There's a long-standing debate among amateur astronomers: which is better, observing the sky with your eyes or capturing it with your camera? It will always be a matter of personal taste, but the good news is that for anyone looking to try their hand at astrophotography, there's never been a better time. Whether it's taking casual snaps of the stars or delving into more advanced techniques - what the seasoned called 'imaging' - this hobby has seen an explosion of popularity. Increasingly ubiquitous astro-capable cameras and superb software have made astrophotography easier. Want to try it? Here are 10 targets to get you started.
Start simple
Nothing is easier than placing your camera or smartphone on a tripod and shooting away, as you'll find with these entry-level projects
1. The Milky Way
Capture the river of light that crosses the sky
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2023-Ausgabe von BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2023-Ausgabe von BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
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Water, Water, Everywhere?
Penny Wozniakiewicz investigates why astronomers are so concerned with finding water in the Solar System, and why it is vital to our exploration of space
O&A WITH AN ECLIPSE CHASER
On 14 October 2023, an annular eclipse passed across mainland USA. Comedian and stargazer Jon Culshaw was there to witness it
Bresser ISA Space Exploration NASA 70/700 AZ telescope
This beginners' package has everything you need to see the Sun, Moon and planets
Ursa Major 6-inch f/8 Planetary Dobsonian
A decent option for would-be planetary observers on a limited budget
Use freeware to create star trail images
How to turn your frames into beautiful star trail photos in a few clicks
Venus's hostile atmosphere
Katrin Raynor takes a look at a planet where the skies boil and the clouds rain acid
Build your EYEPIECE COLLECTION
Great eyepieces are crucial to any astronomical setup. Here Tim Jardine arms you with the info you need to choose the best ones to invest in
THE BIG THREE
The top sights to observe or image this month
The remains of CREATION UNDERSTANDING THE CMB
Left over from the Big Bang, the cosmic microwave background gives astronomers an insight into the entire history of our Universe. Ezzy Pearson explains
A December GRAND TOUR
Just like the epic journeys of the Voyager probes to our Solar System's outer planets, this tour takes you to the gas and ice giants as they line up in the night sky this month. Stuart Atkinson is your guide