Last nights session

Hi everyone, back again! As dave Grennan said im getting the astrophotography bug! I have taken the better quality photos out and reduced them in size and memory! Most of them were 30 second exposure as that is the longest my digi cam can manage!
First i snapped the easiest to find...Orion
www.irishastronomy.org/user_resources/fi...n%20Above%20tree.jpg

Then came the Plough...
www.irishastronomy.org/user_resources/fi...h%20Above%20Tree.jpg
Then Plaedies... far out and up close..
www.irishastronomy.org/user_resources/fi...3706687-Plaeides.jpg

www.irishastronomy.org/user_resources/fi...ies%20Up%20Close.jpg

Then last but not least, this was actually a total fluke! i literally set the camera and pointed skywards and shot and came back later and noticed i had captured what i think is called Triangulum?!?

www.irishastronomy.org/user_resources/fi...06782-Triangulum.jpg

Matthew C

Nice shots Matthew! My favourite one is the Plough. Even though there is light pollution in the sky below it, the apparent light pollution in the foreground trees and buildings does lend to a sense of 3D about that picture!

Seanie.

Thanks Seanie! I have one more pic! There is a bit less pollution in this one!
www.irishastronomy.org/user_resources/fi...11693-Plough%202.jpg
Matthew C

Nice images...you are really getting into this I like the Plough one best also. great capture.

That looks like Auriga with Capella in that last image to me!

Keep them coming. Im glad you dont let light pollution put you off

Hi Matthew, now those are a definite improvement on your first shots so your definitely going in the right direction. The last image is almost certainly the Hyades star cluster in Taurus, notive the nice V shape.

Now that we've all told you how great your shots are, hope you dont mind some constructive criticism and tips.

I notice in the last shot (the hyades one) the stars are a bit wiggly at the start of the their trails. This could well be down to the camera shaking when you press the shutter. I suggest use the self timer mode which is on most digicams. This way you wont have to touch the camera and thus avoiding those wiggly lines. The next step would be to eliminate the trailing (lines) altogether. To do this ypu will need some means to make your camera track the stars. For the kind of exposures you do a 'barn door' mount is simple to build and operate and should work well for you. Run a google search for 'barn door mount' to see how it works. Its basically just two bits of wood on a hinge with a bolt driving them apart slowly.

Thanks! I should have thought of the timer! Perfect. Ill look up the "barn door mount"!
Cheers
Matthew C