. The dark appearance is the result of the sunspot being relatively cooler than the surrounding area. The other prominent area is Region 3633 (six spots total). There are a total of 79 sunspots facing Earth the day of the #eclipse, up 8 from the day prior. The Sun does not rotate evenly- different latitudes of the Sun rotate at different speeds and this can cause the powerful magnetic fields to get tangled. Areas where they get tangled are where the sunspots form because the magnetic "tangle" blocks the normal convection in that area and it cools relative the rest of the Sun. When the field "untangles", it can snap back with enough energy to release a solar flare. A solar prominence is a high energy plasma loop that connects two sunspots. If the tangled magnetic field snaps back hard enough, that prominence is ejected away from the sun and become a solar flare. I also able to catch a bit of the granularity of the solar surface (though not as spectacularly as what a hydrogen alpha filter can catch!). Solar granules are individual convection cells on the Sun. I wasn't able to catch that back in 2017 with my smaller telephoto lens and older DSLR. Then: Nikon D7000/Sigma 18-250 Now: Nikon D810/Sigma 150-500 36 hours prior to the eclipse I was sure the weather in Dallas/Fort Worth was going to make this a bust. I had to travel to chase the 2017 eclipse to southern Illinois- this one was nice to enjoy in my own backyard with my family! #Astronomy #ScienceGeek #ScienceNerd #SolarEclipse #Photography

MOONSHOT MONDAYS: Join our journey to the Total Eclipse on April 8, 2024. I’ll be sharing some of my photography from past full moons taken from all over the Erie area leading up to the big event! As well as some interesting facts about the eclipse, where the best view is and how to safely view and photograph it. FACT 1: Cross-Continental Path: This eclipse will traverse North America, offering a viewing spectacle from Mexico through the United States and into Canada, making it a significant event for a vast number of observers across the continent. BEST LOCATIONS: Mazatlán, Mexico: Around 11:07 AM Durango, Mexico: Around 11:30 AM San Antonio, Texas: Around 1:37 PM Dallas, Texas: Around 1:40 PM Little Rock, Arkansas: Around 1:50 PM Indianapolis, Indiana: Around 3:06 PM Cleveland, Ohio: Around 3:15 PM Erie, Pennsylvania: Around 3:17 PM Buffalo, New York: Around 3:20 PM Montreal, Canada: Around 3:30 PM VIEWING TIP: Use Eclipse Glasses: For any phase of the eclipse other than totality, you must use eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard. These glasses protect your eyes from harmful solar radiation. PHOTO TIP: Use a Solar Filter: For capturing the partial phases of the eclipse, your camera lens needs a solar filter to protect both the camera sensor and your eyes if you’re using a viewfinder. What are your plans for the big event? #MoonshotMonday #EclipseCountdown #ErieEclipse #AstroPhotography #SolarEclipse2024 #NightSkyPhotography #CelestialEvent #EclipsePhotography #AstronomyLovers #CaptureTheNight

C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is a non-periodic comet gracing our evening skies at the moment. It was at its brightest during its apparition in the pre-dawn sky, but has now swung round the Sun and is visible in the West after sunset. Comets are difficult to see because they are always close to the Sun when they are their brightest. This means the window you have while the sky is dark enough to see the comet will usually be very small. If you want to try and spot it, find somewhere with an unobstructed view of the Western horizon and keep an eye out from about 8 pm - you'll want binoculars if you have them. Don't wait though, it's rapidly dimming as it moves further away from the Sun. Thanks to our dark skies here in the Blue Mountains, the comet is visible even low to the horizon, which would not be the case in more light polluted areas. A particularly interesting feature of this comet is its 'anti tail', which can be seen as a small, slightly curved spike extending from the coma (the comet's head) in the opposite direction to the main dust and ion tails. The normal tails of a comet are particles that are being blasted away from it by the Solar Wind, and so always point away from the Sun. The anti tail consists of heavier dust particles which are not accelerated by Solar radiation pressure as much, so they show the path of the comet's orbital trajectory which is, in my professional opinion, awesome. Image Credit: Thomas Kirkpatrick #astrophotography #comettsuchinshanatlas #comet #bmdsi #BlueMountains #bluemountainsaustralia #astronomy #spaceexploration #photography

Remote sensing is obtaining information about an object from a distance. Photography is a very common form of remote sensing. There are different ways to collect data, and different sensors are used depending on the application. Some methods collect ground-based data, others airborne or spaceborne.

If you are looking to buy a new astrophotography camera, you may be wondering whether it is worth it to invest in one with a full-frame camera sensor. While it may seem like an obvious choice for those who can afford it, the decision to upgrade to a larger sensor comes with a variety of new challenges. Things to consider: • Price of filters and performance • Price of a filter wheel • Telescopes with a full-frame image circle • Image tilt, flexure (focuser stability) • Vignetting • Increased File Size Upgrading to a full-frame astrophotography camera is the ultimate test of your telescope or lens’s optical performance, so be ready to deal with the results. Get all the details here ▶ https://lnkd.in/gn66Q97a

I set my DSLR camera to 18mm focal length, ISO 800 and 15 seconds exposure. This image shows Mars near the tree at the bottom of the photo. https://lnkd.in/gPUTnaym

Title: "Astronaut Within the Red Triangle" This image features an astronaut standing against a bold, red triangular backdrop. The astronaut is dressed in a dark spacesuit, which is highly detailed with straps, patches, and a chest-mounted life-support system. The helmet's visor is black and reflective, hiding the astronaut’s face, adding an element of mystery. Red and black smoke or dust swirls around the lower half of the figure, blending into the background and creating a dramatic, dynamic effect. The red triangle dominates the upper half of the composition, contrasting sharply with the lighter gray tones that fade out on the sides. The vibrant red brings intensity to the scene, while the muted smoke below adds depth and texture. The combination of bold geometric shapes with abstract splatter effects gives the artwork a modern and futuristic feel. #astronaut #redtriangle #modernart #spaceexploration

Are you in the viewing area of the eclipse tomorrow? Apparently I'm about 15-20 minutes outside of the area of totality, so I'll have to travel to the west side of town. I am sharing some tips on photographing the eclipse with your phone. The first thing to keep in mind is that, while cell phones are great at taking photos of people, places, and things, they are not so great at astrophotography. You can get some memorable photos, however. The first thing to remember is, just like your eyes, your lens should be covered with a filter. It may or may not be too late to get one ordered overnight from Amazon (they are pretty cheap), but if you have an extra pair of eclipse glasses you can use them to cover your lens. The only time your eyes and your camera lens can safely be uncovered during the eclipse is during the brief time of totality. If you have binoculars or a telescope, use them to magnify your camera lens to get better shots. Layer the filter first. They also make telephoto lenses for phone cameras. I happen to have one, but use what you have. Just don't forget that filter! Use a tripod and set your phone camera on a timer to avoid motion blur. Finally, make sure to take photos of what is happening around you, like people's reactions and the cool shadows on the ground. Most importantly, have fun and protect your eyes! I'm looking forward to seeing all of the photos tomorrow evening.