Milky Way

[Tazni]

Has anyone actually successfully taken a photo of the milky way? Something like this?


http://epod.usra.edu/archive/images/...yway_gross.jpg


I can't understand how such a photo could be taken

[trampas45]

Originally Posted by Tazni

Has anyone actually successfully taken a photo of the milky way? Something like this?


http://epod.usra.edu/archive/images/...yway_gross.jpg


I can't understand how such a photo could be taken

Photoshop is a wonderful thing.
Pretty impressive, though.

[Strontium]

At first I was stunned that someone could take such a photo also, but I think the point in the reply above is that the picture is faked? Still, incredible detail

[carlos_dfc]

Originally Posted by Strontium

....but I think the point in the reply above is that the picture is faked?

I don't think the photo is 'faked' as such.
I know people who take genuine photos like that of the Milky Way.....

BUT - for a pic like that you need a very dark sky (no light-pollution) and a very long exposure.
So I think that the Milky Way pic, and the landscape in that pic were taken separately, then combined.
Either that, or ground and sky were processed separately, then re-combined.

But Milky Way pics like that CAN be taken with no more than a camera capable of long exposures, and a sidereal-tracking mount.
This was a straightforward 5 min exposure, taken from my mate's garden in Warrington. (You can see his satellite dish to the right)
It's the bright part of the Milky Way that goes through Cygnus - even caught a meteor streaking through the frame

[The Black Rabbit]

Superb photo Carlos dfc
Thanks.
Doug

[trampas45]

Originally Posted by carlos_dfc

I don't think the photo is 'faked' as such.
I know people who take genuine photos like that of the Milky Way.....

BUT - for a pic like that you need a very dark sky (no light-pollution) and a very long exposure.
So I think that the Milky Way pic, and the landscape in that pic were taken separately, then combined.
Either that, or ground and sky were processed separately, then re-combined.

But Milky Way pics like that CAN be taken with no more than a camera capable of long exposures, and a sidereal-tracking mount.
This was a straightforward 5 min exposure, taken from my mate's garden in Warrington. (You can see his satellite dish to the right)
It's the bright part of the Milky Way that goes through Cygnus - even caught a meteor streaking through the frame

The completed image is a fake.
I know that it is possible to use long exposure times to obtain images such as the one you have but I was only stating the fact that the finished article was not real. Hence the use of the word fake.

[Tazni]

Wow what a great photo


Mine can only do 60 Seconds =[

[carlos_dfc]

60 seconds would be enough...

There's a program called 'Registax' - free download, Google should find it.
Version 3 is best - V4 is newest but is very resource-hungry, and over-complicated for a new user.

You can take several 1 minute exposures of the same part of sky, then Registax will align and 'stack' those pics on top of each other, to build up the detail into one combined pic.
Registax can even stack hundreds of frames from an avi movie, to build up a more detailed jpg picture (a very popular planetary imaging technique)
Amazing what can be done with modern digital astrophotography techiques.

[Tazni]

Originally Posted by carlos_dfc

60 seconds would be enough...

There's a program called 'Registax' - free download, Google should find it.
Version 3 is best - V4 is newest but is very resource-hungry, and over-complicated for a new user.

You can take several 1 minute exposures of the same part of sky, then Registax will align and 'stack' those pics on top of each other, to build up the detail into one combined pic.
Registax can even stack hundreds of frames from an avi movie, to build up a more detailed jpg picture (a very popular planetary imaging technique)
Amazing what can be done with modern digital astrophotography techiques.

Wow thank you =]

I will be sure to try it on the next clear night!

Where abouts in the milky way in the sky? Is it anywhere near orion?

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Tazni

Wow thank you =]

I will be sure to try it on the next clear night!

Where abouts in the milky way in the sky? Is it anywhere near orion?

It stretches across the whole sky Tazni, but you'll be hard-pressed to follow the length of it!
The Swan (constellation CYGNUS) flies down the milky way each night (so to speak).
Thats a good place to try and start locating it.
Hope that helps a bit...
Doug

[carlos_dfc]

Yep - up through Cygnus in the west, 'over the top' through Cassiopeia, along the 'wonky' line of stars through Perseus, then through Auriga, and down the left side of Orion, through Monoceros, finally passing left of Sirius.
(there's a bit of a gap/dim patch in Perseus, between the 'double cluster' and Mirfak)

[Tormentil]

The Milky Way is a sight not many have seen in these days of light pollution.

In the days when street lamps were turned off after midnight, you could see it cleary in towns.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Tormentil

The Milky Way is a sight not many have seen in these days of light pollution.

In the days when street lamps were turned off after midnight, you could see it cleary in towns.

Yes, you can get a hint of it up on the moors on a dark night but it's amazing how widespread light pollution is. I was on a small Greek island once, a long way from land, with very little lighting but when there was a power-cut the stars in the sky were amazing!

[carlos_dfc]

It's amazing how bright the Milky Way is, if you can get away from light-pollution.

I go to a 'Star-Camp' event every Spring and Autumn - very close to the Eng-Scot border (Kielder).
On a clear night, the sky is amazing.

Have you noticed, when the cloud is patchy, that the clouds are white (or pale orange) seen against the black of the sky?
Up at Kielder, with no light-pollution, the clouds are black, against the LIGHTER sky behind.
In fact - at the same event, a couple of years ago - there was thin, high cloud one night, and you could see the Glow of the Milky-Way THROUGH the thin cloud

[Tazni]

Well the sky was brilliant tonight except for a cloud that was coming over =[

I'm going to California next year and all the surrounding areas like new mexico & Arizona Etc. Going to the deserts so the sky should be a gem =]

[Strontium]

Originally Posted by carlos_dfc

I don't think the photo is 'faked' as such.
I know people who take genuine photos like that of the Milky Way.....

BUT - for a pic like that you need a very dark sky (no light-pollution) and a very long exposure.
So I think that the Milky Way pic, and the landscape in that pic were taken separately, then combined.
Either that, or ground and sky were processed separately, then re-combined.

But Milky Way pics like that CAN be taken with no more than a camera capable of long exposures, and a sidereal-tracking mount.
This was a straightforward 5 min exposure, taken from my mate's garden in Warrington. (You can see his satellite dish to the right)
It's the bright part of the Milky Way that goes through Cygnus - even caught a meteor streaking through the frame

Both are simply awesome photos tbh. Are slide-rail mounts expensive? Think I might look about for something I can take some shots with..

[carlos_dfc]

Originally Posted by Strontium

Both are simply awesome photos tbh. Are slide-rail mounts expensive? Think I might look about for something I can take some shots with..

The term 'Sidereal' means that the mount tracks the sidereal movement across the sky, of stars, etc....

There is a specialist product on the market, called the 'Astrotrac' - It is excellent (I know someone who has one), but at £399 plus some essential extras - IMHO, rather expensive....
AstroTrac TT320 ultra portable DSLR camera and telescope night sky tracking mount

Or you could buy a telescope mount - they come in various sizes (and prices)
This is my EQ3 - they cost around £180 to get one without a telescope - and then another £80 for the motor/battery pack/handset kit.

You align the central axis (RA axis) so it is pointed at the North Celestial Pole - which is VERY close to thr North Star (Polaris)
For visual observing, and widefield photography - aligning actually ON to Polaris is accurate enough.
Then the motor drive very slowly turns the RA axis, to follow the apparant motion of the stars, caused by the Earth's rotation.

Most telescope mounting rings have a piggyback bush, with the same thread as a standard tripod bush.



If you just want to mount a camera, or spotting scope though - there are smaller (cheaper) mounts - this is my EQ1 - they cost around £70, then another £30 for a motor (I don't have the motor attached at the moment)



Another possibility...
Keep an eye open at the cheap foodstore 'Lidl'
Nearly every Christmas they have a special offer on a 70mm Bresser 'Skylux' telescope (They've had the same offer the last 3 years running)
Only costs £50 - and the mount that comes with it is the model in between the two above - the EQ2
An EQ2 mount alone, normally costs £90 so it's a MASSIVE bargain to get a telescope thrown in as well, for only £50 - and the telescope that comes with it isn't too bad, not exactly a large telesope - but reasonable image quality - LOADS better than the 60mm Tasco that a lot of us amateur astronomers started out with.

This is my EQ2 - got it last year in the Lidl offer
It's also possible to get a basic motor drive for this, for around £30 (or £60 for a better one)


The other possibility - and the cheapest by far - if you are handy at DIY...
Is to build yourself a 'barn-door' tracker.
Loads of sources on the internet for plans etc....
Here's just one at random that Google brought up
Astronomy Boy: Barn Door Tracker

And keep an eye out at car-boot sales
I've picked up lots af astro bits'n'bobs dirt cheap over the years

Hope some of that helps
Carlos

[NickCantle]

Carlos, that was an excellent, informative post. I've not ventured into astronomy as of yet but there's interest within me. This post makes me want to run out and buy a telescope!!! My mother wont be pleased Just a post to say, nice post

Nick

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Carlos, that was an excellent, informative post.

Yep, very interesting. Will keep an eye open fer Lidls offer.

[NickCantle]

You and me both Ben

[carlos_dfc]

Here's a link to their site (click 'specials' at the top)
Lidl Online
Last couple of years, the offer came in around 12th-15th Dec

Also worth looking out for, every few months, they sell a pair of Bresser / Meade 10x50 binoculars, for just £9-99
VERY sharp - across most of the field, nice bright clear images.
I'm not exaggerating when I say they are as good as some £50 and £60 binocs I've looked through.

I have two pairs...
Keep one with my sky charts - they easily show all the stars plotted on my most detailed charts, and are a very useful 'bridge' between charts and telescope, when I'm looking for new objects.
The other pair 'live' in the car - so I alwys have binocs with me - and if they get bumped around and broken, in the car, it's no disaster, cos I can pick up another for a tenner

This - from my astronomy forum - last time they were on offer..

Binoculars

* Robust rubber-coated metal casing
* 10x magnification
* Diopter adjustment
* 50mm objective lens diameter
* Exceptional clear view due to BaK-4 prisms and fully coated lenses
* Fold down rubber eye-caps for spectacle wearers
* Complete with neck strap, hardwearing polyester pouch, dust caps and cleaning cloth
* 5 year manufacturer's warranty
* Price per item £9.99

Only available while stocks last

May be branded either 'Meade' or 'Bresser' (both the same company anyway)


Be quick with both of these offers though - they are well known around the astronomy communities - and they usually sell out on the first day they go on sale - get there early to be sure to get one.
When I got the telescope and mount, I got there at 10 (they opened at 9) and I was lucky to get the last one

[Strontium]

Thanks for info on equipment Id like to make something up - now all I need to do is disable the street light down the road.

[carlos_dfc]

A quick heads-up....
The telescope - complete with equatorial mount for £50 that I mentioned, is back in Lidl again from Mon 17th Dec.

If you want one, be there early though - they don't usually have many, and they sell out quick.

[ecotipa]

milky way 43sec on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

This is my try of taking photo of milky way......not very good but this is the result