Astrophotography from the CITY

If you want to do astrophotography from a city, using a narrowband filter set is a great way to go. For a beginner or expert it is an amazing way to see the wonders of the universe without ever leaving home.
This walkthrough of the basics of narrowband and how and why it works is a perfect non-technical introduction to this type of imaging.
My Equipment:
Telescope: Celestron RASA 8
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM Pro
Mount: iOptron CEM40
Filters: 2" Baader RGB and f/2 3.5/4nm Narrowband SHO
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI290MM Mini
Guide Scope: Orion 60mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
ZWO ASIAir Plus
ZWO EAF (Electronic Automatic Focuser)
Twitter: / nickjlake
Insta: / nickjlake
Astrobin: www.astrobin.c...
Video shot on Nikon D800 and Pixel 4 XL
Rode Wireless Go microphone system
Astrophotography Atlas: Astrophotography Sky Atlas by Charles Bracken
Photographs of the universe, with galaxies, stars, nebulae, supernovas, comets, planets, Moon, Sun. Inspiring wonder about the night sky, even from the light pollution of Chicago.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks for watching everyone! Where are you in your astrophotography journey?

[@bloodstone2000]

Another fantastic Presentation Nick! Well done!

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks very much!

[@astrotimetraveller4622]

Nice video Nick, good you persevered through to narrowband imaging. I’m 21 months into the hobby and really enjoying it and seeing what others are doing and some of the great images they are achieving, kind regards Ian in the UK

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks so much Ian!

[@DSOImager]

I love imaging with Narrowband filters. I find that processing them is easier than broadband too.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Totally agree, especially dealing with gradients!

[@feraxks]

Very well explained and your presentation style is just so easy to watch. :) The amount of sky available to me is limited due to obstructions and what I can see is under Bortle 6 skies (not as bad as what you have to put up with, but still). Couple all that with clear skies invariably falling on nights with a full or near full moon, narrowband imaging has been a game changer for me.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks! Yes, not worrying about the moon phase is huge. The full moon drives away the clouds usually 😂

[@ronak_photos516]

Hi thank you for such an informative video, I'm currently using an APSC sensor size dslr and 200mm kit lens in combination with a sky watcher star adventurer star tracker. I was wondering if it is possible to shoot from a B9 location with narrowband filters for my modest setup.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

You are quite welcome! Yes, there are DSLR clip-in filters like the L-enhance that can work! Lots of integration time will be the key, and if the DSLR is unmodified the Hydrogen alpha signal won't be quite as strong, but absolutely you could get some results!

[@ronak_photos516]

@@WindyCityAstrophotography thank you so much I appreciate your time 👍🏼 Good job on the video.

[@Midnightquinn]

I understand you are using a telescope setup, do you also have videos for the DSLR-ers that live in the light polluted Mecca of Chi-Town?

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Great question! I currently don't, but I am planning to include some DSLR content soon! What camera do you shoot with?

[@Midnightquinn]

@@WindyCityAstrophotography I shoot with a Nikon d850 and a 200-500 lens usually. Tracker is an IOptron Starguider Pro and I use a ASI120mm camera as a tracker cam. Just not finding a lot of information for a newbie who doesn’t live in the west.

[@henri-julienchartrand3387]

I agree with feraxks. Great question in ''Where are you in your astrophotography journey'' There is no better way to start a meaningful conversation. Many thanks for sharing.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks so much!

[@nestorgalla8962]

Hi Nick, beside the H Alpha and OIII, which other filter do I need for narrowband astrophotography? There's H Alpha for red, OIII for blue and which one do use for green? Thanks for your help. Néstor.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Suphur II or S2. In Hubble palette S is mapped to red and H to green (even though they are both red light)

[@emativede]

I clicked the like button, but for such spectacular and well explained video I wish I had a bigger button!

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Awwww thanks 😎

[@ManosZafirakis.ShapeMixStudio]

Thanks for the video. The time has arrived for me to leave the DSLR and go on with narrowband filters but I am very confused. I have in my mind 2 filters, 6.5nm and 3.5nm. I intend to take images with qhy 294 Mono. My bortle is 5, so it is not so much light polluted to go with 3.5nm but on the other hand the more narrowband is the filter the more sharp detail you get. Isn't it ?

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

How exciting! Yes, you are correct the contrast will be better with a narrower bandpass. Signal to noise will be better, though lots of people get away with 6.5 no problem.

[@AZ4Runner]

Well presented Nick! You have a very good stage/camera presence. I always enjoy your videos. The next stop on my Astro Journey is a mono setup. Looking at the 2600mm or comparable camera.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Awesome, thank you! That is such an awesome camera and mono will be a fun step!

[@rockmusicvideoreviewer896]

Yeah, I too noticed he is well spoken. I could never do a speaking video.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

@@rockmusicvideoreviewer896 thanks 😁 Lots of practice

[@JimCristofono]

Thanks for all of the great videos. I have been trying to do some narrowband imaging using my asi air plus. I have tried it against targets such as NGC 7000 but do not see anything in the preview. I have seen that you do see results in preview using narrowband filters sop i am wondering if I am missing a step in my workflow. I am using a zwo 1600 cooled monochrome camera and the narrowband filter wheel and filters that came with the kit. I have even tried exposures up to 300 seconds but still never see anything in preview mode. I thought I would check with you to see if you have any ideas. Thanks.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Very nice Nick! Is the LED on your 1600MM covered? I noticed the ports are as is, but I had LED light leaking through those ports so had to cover the borders as well!

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks very much! Yes I recall seeing that LED issue in your video and thinking "uh oh!" but I haven't acted on it yet 😬. Definitely going to check into it one of these cloudy nights...

[@KopLamp]

Great video again Nick! I have (or should I say had?) the exact same CEM40 mount. And it let me down the other day. Only because the on/off switch was mechanically broken. I went back to the shop and now I have the newer CEM40 at home. It has a different saddle and some other changes, among which I now need to run my USB connection to the mount through my camera USB hub, so the ASIAIR can still 'talk' to the mount. The old mount will get repaired or replaced, so soon I'll have two mounts... In other words, don't stress out that power switch! ;) Oh... and where am I in my journey? Well I am considering moving into mono, now I have a secondary mount.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Yikes, well at least you have a "loaner" until that is resolved! And that is so exciting about moving to mono! I like it a lot!

[@KopLamp]

@@WindyCityAstrophotography Not a loaner. I bought it ;) 2nd mount. Then I'd be able to set both my EdgeHD 800 and my William Optics GT81 to work in my garden. But now I'll need a 2nd camera as well, hence the consideration to venture into mono. It is VERY expensive though... My ideal setup would be ASI2600MM 7 position EFW LRGBSHO filters That will set me back at least 4000 euro's

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Ah yes I misunderstood. But wow yeah I know how you feel about the expense. Been thinking about a "simple" wide-field setup and even that is pricey. Tempting though ☺️

[@Hariramsdream]

Hi Nick, I'm living in an Indian metro city with very high light pollution. I have seen your two-year-old video. Can you suggest a good and latest telescope with all A to Z accessories? This is for a school where many students use it. Also, I want to know if it's possible to show live clear images on a big screen without editing.

[@JonnyBravo0311]

I have yet to make any trips to dark skies, even though I have a Bortle 4 zone about a 20 minute drive. It's in a state park, and until very recently has been closed to the public due to a certain viral problem. Now that it's opened back up, I will head there. Also, there's a Bortle 2 zone, but that's about a 5 hour drive for me. Hopefully I'll get a chance to make it there in 2022. From my observatory (i.e. the end of my driveway), I am under Bortle 6ish skies and take both broadband and narrowband images. Though, if I'm honest, the narrowband stuff gets far more of a wow factor from people :)

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Yes, dark skies are definitely a treat, but you're right the narrowband often gets the biggest response 😆

[@matthewdocto9453]

Hello nick. New subscriber here and im just asking how to do astrophotography using a phone in light pollution.

[@astroabhi_09]

Very helpful video

[@livehotstreams4226]

is this really filmed in the city? looks like suburbs.

[@bobbeanbags]

Thanks for your awesome videos! Super inspiring. I was wondering if you are a music lover because I saw the turntable behind you in one of your videos… I am going to AXPONA in a few weeks in Chicago and can get you a VIP pass if you’d like to come and see all of the latest hi-fi gear. Message me if you’re interested.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks Robert! I am a big opera fan and have quite a few recordings on vinyl. Will send you a message, thanks!