If you would like to support this channel and follow along in Siril with the image file we create, please consider becoming a Patron over on my Patreon page here: www.patreon.com/SarahMathsAstro Thank you!! :)
very impressive! both your ability to manage the technology and and the final results...quick question: I have been interested in and studying related information and discoveries and wondered if you can extrapolate any conclusion or theories you might have, based on the data you have gathered through your setup? I have been following the LIGO teams and their discoveries and wondered if it requires $1B and 3000 people or can you be Hubble II? Congrats on the work!
@@SarahMathsAstro You're welcome ;) I am starting my adventure with astrophotography and I watched multiple tutorials astrobackyard and nebulaphoto. Your tutorial is probably the easiest to understand
Congrats on the new journey! That's exciting! I learned a ton from them, so if my content is easier, it's most likely from standing on the shoulder of giants :D
Wow! I’m going to have to watch this a few times, and take notes, particularly around the calibration frames, but how you covered all of this in 50 minutes is beyond me. This is the most comprehensive, efficient, and enjoyable Astro tutorial I’ve seen on TH-cam and I thank you for your time and effort. Kudos!
The amount of information packed in 50m is amazing. Truly, thank you for providing such a detailed guide for all the noobs like us that want to start taking pics of the sky.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by. I'm really happy that this video was encouraging. I can't recommend astrophotography enough. It really is awesome at any experience level. Cheers!
At first I was like, "how does it take 50 minutes to cover DSO on a star tracker", then proceeded to watch probably the most complete tutorial I've ever seen. Giving Peter Zelinka a real run for his money! Especially loved the coverage of Siril, often looked at it but didn't have the frame of reference for how to work it into my workflow (mainly landscape astro). Super good job, love the shirt!
Thank you! It is quite a hefty video but I'm glad it was a complete one. I hope to do my more videos on Siril in the future too. Thanks for stopping by and cheers!
Absolutely agree. I skip so many videos because they toss in words like... well, this part is easy... simple... or, just skip right over essential details in the process. Sarah, you're the best. Give you a British accent and you could rival Astro Bloke's channel. Haha!
Sarah, wow what a tutorial!. Everything for the beginner like me, in one place. With respect to the polar alignment, for myself I have been struggling to understand how to use the reticle to set up, you described it in a way that it just clicked with me. Thank you for sharing such informative videos. I live in North Lincolnshire in the UK and since starting out in March this year we have had very few clear skies, so by watching tutorials like yours I am gaining knowledge for when I can actually get out out. Thanks for sharing, very much appreciated.
Hi Stephen, I am so happy to hear that this tutorial has been helpful! Especially with regard to polar alignment. I know that I also had some trouble understanding how that all worked, and sometimes the information on it can get a little complicating. So glad it clicked for you. I also hope you have very clear skies soon! Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words. Clear skies -Sarah
I sold camera gear for over 27 years and had to give quick explanations of how things worked in photography. A lot of people had trouble wrapping their head around aperture numbering and why f4 let in more light than f 16 so I simply said to treat it as a fraction so f4 becomes 1/4 and f16 becomes 1/16.
That's a brilliant way of putting it and extremely straight-forward. Thanks for that! I wish I would have described it the way you did here. Very helpful!
@@fleischpflanzerlmitsenf Yes, I should have mentioned that too. It's been over 20 years since I worked in a camera store and forgot to add that bit. Thanks for catching that.
Thank you Sarah for uploading this tutorial. I'm in my late 60's and have been shooting and enjoying photography for over 50 years. I understand quite a bit about light, lens designs, digital image processing etc. etc. but know very little about astro photography techniques with trackers/equatorial mounts and the like. So finding a video/channel with simple step by step instructions/ teaching is a God send, many channels go so quickly and assume the listener knows all the basics. Thanks so much again and good luck with your channel.
It sounds like you have quite the background! That's wonderful that you decided to venture into astrophotography and learn a bit more about it. I'm so glad this video could be of help in your journey. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch the video and thank you for taking the time to provide such thoughtful feedback! Means a lot! Cheers!
An excellent video. As a more elderly astrophotographer I found bending down to do polar alignment difficult so I bought a Skywatcher 90° Polar Scope Eyepiece. They're not cheap but my back said a big thank you, and polar alignment is so much easier now. Clear skies.
Holy shit finally someone who explains things clearly, concisely and demonstrates every step. I damn near lost my mind trying to figure out every little thing as so many other TH-camrs start blabbering on about all this unnecessary tech/detail stuff like I'm watching Star Trek FFS. This has helped me in many ways right near the peak of my frustration. Thank you very much!
Congrats on the new astro purchase! That’s fantastic. It’s totally understandable that it can feel overwhelming but if you keep at it, you’ll catch on in no time. Thank you for the kind words and all the best luck!
This was unbelievably a godsend. So helpful. Instructions so clear. I just purchased a starwatcher 2i with Rokinon 135mm and canon EOS 60d. This was so perfect. Thank you thank you! Will be trying it all out soon
I’m very impressed with your presentation of the steps involved in astronomical image processing. You organized & presented it in a logical & highly professional manner. Very educational. Kudos!
As a beginner to this form of photography, this was very helpful! I have a Sony A7RIV and with it's sensitive sensor, I had basically no choice but to purchase a star tracker. I was taking 100's of 1 second exposures and stacking them - only to get subpar results. A star tracker is an intimidating purchase / process - but this video made me feel so much more comfortable! Thank you!
I'm really happy to hear that this video made you feel more comfortable about getting/ using a star tracker. I also felt the exact same way, and honestly, once you use it a couple of times, it really starts to become muscle memory (the setting up, getting polar aligned, finding targets, etc). And it introduces you to so many other cool things, too. Wishing you all the best!!
Great video. I am just starting out and have watched so many videos. I think because most of the videos were from a more advanced point they seemed to have skipped over a lot of basics. I failed on my first few outings. I learned a lot from this video and now I'm excited to head back out there. Thank you.
I'm really happy to hear that you were able to learn a lot from this video. And I admire your perseverance to continue to try at astrophotography. There's so much to it all and I've failed at several outings and sometime still do. Wishing you all the best in the future! Thanks for stopping by.
i’ve watched probably 50 different astro beginner videos and this is for sure the best one yet. been trying for a month, and not to be negative, but i can’t get anything that isn’t just awful. hobby might not be for me but it’s very cool that talented people can do this!
Thank you, I'm glad you found this video helpful. Honestly, astrophotography takes time and a lot to patience. I'm sure if you keep at it, you'll see improvements. It gets better!
I started using that type of intervalometer how you do with your interval set to only 3 seconds assuming that time starts after the shutter closes. What I actually learned is that the interval is actually the interval you want it to take photos. If your exposure time is set to 60s set the interval to 63 seconds and it will be more consistent than just 3 seconds. I mostly ran into this as an issue when I was using mirror lockup and 2-sec timer on the camera for the mirror lockup. Otherwise what a great and info-packed video on Astro imaging! Thanks! You’ve earned my sub!
Thanks for this! I wish I could update the video now. Argh, always learning :'] 'tis the world of astrophotography I suppose. I'll need to update this in the description. Really appreciate the kind feedback, too and for subscribing.
I was just gifted the SWSA 2i and was stoked and I made the rookie mistake of reading about it online in much, much more depth and was making me nervous about the gift (i.e. size, capacity, single axis) and this video just reassured me that I’ll be fine with time and practice. I actually have an incredibly similar setup but with the Canon R8 unmodified and a 135 and 200mm prime at f2.8. I’m confident in this little tracker now. Waiting on the declination bracket and counterweight before I start! Thank you!
Congrats on the new equipment! That's what I recommend - time, practice, and patience. You can get some incredible results, just have to keep at it. It's all worth it, in my opinion :) and I'm happy to hear that you're confident in your setup now. Wishing you all the best and a happy new year!
Amazing! Gonna share this video with my work group on my astronomy photography course that i do this semester at uni. 😁 This is exactly what we need to do to prep for the excursion we are doing with the professor.
Sarah, AMAZING tutorial, thanks for putting so much detail in. I am a total newbie to astrophotography and appreciate you breaking down all the core concepts and terms.
This is the most ridiculously informative video I've seen on YT. Just fantastic. Thanks a lot for putting in the time to make this. I have wanted to try shooting a DSO for a while. My limited night sky work has just been wide field and that has been fun. I do have a move-shoot-move I've used a few times and it really sparked my interest. Your video makes it all seem doable! Also, that image from just a regular mirrorless and a 135 prime... 🤯
Hi Marshall, thanks for stopping by and for the kind words! I'm really happy to hear that this video makes DSO astro seem doable! Plus, from the sounds of it, you already have great experience under your belt. I have no doubt you're going to rock it at DSOs! Cheers!
This is without a doubt the best explanation video on this topic I have ever seen!!! If you’re not a professional astrophotographer or a school teacher, you have missed your calling.
Your presentation skills are excellent. I also like how you put the links in your descriptions that is very helpful. Keep making these wonderful videos and inspiring people to get out and do astrophotography. Fantastic image as well.
Wow! Fantastic video. I’m just beginning to delve into astrophotography and this video really helped in bringing context to the overwhelming information out there. Thank you for taking the time to help us newbs!
Hello Sarah. Oh my goodness, you remind me of how enthusiastic and encouraging I was some 50 years ago when I was your age back in 1965. I will subscribe 🙂. Keep up the enthusiasm as long as you can. FWIW I went on to become a prof astronomer for decades and I am now retired and re-dabbling whenever I can put up with the cold. I wasn't so vulnerable then!
Wow, that's amazing you became a professor of astronomy! What a dream! I'm happy to hear that you're still getting out there when possible. It's definitely a mentally and physically challenging endeavor. Many thanks for stopping by and for sharing a bit about you. Wishing you all the best and happy new year!
@@SarahMathsAstro Sorry - I should have completed the word - professional, not professor! Sorry! If you google UK5, UK6, Landsat, IRAS, these were some of the projects that I was *closely* involved with. I was the shift leader on IRAS when we discovered the first comet (IRAS) to be discovered by a satellite! My very first post was at the same place when I was placed in the Solar Radio Observatory using microwave telescopes to make the first observations of the Sun at millimeter wavelengths. Imagine, at the beginning of 1968 I was at College studying for my physics degree and during summer 1968 I was using my amateur telescope at home to project sunspots, and by September 3 I was a professional astronomer using radio telescopes to measure the Sun's radio output! My dream job! And being paid for it. However, this is your show and I just wanted to say thanks for your video and to wish you the ultra-best for your future dreams 🙂.
Absolutely brilliant video Sarah! I am waiting to get my first star tracker soon when they come back in stock and am trying to learn in the mean time. This is the best video I’ve seen for a beginner, thanks so much for sharing 🙏🏻
This is GREAT! I started a few weeks ago with a GTI and DSLR...it's been information overload. I've watched tons of videos and many have been too deep for me at this time. Your video is to the point and helped me see my very first nebula in images my camera took. Thank you!!!!
You did a great job on this video. I am just getting started in astrophotography so this was perfect timing. You explain thing very clearly. Thanks for doing this. ~Mike
I am so happy to hear that you've entered into this wonderful hobby! I'm also happy to hear that this video was clear and helpful - as that's exactly what I was hoping for. Clear skies!
Thanks for the in-depth, easy-to-understand walk through. A lot of work but also proves you can get impressive results with the Star Adventurer and a "modest" camera rig.
No disrespect to the uploader or their images...why is that every bit of praise in these comments, has to come at the expense of insulting someone or something else?? Literally zero point in bring up either of those devices, let alone, disrespecting their contributions to our understanding of the universe. Literally none...Do better.
What an awesome tutorial.... Very informative. Thanks for sharing and explaining it in a straight forward and simplistic way for us older Astro'ers to follow. Thank you very much.... You have another subscriber in me. I can't wait to go through the rest of your content for more amazing astro tips and tricks 🙂👍🔭
Thank you very much! So glad that you found this informative and straightforward. Also, thanks so much for subscribing to my channel and for all your support! I really appreciate it. Wishing you clear skies!
I was like, why not remeber something about my old observatory time. Dan I was surprise for a so detailed tutorial of astrography that it reigneted by passion for photographing or planet landspce during the night. Right now, I'm cheking to buy a startracker. Thank you Sarah
Thank you for such a comprehensive introduction. The whole enchilada, well presented. FYI, yes, many Nikon cameras do indeed have a built-in intervalometer but they’re limited to the shutter speeds built-in to the camera. In other words it can’t drive multiple exposures involving bulb mode. So my D7500, for example, has shutter speeds from 30 secs down to 1/8000 sec, in half or third stop intervals. Exposures longer than 30” definitely require an external intervalometer.
Thank you so much for making this for us beginners. I was curiouis/interested in learning Astrophotography but had no idea where to start. I came across your video after a couple hours of viewing other tutorials and this is by far the most clear, informative and motivating. My Star-Watcher Sky Adventurer 2i Kit is coming in tomorrow. Thank you for sending me (and many others here) off on a new journey to the stars.
I am so excited for you! Congrats on the new gear and your new journey. Also, thank you for taking the time to watch the video and for your incredibly kind words. Wishing you all the best! :)
It makes my heart glad to see a young person interested in science, and not worrying about how many likes their ducklips got on TikTok. I will say, I got the same tracker you have and for old people like me, I highly recommend a pillow or blanket to kneel on, if you have any interest in walking the next day. Also, the reticle, as I learned last week, should be right side up. The cross should be N/S/ and E/W. Yeah, I was the moron still trying to polar align with my reticle cockeyed. I used to think I was a relatively smart guy, but this has humbled me like nothing else. I feel like a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest, when trying to polar align. As someone who wears glasses like me, do you have any trouble seeing Polaris in the reticle?? I keep taking my glasses off to see through the reticle, but I'm blind as a bat and so the stars look super fuzzy. Just curious as to whether you have the same problem, or if I'm just still in that ass-kicking contest. When focusing, would focusing on Jupiter until you see the moons be a good start for focus? I am hoping to get this exact target for my granddaughter.
Thank you! Lots of good info here. I do sometimes have issues with my glasses and polar alignment but I’m able to make it work. Also, yes, Jupiter is good to focus on but any bright star is as well as the moon. I hope your granddaughter loves it!!
I watched this entire video from Start to Finish. Its the first time I actually understand Polar alignment. Im from Trinidad and Tobago so Polaris is very low from where we are at 10 degrees north LAtitude. Your teaching is very clear and understandable. Sound s also like you have some background in engineering. If not you are very good at descriptions. Totally enjoyed the video. 2 thumbs up from the caribbean. Clear Skies
Hi there! I'm really happy to hear that this video was helpful - even with Polaris being 10 degrees north in latitude for where you are. I know that can present its own challenges for polar alignment on top of just the overall concept of it. Thanks for taking the time to check this video out and thanks for the kind words, too. I really appreciate the feedback. Cheers and clear skies to you!
Really a useful video, cannot believe you got such a great image with a lens that I own. Great thing about a video is I can run it back and forth to absorb details that I might have missed. Thank you Sarah for your dilligence.
You have quite a talent for explaining things - despite the very technical nature of this topic and the length of the video, I remained interested throughout and listening to you explaining things in detail didn't feel like a chore at all. Now I finally understand half the words I hear in AP videos. Thanks!
I love astrophysics, everything about the space....neutron star, black hole, nebulas, magnetar, supernova after the sun dies, exoplanets, galaxy, different types of stars etc etc....I'm no scientist though, my teacher is TH-cam. You know why I watched this video? because you are so beautiful like a twinkling stars in the night. Lot's of love from Nepal.
That's so cool you love space! I love everything about space, too. And TH-cam has been one of my biggest teachers as well. It's amazing how much people know out there and are willing to share with us. Thanks for your kind words. Wishing you all the best from the USA.
This was absolute gold dust! Thank you so much for taking the time to put all this together and explain every step, and - more importantly - the reason for every step! As someone who is really interested in trying to get into astrophotography, but who knows absolutely nothing at the moment, this was so incredibly useful!
As a noob to astrophotography this is by far the best instructional video I have seen. I have Most of the same equipment now with some different lens options. Thank you for this. Time to load up the Jeep and head out of town. :)
This makes me very happy to hear! I really hope you're able to get out there and try things out. Even if it takes a couple times to get the hang of it. I know it did for me. Thank you for the kind words as well! Cheers
@@SarahMathsAstro Please keep doing what you do and if you do a membership thing you can count me in as a paying subscriber. You kept it simple and easy to understand. I'm also taking a class from my local community college this summer on astrophoto so I hope between you helping me with the star tracker and local guy showing us tips and tricks as well as where to shoot I'll have some cool pics to share. Again Thank you!
That is so cool that you're taking a course on this! I had no idea institutions offered them. Amazing!! I have no doubt you'll do great and will be well on your way to imaging the night sky! Thank you again for all the support! I have a Patreon (still building it out a bit), if you ever want to support me over there. Thanks again!! Patreon: www.patreon.com/SarahMathsAstro
Over the years Ive managed to get the milyway, and some nice shots to (by luck lol) but I wanted to dive deeper, so yesterday I ordered the same tracker your using, as I wanted a head up on how to set it up I came to TH-cam, and for once YouToube did a great job and sent me to your video, you have done a fantastic job explaining start to finnish, so thank you so much for your time and effort in making this tutorial, you are a star.
Congrats on the gear - I think you're really going to enjoy it. Thanks for taking the time to stop by on the video. I appreciate your kind words! Wishing you all the best in your new endeavor.
@@SarahMathsAstro Camera lens will always out perform a telescope and save you money. I am going to share this video on my channel - keep the content coming!
Hey, Sarah. Just wanted to that I'm so glad I came across your astro channel. Your videos are so informative and you make them so fun to watch. I've been using GIMP to process my images. I had downloaded Siril, but was confused on how to use it, so I didn't. Needless to say, you saved my first real Milky Way attempt. After using GIMP and getting a horrible result, I thought my MW data may be garbage. After watching your videos, I decided to try inputting the data into Siril and was amazed at the result. I shot the Heart and Soul last night for the first time, and with your guidance in this video, got a very pleasing result. Just wanted to say thank you for what you do in helping us "newbies" enjoy this wonderful hobby. Keep up the great work!
Hey there, thank you so much for the kind words and feedback. I'm really happy to hear that you were able to salvage your Milky Way data and that your image processing session with the Heart and Soul went well! I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video, try out the steps, and for leaving such an awesome comment. It means a ton! Wishing you all the best! -Sarah
This is the first nearly hour long video I’ve tried looking at that takes you from start to finish and I’m glad I viewed your video. I’m new to manual setup of a DSLR and new to astrophotography so I plan on making a a laminated copy of your setups and tips for bias’s, darks and flats for in the field. This pre planning on shooting a subject has been one of the more difficult things for me to find on the internet and I thank you for your video to help guide me as I’m starting astrophotography.
I'm happy to hear that this video has been helpful. Thank you for taking the time to watch it and thank you for your feedback as well. It is always helpful to learn what others have found to be good pieces of info. Wishing you all the best in your astro journey! Cheers
Awesome tutorial, just what I needed, heaven sent! This old man doesn,t mind learning from the youth. You are a gifted teacher, so clear and concise. Very tasteful soundtrack. Congrats !
This is my favourite channel for all things telescope related content and astrophotography content. Your explanation is perfect for an amateur to understand and gives me the confidence to go ahead and try my luck in the above 2 categories. Keep up the great work. 🍻
I took a few deep sky pictures while out looking for Tsuchinshan-Atlas. I came back to this because I thought I'd give the processing part a cheeky go. I didn't have much to work with, I had about seven pictures taken with 30 second exposure (and I was at the side of a dark road with cars occasionally going past, that interfered with the pictures). Anyway, when it came to the "find out what stars are in your picture part" (which, for the record, didn't work for me), I realised I'd accidentally taken pictures of the area with the Andromeda galaxy in it, so I've got that now... Well it came out looking like everyone's first attempt. But this was useful. I liked the deadpan jokes, deadpan always makes the joke funnier.
I think it gets better and better every time (even when there feels to be a setback, it's usually still on an upward trajectory). If the astrometric solution part failed, it could be because the field of view was too wide or that the focal length and/or pixel size in the settings weren't correct and need to be manually updated to match your camera and lens' specs. Just as some quick troubleshooting help! Cheers!
Your amazing. I am 74 and plan to get the new SE 50 and tripod. 11152023 I have three (3) 8" scopes but know nothing about dso's and processed imaging so I plan on letting the se50 do the work. Your knowledge is awsome, you must be destined for a great life. I hope that for you. Thanks for this presentation. //ji John in Oregon
Many thanks! And congrats on the exciting DSO journey. These smart telescopes are pretty incredible and it's nice not having to deal with the learning curve of acquisition and processing of the data. Wishing you all the best. -Sarah
Very solid and informative video! As I mentioned in a different post, I sold camera gear for decades. I was also a member of the Orange County Astronomers starting in 1970. Back then they were the OCAAA. Some tripod advice. I used to test tripod stability by taping one of those keychain lasers to the top of a fully extended tripod and pointing it at a target I made and taped to a wall at as far a distance the room would allow. Then I'd stand near the target while someone tapped on the tripod legs, lightly at first. You'd be surprised at the vibrations some supposedly 'rock steady' tripods were showing. Of course this was back when people bought camera and telescopes from their local store, where they could physically touch and examine a camera, lens, tripod or telescope. (we sold scopes from the cheap $60 kits to the the biggest Celestrons, even Pentax refractors. I shot with film cameras from disposables to Hasselblad and $40,000 digital cameras. I was like a kid in a candy shop since I got to test them all.)
Thank you! And very great insight here. It's so cool you've bene able to see things evolve like you have in the realm of photography and equipment like this.
@SarahMaths Astro You have a stunning channel. What is interesting about your channel and your presentation is that you cover layers of complex material needed for your topic and still maintain viewer interest. That's much rarer and difficult to accomplish than most people would realize. Of course, astrophotography is a high level topic. But still, I find your presentation of it fascinating even without any prior knowledge.
Wow, absolutely sublime content. I've binged on an endless amount of YT content and as a complete beginner, this was invaluable. I actually feel ready after watching this. Don't get me wrong, it's great to have so much content, but for resonating for newbies, this is on point. Thank you so much for the content, liked, subscribed & rang the bell, peace! 😁😁😁
Wow, I'm so happy to hear that this video has been helpful for you and that you feel like you can get out there and give it all a try. I really appreciate your support for the channel, too. Wishing you all the best on your astro journey! Cheers
Very well done tutorial! I have been doing this for about 1.5 years, and I use both the star adventurer and Siril. It’s good to see practices that are like me own and new ones. Thanks.
OK-- I'm staring at the open box of the new Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer kit I just had delivered,,,, First off... I didn't know there was gonna be math... and science.... and computer wizardry... sigh.. I'll be watching this video at least 200 times over the next while I'm sure to figure out this whole process. Thank You Sarah for being so capable and clever in your presentation....
It's totally normal to feel overwhelmed but I promise it gets easier every time you do it. Each time you get out there, you learn a little bit more. Persistence is key! Cheers to your new journey and thanks for stopping by and watching :D
Great video and the dry humour was on point! Might end up posting another comment later on to ask about the flat calibration frames, not sure I completely understood how to take those.
Thanks for your kind feedback! Feel free to ask away about any questions. Apologies that I didn't make it more clear about how to do calibration frames . Here are a couple of additional resources to check out about the topic if you care to: th-cam.com/video/u6Zk_LQDOD8/w-d-xo.html www.galactic-hunter.com/post/calibration-frames Cheers!
Thanks very much for this tutorial. Easy to follow. Good pacing. I've just got my first tracking mount today. An iOptron SkyTracker. The learning journey continues. Clear skies!
Great video Sarah. Nice clear, concise instructions. I bought the Star adventurer about a year ago to go with my Canon 5D Mark iv. I invested in some lenses, i.e. 12mm fisheye, 28-105mm & a Sigma 60-600mm and It's taken until now to find an understandable tutorial so that I can finally get out and use it all.
I"ve just started astrophotography couple months ago. I really do enjoy your video, it's educational. I'm going to watch your video a few more times at least to get learn the information. Keep up a good work!
It can be a lot to take in. It’s good to take in the info a couple of times though, heck, sometimes a few more than that :) just takes some time is all. Thanks for watching and wishing you all the best in your new astro journey!
Thanks so much that I’ve found the simplest yet detailed step by step informative video. I’m excited to embark on my journey to do dslr astrophotography which was previously overwhelming. New subscriber here, Sarah. Keep up the good work.
I’m so glad this video could be of help! Congrats on starting your journey! I would also recommend Nebula Photos TH-cam channel and Peter Zelinka for DSLR Astro!
Thank you! That's so kind of you. I know you got this!! And it's okay if it takes some trial and error, at least it did for me. You learn so much along the way. I'm excited for you!
@@SarahMathsAstro I always thought people taking images of sky object, by placing the camera at the back of telescope. But it's actually the post-processing that makes image
Great video, one small note you never want AWB as that can change the color or outcome of your finished shots you always want them to be consistent in groups of photos you take.
I am so glad that I stumbled upon your TH-cam channel. You’re just what I needed to understand the processes involved. Especially the tracking devices and their features. Thank you!
Since I’m just getting into Astro Photography I was wondering if the Skywatcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro Pack would be worth it as I’m just using a digital camera or a small telescope which I have. I found one on Amazon for just about $400.00 and I noticed you using one in one of your first videos. Is it worth it for a neophyte like me? Thanks.
Polar alignment was challenging for me and I think it is for a lot of us. It took me several times to get it right but once you do, it’s much easier going forward.
Sarah you are the best. I have watched at least 15 videos of the Star trackers. And you're the only one that described the orbit of Polaris in the Polaris scope, and that circle is the orbit of Polaris. Nobody else has said anything like that. I am surprised that nobody has ever mentioned. That and I always wondered now. I actually know what that is for. I just subscribed to you and looking forward to more of your great knowledge. Thank you.
Sara, Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm assuming that having a full frame sensor would be better for astrophotography than let's say a crop sensor, correct?
Typically, yes, mostly because a larger sensor means better light collecting power which is nice for faint deep space objects. But, it depends. It's also important to pair the sensor with a camera lens or telescope that can support that large of an imaging sensor. Vignetting can become a big issue and sometimes harder to correct for if there's a mismatch of imaging circles and sensor size. Another thing to consider is the field of view you want. If you want to get a more zoomed in field of view with the camera lens or telescope that you already have, then using a crop sensor can give you a bit more of a zoomed in FOV. Really just depends on what you're going for :)
If you would like to support this channel and follow along in Siril with the image file we create, please consider becoming a Patron over on my Patreon page here: www.patreon.com/SarahMathsAstro
Thank you!! :)
joined :)
thank you so much!
@SR-xw2iq I saw, thank you and I sent you a personal message on Patreon about upcoming videos! Thanks again!
very impressive! both your ability to manage the technology and and the final results...quick question: I have been interested in and studying related information and discoveries and wondered if you can extrapolate any conclusion or theories you might have, based on the data you have gathered through your setup? I have been following the LIGO teams and their discoveries and wondered if it requires $1B and 3000 people or can you be Hubble II? Congrats on the work!
why are.t u a model
Thankyou youtube algorithm. Its so hard to find manually a channel with quality like this.
I’m glad our paths crossed. Cheers!
Cheers!
This is probably the best astrophotography for beginners tutorial on YT.
Wow, this is amazing to hear. Thank you! It means a lot.
@@SarahMathsAstro You're welcome ;) I am starting my adventure with astrophotography and I watched multiple tutorials astrobackyard and nebulaphoto. Your tutorial is probably the easiest to understand
Congrats on the new journey! That's exciting! I learned a ton from them, so if my content is easier, it's most likely from standing on the shoulder of giants :D
the eerie background music really helps with deep space astrophotography vibes
Always going for the space vibes :)
Wow! I’m going to have to watch this a few times, and take notes, particularly around the calibration frames, but how you covered all of this in 50 minutes is beyond me. This is the most comprehensive, efficient, and enjoyable Astro tutorial I’ve seen on TH-cam and I thank you for your time and effort. Kudos!
Thank you for the incredibly kind words, Glenn. Really means a lot and I'm so happy to hear that this video has been helpful. All the best!
Love to see young person with so much knowledge and tech knowhow!
Thank you, Ron!
The amount of information packed in 50m is amazing. Truly, thank you for providing such a detailed guide for all the noobs like us that want to start taking pics of the sky.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by. I'm really happy that this video was encouraging. I can't recommend astrophotography enough. It really is awesome at any experience level. Cheers!
At first I was like, "how does it take 50 minutes to cover DSO on a star tracker", then proceeded to watch probably the most complete tutorial I've ever seen. Giving Peter Zelinka a real run for his money! Especially loved the coverage of Siril, often looked at it but didn't have the frame of reference for how to work it into my workflow (mainly landscape astro). Super good job, love the shirt!
Thank you! It is quite a hefty video but I'm glad it was a complete one. I hope to do my more videos on Siril in the future too. Thanks for stopping by and cheers!
Absolutely agree. I skip so many videos because they toss in words like... well, this part is easy... simple... or, just skip right over essential details in the process.
Sarah, you're the best. Give you a British accent and you could rival Astro Bloke's channel. Haha!
@COShea-iw6ii I wish I had an English accent!
agreed
If you're going to do something, take the time to do it right. This video is one of the best examples of doing just that. Thanks Sarah.
That is very kind of you to say, thank you, MJ! I really appreciate it :)
Sarah, wow what a tutorial!. Everything for the beginner like me, in one place. With respect to the polar alignment, for myself I have been struggling to understand how to use the reticle to set up, you described it in a way that it just clicked with me. Thank you for sharing such informative videos. I live in North Lincolnshire in the UK and since starting out in March this year we have had very few clear skies, so by watching tutorials like yours I am gaining knowledge for when I can actually get out out.
Thanks for sharing, very much appreciated.
Hi Stephen, I am so happy to hear that this tutorial has been helpful! Especially with regard to polar alignment. I know that I also had some trouble understanding how that all worked, and sometimes the information on it can get a little complicating. So glad it clicked for you. I also hope you have very clear skies soon!
Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words. Clear skies -Sarah
What a comprehensive yet concise tutorial. You’ve done a great job in covering all the necessary topics in such a short video. Thank you from India!
Aww so glad to hear this!! Cheers!
I sold camera gear for over 27 years and had to give quick explanations of how things worked in photography. A lot of people had trouble wrapping their head around aperture numbering and why f4 let in more light than f 16 so I simply said to treat it as a fraction so f4 becomes 1/4 and f16 becomes 1/16.
That's a brilliant way of putting it and extremely straight-forward. Thanks for that! I wish I would have described it the way you did here. Very helpful!
That's right. That's also why the markings are not fx, but f/x., like f/2.8
F5 lower aperture 26 megapixels always more light than f15 at 1/8 shutter speed, with aperture priority at 500s. So you are very wrong. Wrong, Sir.
@@fleischpflanzerlmitsenf Yes, I should have mentioned that too. It's been over 20 years since I worked in a camera store and forgot to add that bit. Thanks for catching that.
@@Ezrabastian Are you replying to another post?
Thank you Sarah for uploading this tutorial. I'm in my late 60's and have been shooting and enjoying photography for over 50 years. I understand quite a bit about light, lens designs, digital image processing etc. etc. but know very little about astro photography techniques with trackers/equatorial mounts and the like. So finding a video/channel with simple step by step instructions/ teaching is a God send, many channels go so quickly and assume the listener knows all the basics. Thanks so much again and good luck with your channel.
It sounds like you have quite the background! That's wonderful that you decided to venture into astrophotography and learn a bit more about it. I'm so glad this video could be of help in your journey. Thanks so much for taking the time to watch the video and thank you for taking the time to provide such thoughtful feedback! Means a lot! Cheers!
An excellent video. As a more elderly astrophotographer I found bending down to do polar alignment difficult so I bought a Skywatcher 90° Polar Scope Eyepiece. They're not cheap but my back said a big thank you, and polar alignment is so much easier now. Clear skies.
Thank you! I would have loved to have included that option in this video. Polar alignment is so tricky in general. Thanks for the input! Cheers!
Holy shit finally someone who explains things clearly, concisely and demonstrates every step. I damn near lost my mind trying to figure out every little thing as so many other TH-camrs start blabbering on about all this unnecessary tech/detail stuff like I'm watching Star Trek FFS. This has helped me in many ways right near the peak of my frustration. Thank you very much!
I'm really happy to hear that this helped, Steve!
I’ve just bought a tracker and was more than a bit overwhelmed so I was happy to find you’re channel. You’re a great teacher. Thank you.
Congrats on the new astro purchase! That’s fantastic. It’s totally understandable that it can feel overwhelming but if you keep at it, you’ll catch on in no time. Thank you for the kind words and all the best luck!
This was unbelievably a godsend. So helpful. Instructions so clear. I just purchased a starwatcher 2i with Rokinon 135mm and canon EOS 60d.
This was so perfect. Thank you thank you! Will be trying it all out soon
I am so happy to hear this and super excited for you! Congrats on the new gear! Wishing you all the best.
I’m very impressed with your presentation of the steps involved in astronomical image processing. You organized & presented it in a logical & highly professional manner. Very educational. Kudos!
Thank you very much! That means a ton. I appreciate your feedback and for taking the time to watch this video. Cheers!
"... as the day turns into night, as most days do." You delivered that with a deadpan style and I had to stop the video to recover from laughing!
Haha, I’m so glad someone caught that! :’] glad it gave you a good laugh!
As a beginner to this form of photography, this was very helpful! I have a Sony A7RIV and with it's sensitive sensor, I had basically no choice but to purchase a star tracker. I was taking 100's of 1 second exposures and stacking them - only to get subpar results. A star tracker is an intimidating purchase / process - but this video made me feel so much more comfortable! Thank you!
I'm really happy to hear that this video made you feel more comfortable about getting/ using a star tracker. I also felt the exact same way, and honestly, once you use it a couple of times, it really starts to become muscle memory (the setting up, getting polar aligned, finding targets, etc). And it introduces you to so many other cool things, too. Wishing you all the best!!
Great video. I am just starting out and have watched so many videos. I think because most of the videos were from a more advanced point they seemed to have skipped over a lot of basics. I failed on my first few outings. I learned a lot from this video and now I'm excited to head back out there. Thank you.
I'm really happy to hear that you were able to learn a lot from this video. And I admire your perseverance to continue to try at astrophotography. There's so much to it all and I've failed at several outings and sometime still do. Wishing you all the best in the future! Thanks for stopping by.
i’ve watched probably 50 different astro beginner videos and this is for sure the best one yet. been trying for a month, and not to be negative, but i can’t get anything that isn’t just awful. hobby might not be for me but it’s very cool that talented people can do this!
Thank you, I'm glad you found this video helpful. Honestly, astrophotography takes time and a lot to patience. I'm sure if you keep at it, you'll see improvements. It gets better!
I started using that type of intervalometer how you do with your interval set to only 3 seconds assuming that time starts after the shutter closes. What I actually learned is that the interval is actually the interval you want it to take photos. If your exposure time is set to 60s set the interval to 63 seconds and it will be more consistent than just 3 seconds.
I mostly ran into this as an issue when I was using mirror lockup and 2-sec timer on the camera for the mirror lockup.
Otherwise what a great and info-packed video on Astro imaging! Thanks! You’ve earned my sub!
Thanks for this! I wish I could update the video now. Argh, always learning :'] 'tis the world of astrophotography I suppose. I'll need to update this in the description. Really appreciate the kind feedback, too and for subscribing.
I was just gifted the SWSA 2i and was stoked and I made the rookie mistake of reading about it online in much, much more depth and was making me nervous about the gift (i.e. size, capacity, single axis) and this video just reassured me that I’ll be fine with time and practice.
I actually have an incredibly similar setup but with the Canon R8 unmodified and a 135 and 200mm prime at f2.8. I’m confident in this little tracker now. Waiting on the declination bracket and counterweight before I start! Thank you!
Congrats on the new equipment! That's what I recommend - time, practice, and patience. You can get some incredible results, just have to keep at it. It's all worth it, in my opinion :) and I'm happy to hear that you're confident in your setup now. Wishing you all the best and a happy new year!
Amazing! Gonna share this video with my work group on my astronomy photography course that i do this semester at uni. 😁 This is exactly what we need to do to prep for the excursion we are doing with the professor.
I'm so happy to hear that this video will be helpful! It sounds like a really interesting course. Best of luck to you all and clear skies!
excellent astro tutorial. from unboxing the tracker to final processed image.
Thanks! It's always great to hear when a video is helpful for folks out there.
Sarah, AMAZING tutorial, thanks for putting so much detail in. I am a total newbie to astrophotography and appreciate you breaking down all the core concepts and terms.
Welcome to the astro club!! Thanks so much for the kind words and for watching. Really happy to hear that this was helpful. Cheers!
Thank you for the thorough explanation and walking us through each step. This is how video tutorials should be done, precise to the point.
Thank you for your feedback! It's much appreciated. Cheers
This is the most ridiculously informative video I've seen on YT. Just fantastic. Thanks a lot for putting in the time to make this. I have wanted to try shooting a DSO for a while. My limited night sky work has just been wide field and that has been fun. I do have a move-shoot-move I've used a few times and it really sparked my interest. Your video makes it all seem doable! Also, that image from just a regular mirrorless and a 135 prime... 🤯
Hi Marshall, thanks for stopping by and for the kind words! I'm really happy to hear that this video makes DSO astro seem doable! Plus, from the sounds of it, you already have great experience under your belt. I have no doubt you're going to rock it at DSOs! Cheers!
This is without a doubt the best explanation video on this topic I have ever seen!!! If you’re not a professional astrophotographer or a school teacher, you have missed your calling.
I’m so glad you enjoy it! Thank you for the kind words and feedback! :)
Your presentation skills are excellent. I also like how you put the links in your descriptions that is very helpful. Keep making these wonderful videos and inspiring people to get out and do astrophotography. Fantastic image as well.
Thank you on all accounts, Dean! It's much appreciated!
(Note to self - the definitive start tracker astrophotography video…
Excellent video)
Sarah - thank you very much!
Thank YOU!
Wow! Fantastic video. I’m just beginning to delve into astrophotography and this video really helped in bringing context to the overwhelming information out there. Thank you for taking the time to help us newbs!
Thank you for the kind words! I’m really glad this video was helpful. I know firsthand how overwhelming it can all be. Cheers to your new journey!
Hello Sarah. Oh my goodness, you remind me of how enthusiastic and encouraging I was some 50 years ago when I was your age back in 1965. I will subscribe 🙂. Keep up the enthusiasm as long as you can. FWIW I went on to become a prof astronomer for decades and I am now retired and re-dabbling whenever I can put up with the cold. I wasn't so vulnerable then!
Wow, that's amazing you became a professor of astronomy! What a dream! I'm happy to hear that you're still getting out there when possible. It's definitely a mentally and physically challenging endeavor. Many thanks for stopping by and for sharing a bit about you. Wishing you all the best and happy new year!
@@SarahMathsAstro Sorry - I should have completed the word - professional, not professor! Sorry! If you google UK5, UK6, Landsat, IRAS, these were some of the projects that I was *closely* involved with. I was the shift leader on IRAS when we discovered the first comet (IRAS) to be discovered by a satellite! My very first post was at the same place when I was placed in the Solar Radio Observatory using microwave telescopes to make the first observations of the Sun at millimeter wavelengths. Imagine, at the beginning of 1968 I was at College studying for my physics degree and during summer 1968 I was using my amateur telescope at home to project sunspots, and by September 3 I was a professional astronomer using radio telescopes to measure the Sun's radio output! My dream job! And being paid for it. However, this is your show and I just wanted to say thanks for your video and to wish you the ultra-best for your future dreams 🙂.
Absolutely brilliant video Sarah! I am waiting to get my first star tracker soon when they come back in stock and am trying to learn in the mean time. This is the best video I’ve seen for a beginner, thanks so much for sharing 🙏🏻
Thank you!! That is really kind of you! And I'm so stoked for you to get your first star tracker. Cheers to a fun new journey :)
This is GREAT! I started a few weeks ago with a GTI and DSLR...it's been information overload. I've watched tons of videos and many have been too deep for me at this time. Your video is to the point and helped me see my very first nebula in images my camera took. Thank you!!!!
This is AMAZING!! I'm incredibly happy to hear this :D Congrats!! And thanks so much for letting me know! Wishing you clear skies!
You did a great job on this video. I am just getting started in astrophotography so this was perfect timing. You explain thing very clearly. Thanks for doing this. ~Mike
I am so happy to hear that you've entered into this wonderful hobby! I'm also happy to hear that this video was clear and helpful - as that's exactly what I was hoping for. Clear skies!
Thanks for the in-depth, easy-to-understand walk through. A lot of work but also proves you can get impressive results with the Star Adventurer and a "modest" camera rig.
Thank you, yes, it's pretty fantastic what's possible!
The end result was amazing. Who really needs Hubble or the deep space telescope
Wow, thank you! It's amazing what has become possible with amateur equipment. I'm excited for the future advancements coming, too. Cheers!
No disrespect to the uploader or their images...why is that every bit of praise in these comments, has to come at the expense of insulting someone or something else??
Literally zero point in bring up either of those devices, let alone, disrespecting their contributions to our understanding of the universe. Literally none...Do better.
@@codymoe4986 I don't think you should take that literally, it's just an exaggeration...
Thanks for this, it's been 10 years since I last did astro, this was a great primer on the updated techniques used. Appreciated.
Great to hear, thanks so much and wishing you all the best.
What an awesome tutorial.... Very informative. Thanks for sharing and explaining it in a straight forward and simplistic way for us older Astro'ers to follow. Thank you very much.... You have another subscriber in me. I can't wait to go through the rest of your content for more amazing astro tips and tricks 🙂👍🔭
Thank you very much! So glad that you found this informative and straightforward. Also, thanks so much for subscribing to my channel and for all your support! I really appreciate it. Wishing you clear skies!
I was like, why not remeber something about my old observatory time. Dan I was surprise for a so detailed tutorial of astrography that it reigneted by passion for photographing or planet landspce during the night. Right now, I'm cheking to buy a startracker. Thank you Sarah
so awesome to hear that your passion has been rekindled!!
Thank you for such a comprehensive introduction. The whole enchilada, well presented.
FYI, yes, many Nikon cameras do indeed have a built-in intervalometer but they’re limited to the shutter speeds built-in to the camera. In other words it can’t drive multiple exposures involving bulb mode. So my D7500, for example, has shutter speeds from 30 secs down to 1/8000 sec, in half or third stop intervals. Exposures longer than 30” definitely require an external intervalometer.
Thank you for the kind words, Stephen and thank you for the info on Nikons. That was really helpful!
Sarah is a natural. Great presentation style and she knows what she is talking about!
You are very kind, thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the video.
You're amazing, If anyone is going to get me to put a camera on my scope it will be you.
You're very kind, thank you! It's so worth it :)
Thank you so much for making this for us beginners. I was curiouis/interested in learning Astrophotography but had no idea where to start. I came across your video after a couple hours of viewing other tutorials and this is by far the most clear, informative and motivating. My Star-Watcher Sky Adventurer 2i Kit is coming in tomorrow. Thank you for sending me (and many others here) off on a new journey to the stars.
I am so excited for you! Congrats on the new gear and your new journey. Also, thank you for taking the time to watch the video and for your incredibly kind words. Wishing you all the best! :)
This tutorial in Siril is incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for posting.
I'm glad you found it helpful! Thanks for your feedback.
It makes my heart glad to see a young person interested in science, and not worrying about how many likes their ducklips got on TikTok.
I will say, I got the same tracker you have and for old people like me, I highly recommend a pillow or blanket to kneel on, if you have any interest in walking the next day. Also, the reticle, as I learned last week, should be right side up. The cross should be N/S/ and E/W. Yeah, I was the moron still trying to polar align with my reticle cockeyed. I used to think I was a relatively smart guy, but this has humbled me like nothing else. I feel like a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest, when trying to polar align.
As someone who wears glasses like me, do you have any trouble seeing Polaris in the reticle?? I keep taking my glasses off to see through the reticle, but I'm blind as a bat and so the stars look super fuzzy. Just curious as to whether you have the same problem, or if I'm just still in that ass-kicking contest.
When focusing, would focusing on Jupiter until you see the moons be a good start for focus?
I am hoping to get this exact target for my granddaughter.
Thank you! Lots of good info here. I do sometimes have issues with my glasses and polar alignment but I’m able to make it work. Also, yes, Jupiter is good to focus on but any bright star is as well as the moon. I hope your granddaughter loves it!!
@@SarahMathsAstro Thank you. I am sure she will.
I watched this entire video from Start to Finish. Its the first time I actually understand Polar alignment. Im from Trinidad and Tobago so Polaris is very low from where we are at 10 degrees north LAtitude. Your teaching is very clear and understandable. Sound s also like you have some background in engineering. If not you are very good at descriptions. Totally enjoyed the video. 2 thumbs up from the caribbean. Clear Skies
Hi there! I'm really happy to hear that this video was helpful - even with Polaris being 10 degrees north in latitude for where you are. I know that can present its own challenges for polar alignment on top of just the overall concept of it. Thanks for taking the time to check this video out and thanks for the kind words, too. I really appreciate the feedback. Cheers and clear skies to you!
Really a useful video, cannot believe you got such a great image with a lens that I own. Great thing about a video is I can run it back and forth to absorb details that I might have missed. Thank you Sarah for your dilligence.
Thanks very much for taking the time watch and provide feedback. I'm happy to hear that this video was helpful! Wishing you clear skies!
You have quite a talent for explaining things - despite the very technical nature of this topic and the length of the video, I remained interested throughout and listening to you explaining things in detail didn't feel like a chore at all. Now I finally understand half the words I hear in AP videos. Thanks!
I'm happy to hear that this video was helpful. Thank you for sharing your feedback as well, it's much appreciated. Wishing you clear skies!
It was a very thorough video for beginners I think. Past it on to my daughter to watch and maybe discover a new hobby. Thanks.
Thank you, Remi and thank you for passing it on to your daughter. We need more women in astronomy!
I love astrophysics, everything about the space....neutron star, black hole, nebulas, magnetar, supernova after the sun dies, exoplanets, galaxy, different types of stars etc etc....I'm no scientist though, my teacher is TH-cam. You know why I watched this video? because you are so beautiful like a twinkling stars in the night. Lot's of love from Nepal.
That's so cool you love space! I love everything about space, too. And TH-cam has been one of my biggest teachers as well. It's amazing how much people know out there and are willing to share with us. Thanks for your kind words. Wishing you all the best from the USA.
This was absolute gold dust! Thank you so much for taking the time to put all this together and explain every step, and - more importantly - the reason for every step! As someone who is really interested in trying to get into astrophotography, but who knows absolutely nothing at the moment, this was so incredibly useful!
This is wonderful to hear! I'm very happy this video will be of use in your astro journey. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers!
As a noob to astrophotography this is by far the best instructional video I have seen. I have Most of the same equipment now with some different lens options. Thank you for this. Time to load up the Jeep and head out of town. :)
This makes me very happy to hear! I really hope you're able to get out there and try things out. Even if it takes a couple times to get the hang of it. I know it did for me. Thank you for the kind words as well! Cheers
@@SarahMathsAstro Please keep doing what you do and if you do a membership thing you can count me in as a paying subscriber. You kept it simple and easy to understand. I'm also taking a class from my local community college this summer on astrophoto so I hope between you helping me with the star tracker and local guy showing us tips and tricks as well as where to shoot I'll have some cool pics to share. Again Thank you!
That is so cool that you're taking a course on this! I had no idea institutions offered them. Amazing!! I have no doubt you'll do great and will be well on your way to imaging the night sky!
Thank you again for all the support! I have a Patreon (still building it out a bit), if you ever want to support me over there. Thanks again!!
Patreon: www.patreon.com/SarahMathsAstro
I concur with Astro Road, well done on keeping me engaged the whole time, appreciate the simple but detailed explanations.
Clear skies!
Thank you, Greg and thank you for taking the time to stop by. Clear skies to you as well!
This was comprehensive and helped me a lot. I don’t NEED a telescope. I do NEED a star tracker.
I'm glad this video was helpful! Star trackers are awesome :)
Over the years Ive managed to get the milyway, and some nice shots to (by luck lol) but I wanted to dive deeper, so yesterday I ordered the same tracker your using, as I wanted a head up on how to set it up I came to TH-cam, and for once YouToube did a great job and sent me to your video, you have done a fantastic job explaining start to finnish, so thank you so much for your time and effort in making this tutorial, you are a star.
Congrats on the gear - I think you're really going to enjoy it. Thanks for taking the time to stop by on the video. I appreciate your kind words! Wishing you all the best in your new endeavor.
7:00 a 55mm will get great local messier groups perfect with that setup. I have been wanting this ST for sometime. Thanks Sarah!!
I very much agree! It's amazing what's possible with these types of focal lengths. Thanks for watching! Clear skies!
@@SarahMathsAstro Camera lens will always out perform a telescope and save you money. I am going to share this video on my channel - keep the content coming!
Thank you so much, Jeff!
Hey, Sarah. Just wanted to that I'm so glad I came across your astro channel. Your videos are so informative and you make them so fun to watch. I've been using GIMP to process my images. I had downloaded Siril, but was confused on how to use it, so I didn't. Needless to say, you saved my first real Milky Way attempt. After using GIMP and getting a horrible result, I thought my MW data may be garbage. After watching your videos, I decided to try inputting the data into Siril and was amazed at the result. I shot the Heart and Soul last night for the first time, and with your guidance in this video, got a very pleasing result. Just wanted to say thank you for what you do in helping us "newbies" enjoy this wonderful hobby. Keep up the great work!
Hey there, thank you so much for the kind words and feedback. I'm really happy to hear that you were able to salvage your Milky Way data and that your image processing session with the Heart and Soul went well! I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video, try out the steps, and for leaving such an awesome comment. It means a ton! Wishing you all the best! -Sarah
This is the first nearly hour long video I’ve tried looking at that takes you from start to finish and I’m glad I viewed your video.
I’m new to manual setup of a DSLR and new to astrophotography so I plan on making a a laminated copy of your setups and tips for bias’s, darks and flats for in the field. This pre planning on shooting a subject has been one of the more difficult things for me to find on the internet and I thank you for your video to help guide me as I’m starting astrophotography.
I'm happy to hear that this video has been helpful. Thank you for taking the time to watch it and thank you for your feedback as well. It is always helpful to learn what others have found to be good pieces of info. Wishing you all the best in your astro journey! Cheers
I'm a PixInsight user, but I love seeing how people process images in other types of software.
Same here, Mark! I'm glad you enjoyed the Siril portion.
Thank you for taking the time and your hard work to create this video. You are a natural teacher.
Thank you for the kind words and thank you for taking the time to watch. Means a lot!
Awesome tutorial, just what I needed, heaven sent! This old man doesn,t mind learning from the youth. You are a gifted teacher, so clear and concise. Very tasteful soundtrack. Congrats !
Thanks, Klaus! That means so much to me. Thank you for watching and for all your kind words!
Best tutorial on TH-cam.
Thank you very much!
This is my favourite channel for all things telescope related content and astrophotography content. Your explanation is perfect for an amateur to understand and gives me the confidence to go ahead and try my luck in the above 2 categories.
Keep up the great work. 🍻
This is great news - so glad this channel has been helpful in your journey! Thanks for your kind words and for taking the time to stop by.
Cheers!
Great job! You nailed the simplicity goal and any beginner would be very happy with that final image.
Thank you, Zachary! Means a lot.
I took a few deep sky pictures while out looking for Tsuchinshan-Atlas. I came back to this because I thought I'd give the processing part a cheeky go. I didn't have much to work with, I had about seven pictures taken with 30 second exposure (and I was at the side of a dark road with cars occasionally going past, that interfered with the pictures). Anyway, when it came to the "find out what stars are in your picture part" (which, for the record, didn't work for me), I realised I'd accidentally taken pictures of the area with the Andromeda galaxy in it, so I've got that now...
Well it came out looking like everyone's first attempt. But this was useful. I liked the deadpan jokes, deadpan always makes the joke funnier.
I think it gets better and better every time (even when there feels to be a setback, it's usually still on an upward trajectory). If the astrometric solution part failed, it could be because the field of view was too wide or that the focal length and/or pixel size in the settings weren't correct and need to be manually updated to match your camera and lens' specs. Just as some quick troubleshooting help!
Cheers!
Your amazing. I am 74 and plan to get the new SE 50 and tripod. 11152023
I have three (3) 8" scopes but know nothing about dso's and processed imaging so I plan on letting the se50 do the work.
Your knowledge is awsome, you must be destined for a great life. I hope that for you. Thanks for this presentation. //ji
John in Oregon
Many thanks! And congrats on the exciting DSO journey. These smart telescopes are pretty incredible and it's nice not having to deal with the learning curve of acquisition and processing of the data. Wishing you all the best. -Sarah
You're like a galaxy. Breath-takingly beautiful
Thanks!
Thx for the simple step by step overview introduction!!!
Of course! Thanks for stopping by!
Very solid and informative video!
As I mentioned in a different post, I sold camera gear for decades. I was also a member of the Orange County Astronomers starting in 1970. Back then they were the OCAAA. Some tripod advice. I used to test tripod stability by taping one of those keychain lasers to the top of a fully extended tripod and pointing it at a target I made and taped to a wall at as far a distance the room would allow. Then I'd stand near the target while someone tapped on the tripod legs, lightly at first. You'd be surprised at the vibrations some supposedly 'rock steady' tripods were showing. Of course this was back when people bought camera and telescopes from their local store, where they could physically touch and examine a camera, lens, tripod or telescope. (we sold scopes from the cheap $60 kits to the the biggest Celestrons, even Pentax refractors. I shot with film cameras from disposables to Hasselblad and $40,000 digital cameras. I was like a kid in a candy shop since I got to test them all.)
Thank you! And very great insight here. It's so cool you've bene able to see things evolve like you have in the realm of photography and equipment like this.
This is an excellent tutorial. Very informative and thorough. Thank you.
I’m happy to hear this. Thank you! Cheers
This is exactly what I needed to learn. something these other guys did not do. Thanks Sarah Maths!!
Thanks again, very happy to hear I could help!
Brilliant. Fantastic Channel. I loved your comment: "I just wanted to keep this as simple as possible...."
Thank you! I appreciate the kind words. Cheers!
@SarahMaths Astro You have a stunning channel. What is interesting about your channel and your presentation is that you cover layers of complex material needed for your topic and still maintain viewer interest. That's much rarer and difficult to accomplish than most people would realize. Of course, astrophotography is a high level topic. But still, I find your presentation of it fascinating even without any prior knowledge.
Wow, absolutely sublime content. I've binged on an endless amount of YT content and as a complete beginner, this was invaluable. I actually feel ready after watching this. Don't get me wrong, it's great to have so much content, but for resonating for newbies, this is on point. Thank you so much for the content, liked, subscribed & rang the bell, peace! 😁😁😁
Wow, I'm so happy to hear that this video has been helpful for you and that you feel like you can get out there and give it all a try. I really appreciate your support for the channel, too. Wishing you all the best on your astro journey! Cheers
Thank you so much. This is by far the best I’ve seen. One stop shop tutorial! Subscribed!
Thank YOU!
Very well done tutorial! I have been doing this for about 1.5 years, and I use both the star adventurer and Siril. It’s good to see practices that are like me own and new ones. Thanks.
Thank you! I love my Star Adventurer and learning to use Siril has been awesome. It's such a great piece of software. Cheers!
OK-- I'm staring at the open box of the new Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer kit I just had delivered,,,, First off... I didn't know there was gonna be math... and science.... and computer wizardry... sigh.. I'll be watching this video at least 200 times over the next while I'm sure to figure out this whole process. Thank You Sarah for being so capable and clever in your presentation....
It's totally normal to feel overwhelmed but I promise it gets easier every time you do it. Each time you get out there, you learn a little bit more. Persistence is key! Cheers to your new journey and thanks for stopping by and watching :D
You make your Star family proud! 🙏🏻💖
Thank you! ⭐️
Excellent. Really good for a beginner. Best Siril explanation I've seen. You simplify things really well. Thank you.
Thank you! I'm really happy to hear that. Siril is such a great too!
I have no idea about Astrophotography or why I am here, but I have watched all the video XD really cool!
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and watch :)
Best video I've seen on astro setup! Well done, easy to follow along, nicely presented!
Wow, thank you! I'm so glad it was easy to follow along with. Cheers!
Great video and the dry humour was on point! Might end up posting another comment later on to ask about the flat calibration frames, not sure I completely understood how to take those.
Thanks for your kind feedback! Feel free to ask away about any questions. Apologies that I didn't make it more clear about how to do calibration frames . Here are a couple of additional resources to check out about the topic if you care to:
th-cam.com/video/u6Zk_LQDOD8/w-d-xo.html
www.galactic-hunter.com/post/calibration-frames
Cheers!
Thanks very much for this tutorial. Easy to follow. Good pacing.
I've just got my first tracking mount today. An iOptron SkyTracker. The learning journey continues. Clear skies!
Thank you, I’m happy to hear this. And, congrats on your new tracker. Wishing you all the best in your astro journey. Cheers!
Great video Sarah. Nice clear, concise instructions. I bought the Star adventurer about a year ago to go with my Canon 5D Mark iv. I invested in some lenses, i.e. 12mm fisheye, 28-105mm & a Sigma 60-600mm and It's taken until now to find an understandable tutorial so that I can finally get out and use it all.
Thank you, Gavin. I'm happy to hear that this tutorial was helpful in your astro journey! Wishing you all the best.
I"ve just started astrophotography couple months ago. I really do enjoy your video, it's educational. I'm going to watch your video a few more times at least to get learn the information. Keep up a good work!
It can be a lot to take in. It’s good to take in the info a couple of times though, heck, sometimes a few more than that :) just takes some time is all. Thanks for watching and wishing you all the best in your new astro journey!
Listening to this music makes my heart comfortable, greetings from me from Indonesia. Good
I'm so happy to hear that! My husband produced and created it.
Thanks so much that I’ve found the simplest yet detailed step by step informative video. I’m excited to embark on my journey to do dslr astrophotography which was previously overwhelming. New subscriber here, Sarah. Keep up the good work.
I’m so glad this video could be of help! Congrats on starting your journey! I would also recommend Nebula Photos TH-cam channel and Peter Zelinka for DSLR Astro!
Amazing! So grateful for this video! Makes the whole process clear prior to investing in this setup! Thank you!
Awesome!! So happy to hear :)
@@SarahMathsAstro subscribed! Not far off from my passion of wildlife filmmaking! :)
@@wildbhoomi7639 aww thank you!
You flat out killed it! I'm gonna need to watch it a few more times but I have no doubt I will be 110 %pct successful. Thank You!!!
Thank you! That's so kind of you. I know you got this!! And it's okay if it takes some trial and error, at least it did for me. You learn so much along the way. I'm excited for you!
I've made it until the end of the video. Haven't knew taking images of sky objects so complicated. Keep up the good work!
It is quite complicated but it's a funny journey!
@@SarahMathsAstro I always thought people taking images of sky object, by placing the camera at the back of telescope. But it's actually the post-processing that makes image
yes, a big part of it@@sashomedia
Great video, one small note you never want AWB as that can change the color or outcome of your finished shots you always want them to be consistent in groups of photos you take.
Thank you! I think I should have explained better how you can adjust everything in post with .Raw images too
I am so glad that I stumbled upon your TH-cam channel. You’re just what I needed to understand the processes involved. Especially the tracking devices and their features. Thank you!
I'm so happy to hear this. Thanks for taking the time to watch and thanks for your great feedback! Wishing you all the best!
Since I’m just getting into Astro Photography I was wondering if the Skywatcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro Pack would be worth it as I’m just using a digital camera or a small telescope which I have. I found one on Amazon for just about $400.00 and I noticed you using one in one of your first videos. Is it worth it for a neophyte like me? Thanks.
I just watched one of your shorts and it answered my question for me. I should have watched them first.🙄
thank you been trying to setup for a year you are a great teacher!!!!!!!!!!
That's so awesome! I hope all goes well! Thank you for the kind words!
This is a great tutorial. I will strongly recommand you to newbies.
Thank you! :)
Hi Ms…..a lot of information for us beginners which is great but I’m going to review the part
where you did the polar alignment…..
Polar alignment was challenging for me and I think it is for a lot of us. It took me several times to get it right but once you do, it’s much easier going forward.
Amazing video Sarah and timely. I’m going after the Venus/Jupiter conjunction in two days (1 Mar 2023). I can’t wait to watch your PixInsight videos
Thank you, Craig! Best of luck with the conjunction. Cheers!
Great video Sarah! You had a few things that aren't in my workflow that I'll try next time I'm in Siril.
Thank you, Tom. I am learning from your Siril knowledge, too.
Sarah you are the best.
I have watched at least 15 videos of the Star trackers. And you're the only one that described the orbit of Polaris in the Polaris scope, and that circle is the orbit of Polaris. Nobody else has said anything like that.
I am surprised that nobody has ever mentioned. That and I always wondered now. I actually know what that is for.
I just subscribed to you and looking forward to more of your great knowledge.
Thank you.
Happy to have been able to help. Thanks for your support. Wishing you all the best and clear skies.
Sara,
Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm assuming that having a full frame sensor would be better for astrophotography than let's say a crop sensor, correct?
Typically, yes, mostly because a larger sensor means better light collecting power which is nice for faint deep space objects. But, it depends. It's also important to pair the sensor with a camera lens or telescope that can support that large of an imaging sensor. Vignetting can become a big issue and sometimes harder to correct for if there's a mismatch of imaging circles and sensor size. Another thing to consider is the field of view you want. If you want to get a more zoomed in field of view with the camera lens or telescope that you already have, then using a crop sensor can give you a bit more of a zoomed in FOV. Really just depends on what you're going for :)