Digital Astrophotography: A Guide to Capturing the CosmosAt first glance, the challenge of astrophotography may appear daunting. But not only are spectacular results possible, they are easy to learn with the step-by-step instructions provided in Stephan Seip's Digital Astrophotography: A Guide to Capturing the Cosmos. Today, amateurs can produce images that only twenty years ago a large professional observatory would have been proud of; and this book shows you how. Learn how to: Also included are lessons on the processing that is done in the "studio" after your shoot, including how to: Equipment requirements for astrophotography range from nothing but a simple camera and tripod to a multi-thousand dollar computer controlled telescope equipped with a CCD auto-guider and separate guide-scope. Researching the best equipment for your needs is a task in itself. Seip helps you to sort out which cameras are best for the various celestial objects, what to look for when buying a camera, and what accessories you really need. The rewards of this fascinating hobby, as the author says, "Grants you unforgettable hours under the night sky; it allows you to produce aesthetically rewarding and lasting results. Astrophotography is a love-match between physics, photography, art, and digital image processing. It is exciting!" |
Contents
A World Full of Possibilities | |
For Future Reference | |
Application Areas of a Digital Compact Camera | |
Buying Tips for Digital Compact Cameras and Accessories | |
Taking Astrophotos with a Digital Compact Camera | |
The Webcam | |
Buying Tips for Webcams and Accessories | |
The First Exposures with Your Webcam | |
Buying Tips for DSLR Cameras and Accessories | |
Taking Astrophotos with a DSLR | |
Processing Your DSLR Images | |
The Astronomical CCD Camera | |
Buying Tips for CCD Cameras and Accessories | |
Taking Astrophotos with a CCD Camera | |
Processing your Astronomical CCD Camera Images | |
Conclusion | |
Processing Your Webcam Images | |
The Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera | |
Imaging Data of the Astrophotos | |