Astrophotography with a DSLR and Telescope (& My Results)

In this Astrophotography video, I'll show you how to use a DSLR and telescope to capture the Eagle Nebula!
This deep-sky astrophotography setup uses a cheap camera and a small telescope. This basic setup is affordable, yet capable of capturing amazing wide-field images of nebulae, galaxies and star clusters.
Normally I focus on DSLR Astrophotography from the backyard, but over the weekend I decided to leave the light-pollution behind and travel to darker skies.
In this video, I discuss the importance of organizing your equipment and the preparation that goes into travel astrophotography. I also share some tips for setting up your telescope mount and balancing your scope for a night of imaging.
The night concludes with an image of the Eagle Nebula. The images captured during this camping trip were combined with several nights' worth of imaging from the backyard to create a final image with almost 6 hours' worth of exposure time!
I hope that this video has inspired you to pursue your own passion for photographing the night sky.
View All Equipment: astrobackyard.com/astrophotogr...
Telescope Mount: bit.ly/43kXYyU
Telescope: bit.ly/3sAniQy
Autoguiding Telescope: Orion 50mm
Autoguiding Camera: Meade DSI Pro II
Imaging Camera: Canon Xsi (Modified)
Capturing Software Used:
BackyardEOS for camera control
PHD2 for Autguiding
Image Processing Software:
Deep Sky Stacker
Adobe Photoshop CC
Music:
Space Jelly - Voices
Veorra - Gone
metr - Fantasy
Ship Wrek & Zookeepers - Ark
Elder Scrolls Online Soundtrack

[@AaronDalton1]

Fun watching your old videos and seeing how far you've come in equipment, skill, and production value. Balancing without cables attached - rookie move!

[@tonyvanderlinden1353]

Wow, the eagle nebula looked beautiful! M42 is always my favorite too. Thank-you!

[@kkennardis]

My favorite video so far. When it's cloudy and I'm wishing for warm weather, clear skies and a dark site this video keeps me sane. I am very new to Astro photography and I had always wondered how to protect the laptop outside during imaging...until I watched this video.. thank you.

[@DonGoddardAllAboutPaint]

Just spent half an hour setting up my current and new gear (gets here Wed... so excited!) in Stellarium. Thanks for that tip! I've been enjoying watching these old vids and getting excited to get out there and capture some images.

[@f32440i]

What an excellent video, as a beginner getting into observational and eventually astrophotography, your inside tips are so helpful. Thank you.

[@aldobassi575]

What beautiful video, as all your videos that you make, Trevor! Much inspiration to do ever better. Thanks man.

[@jeffmeyers1420]

Love this video Trevor. You make astrophotography look so easy...and your production/editing of youtube videos. Cheers, Jeff

[@AstroBackyard]

Wow Jeff, thanks man.

[@tsnudhaube]

Hi Trevor, just wanted to leave some regards here from Switzerland! Spent the last nights watching your videos step by step, learned some new things and really enjoyed it. Best, Jan

[@peterbucek2136]

Dude, I just found out about your channel and I dig it so much already! You have very good quality and inspiring content. Subscribed!

[@willyj9993]

Hi Trevor, love the videos and descriptions. I have just started out in astrophotography, your videos are so informative and inspiring. Keep up the fantastic work. :)

[@ClydeCarsonpowermoves]

Wow, I really cheered up a little. I have a DSLR but I've been looking at a telescope to buy to do tunnel for tography and you have incredibly inspired me thank you for the video!

[@MrBrightlight66]

I really enjoy watching this series of video. Professionally made, most interesting, easy to follow and a pleasure to watch. Always thumbs up and I am now subscribed.

[@jamesbradley582]

Amazing,and thankyou for sharing your expertise in all your videos, it's much appreciated

[@rhapirou]

Ce que tu nous fait découvrir là, me fait rêver!!!!!

[@lesliefranklin1870]

The check-list is your friend. Great photos.

[@sonar4504]

Soo awesome. Have the motorised 130 eq telescope. Just bought the prime focus lens and t ring. Cant wait to try.

[@laurapatterson3072]

I am an official subscriber now! I love outer space. And I live where I can see a total of10 stars in the sky. So, needless to say, I really enjoyed your video.

[@arturolazaro1058]

Great video mr T I’m researching little by little my wife is on board and hope to show my 2 little girls the beautiful world of the Stars in the sky Thanks 👍

[@MrBengourben]

excellent video, brilliantly shot. what fantastic sky's you have! Thanks for sharing.

[@johndolby2375]

I just wanted to point out that back in the dark ages, before go-to telescopes, before digital cameras, and even before (shudder at the thought) autoguiders, that little illuminated-reticle eyepiece you highlighted at 3:49, was our "guiding eyepiece." We astrophotographers squinted through it all night long to guide our exposures on film. We did the "Push Here Dummy" guiding work of pressing the 4 directional buttons on our telescope's hand controllers. If we got round stars in our pictures, it was because we did a good job of pressing those buttons and keeping the star centered in the square for the 20-minute, 30-minute, and sometimes hour-long exposures. After a night of guiding, we'd pack up our gear and go home (because we couldn't shoot film from light-polluted back yards). If we finished the roll of film, we would take it to the one-hour photo lab later that day to see how we did. If we didn't finish the roll, we'd wait until the next clear and moonless weekend to drive to dark-sky country and shoot some more. We might not see our results from a night's worth of shooting for weeks or months. The SLR didn't need batteries to hold the shutter open. And we aimed the telescope at our targets by hand, so there were no slewing motors. The telescope's RA clock-drive motor, declination motor (used only for framing and guiding), and the guiding eyepiece were the only things we needed power for, which was amply supplied by the car battery through the cigarette lighter plug, from dusk till dawn. Sorry to ramble. See what you triggered by inserting that couple of seconds blurb about the "pretty cool piece of equipment" that you use only for doing your "star alignment?"

[@mylesbishop1240]

Gorgeous pieces of equipment, in really considering getting into this. Thanks for the share awesome work on your video.

[@laidbackobs]

In my opinion...one of the best astrophotography video yet...keep ehm coming.

[@AstroBackyard]

Wow, thanks man. Appreciate that!

[@mindmagicfilms6799]

You're amazing! Great presentation and of course fantastic photography! Keep up the great work with videos and photography

[@lycian123]

As a Newbie, this is very good. There's lots of stuff out there but this is nicely plain speaking and informative. It also looks like my bank balance is going to get another hit. Thanks!

[@maltehvidtfeldtreichjensen6105]

it amazes me how good your videos have gotten. great video and amazing image of m16

[@JukaOliveiraPG]

Trevor your job is the best. You have a new fan in Brazil. :)

[@sheeeeeiiiiittttt]

Your videos rule and you just gained a subscriber. Just bought myself a Nikon P900 and hope to take some relatively normal photos of the night sky without a telescope. Your setup is awesome. Maybe one day...

[@MrMetalhead0124]

great job on the eagle nebula! keep up the good work young man!

[@jeffreys.8557]

Really nice work. I enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing!

[@azdh85224]

That is fantastic - you do a great job - great Astro photography. 👍🏻🌙📷

[@BackyardAstronomy2018]

@AstroBackyard You do some amazing astrophotography. I envy your work. Hopefully someday I will get shots that good. Awesome job once again man. Keep it up!

[@Cosmic_Gypsy]

Carbon fiber finish on the scope looks dope 🔥

[@GMann_007]

Your vids give me hope. Toronto city dweller. Thank you

[@1specialk8900]

So glad I found this video I’m a novice never thought to adjust my plate along with the scope to get it balanced in Dec thanks your encouraging me to stop letting my gear collect dust from 2015😂

[@FreeHeelSkier99]

Thanks for this! I'm just starting in astronomy and it looks exciting (and somewhat expensive...)!

[@esquared232]

Great shot, love the fly through effect

[@alexiordache8152]

You should have a list with what you need so you won't forget anything. Love the video!

[@michaelhenderson9039]

Checklist. Every pilot is well versed in the use of checklists. They save your butt.

[@divyanshkataria6235]

I'm watching all of your videos from beginning in 2021💖

[@2badger2]

Great video Trevor. I completely forgot my battery one time and it was a 1 1/2 hour round trip back to the house. I like your idea for holding your PC, I was wondering about what I was going to use. Thanks, Roger

[@Rccrasher716]

I always need to use a check list before I ever leave for a job. It's definitely saved me a lot of embarrassing trips back to the office.

Hi Astro Backyard,,, excellent video, I am thinking of doing Astro photography myself, I have had a 10" Dob for 17 years, now I have a 16" Dob. I am thinking of getting a 80ED Triplet, probably Orion I"d say. The mount I am thinking of is either a EQ5 or a EQ6. I will be starting from Scratch, even though I have been doing Astronomy for 20 years in the outer suburbs of Sydney Australia...We do our Astronomy about an hour west of Sydney,,Spectacular skies here. I have noticed that you have quite a few videos on Astro photography, I shall e looking at all of them..Well done congratulations on your efforts in helping people to understand Astronomy and Astro photography...one day I will come over to America and look at the great views over there...Take care, catch you later mate....

[@davidcocklin2109]

I found a small double fan and really work well just blowing light air on my equipment - keep the dew of.

[@brosius85]

thanks for sharing this brother it is very inspiring. well done east to watch video.

[@xDerDerx]

Great video as always, keep it up!

[@martinglazer4318]

thanks for posting. this is really great I have a Celestron C8

[@TerryD1023]

Absolutely beautiful! How are you communicating the picture being picked up from the camera to the computer?

[@ohuseyin]

Great work... Love your videos and enthusiasm for astrophotography.

[@AstroBackyard]

So nice to hear, thanks Oscar

[@SuperNova-py1ec]

As others have said a very well made video. Not just the content but nicely edited and good use of sound tracks.

[@AstroBackyard]

Thanks Mike. Very nice of you to say. Cheers

[@WildVke]

What a great video and such beautiful photography! Thx for sharing.

[@AstroBackyard]

Very nice of you to say, thank you!!

[@jakeflorence2005]

simply amazing

[@iMercileZz]

Awesome video!!! The result is astonishing. Greetz from Germany and keep it up

[@AstroBackyard]

Thank you!

[@ironian24]

excellent video yet again, you are an inspiration to people like me, I would like to ask what you would recommend to a photographer who loves landscapes and astrophotography, I am a beginner really when it comes to astro photography so just wondering what set up you would recommend to me as a beginner astrophotographer, I would love to get the deep space stuff and planets as sharp as possible.

[@grkfire]

Loved this video. I need to get out there and try some more!

[@larrypatterson3957]

Great video. Can you give specifics on your photos? How many darks, lights, etc. and durations? I am just starting DSLR imaging and can use all the help I can get. Thanks for taking the time to share your passion with us.

[@91ABaker]

Love your stuff keep it up!!!

[@jamescook4161]

Great video. How did you mount your finder/guidescope onto the ED 102 as Explore Scientific use their own mounting system. I am interested in the ES102 and also the Orion 50mm guide scope with orion strashoot autoguider camera and have noticed that the bracket on the orion 50mm does not match up to the scopes bracket. What did you use to attach them?

[@ecaub]

Good advice on triple checking your gear. I've driven an hour to my dark site, set up and aligned my telescope only to realize I forgot my t-adapter. The next week I went to the same spot and forgot to charge my power tank!

[@AstroBackyard]

Oh man. Yes, those nights hurt.

[@adrianthrockmorton7557]

How do you combine subs from different nights if they have different darks and flats? Do you just throw them all together when you load it into dss or do you have to process each night separately and then combine them after?

[@MoogeyTV]

Hey Trevor thanks for the video. Even in 2020 this is still relevant! I am new to AP what is the Meade DSI Pro used for and how is it tracked? I am using a DSLR Rebel T7 and considering picking up a T3i to modify. Next step would be telescope and some method of tracking. Do you have any suggestions?

[@jefflucas_life]

I really like adventure outings like this, sharing how you get the best shots, great video!

[@AstroBackyard]

+Jeff Lucas Thanks man. Im itching to get out of the backyard and do a travel ap video soon. I have some great astronomy related trips coming up:)

[@spamcan9208]

Seems like the best way to remember everything is to set it up as if you were on location and create a list as you go along.

[@astro_douglas]

Maratoning every your vídeos hi, I am brasilian photographer and your fan bro!

[@jerrysamuelson1247]

Great video as usual. Question is can I use the orion 12.5mm illuminated reticle plossl telescope eyepiece for aligning Polaris in lieu of using the Celestron 94224 Polar Telescope Finderscope? I have a Celestron Advanced VX 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain. Thanks.

[@Pikkakikka]

Thank You for sharing!

[@robertwilson6918]

Hi there could you tell me if I can use my Canon 4000d for astrophotography in the back of telescope thanks

[@billgray7220]

great video, Trevor !! One question: What did you use as your power source? Also: I recently moved to a suburban area, is there a preferred filter for light pollution? Thanks, Bill

[@Twobarpsi]

Great photos!!

[@LeorickChrome]

As i'm just getting into this hoppy, i do have a similar refractor and canon camera. Would you be able to suggest the best setting for the camera?

[@ifluro]

Quick question Trevor, I have an eos 1100d. Will this produce good images with deep sky stacker? It would be paired with a celestron 4se

[@berendmeier2nd882]

I actually thought, is he going to upload a vid? and yes yu did ;P keep up de good work!

[@christopherwalker8965]

What about using a full frame DSLR such as the Canon 5D mark IIII? Would the larger sensor help in getting images like this? What would the benefits of using a full frame sensor be?

[@ozanaksu1]

Great video!

[@meuandthelot]

Can I use similar for Satellites, ISS etc..L. E. O objects TY

[@tomd4260]

I do allot of astro photography but with just camera lens. Could you possibly point my in the right direction to start out with a refractor. I was kind of looking at the Celestron cs8

[@michaellmccoy19]

I have always wanted to try astrophotography. I have a D5600, but don't know everything I'd need, to do the deep-sky stuff. Any suggestions?

[@temp680]

Haha yeah it happened to me too, got everything set up, power on the camera and notice that i forgot the SD Card at home, i could not decide between laughing and crying

[@AstroBackyard]

It hurts so bad. lol

[@rayopeongo]

Been there done that. Fortunately, I wasn't too far from home. I enjoyed the view, then came back the next night with the missing bits.

[@sztrlb123]

Seeing Polaris Star as big as Sun was amazing

[@GalacticHunter]

Just discovered your channel, I'm so happy to see those vids !!! Your calm and confidence in front of the camera is really amazing and the overall videos are all great to watch, plus you seem like a super cool guy. Looking forward to see more over time :D Cool M16 and crisp Pillars you got there!

[@MrMa1981]

Astonishing. But it's the part with computer I don't like. Are the softwares difficult to use?

[@gnutsrocknroll]

great video! it's really pushing me towards starting AP...looking at getting an orion ed80 and an avx to start with

[@AstroBackyard]

Great combo. I had the previous version of that mount (ASCG-5) and loved it.

[@rubydeleon77]

Is it okay if I used camera flash on the eyepiece of my telescope?

[@troypointerphotography]

Hi this is Troy how are you I see that you did not do a recent video anyway you I've been watching your videos for quite some time now and I kind of like what you do and it's kind of got me thinking that maybe I might be interested in doing some deep sky photography however can you please advise me before I go to Thailand December 2018 what would be the best magnification telescope that I could take with me to travel in Thailand to use with my DSLR including a motorised tracker which obviously can take you to the area that you want to shoot and which one would you recommend I don't want to spend thousands of English pounds I am just looking to do something which can produce some really good results while I'm away in Thailand in the mountains many thanks Troy

[@aa.astro01]

I have two imagers the first one is the Celestron neximage 5 and the second one is the Meade DSI II but if anyone can give me tips on how to connect to the Meade DSI imager that would be thankful

[@ryancross4645]

Incredible shots, is there a chance that I can do anything like this with just a 300 mm lens?

[@friendlaughhard3479]

I have a very big question. I have a newtonian reflector. Ive seen people use that for astrophotography. But a lot of people just puts the camera on without any eyepiece etc. How do you zoom? Im a bit confused. Am i missing something obivous? xD. Yeah im pretty new to this kind of stuff.

[@MatthewHKnight]

Rubber made box genius ideal next time I'm at a store that sells them I gotta get me one!

[@andrewsousa522]

What do you recommend for deepsky photos on a budget

[@tauseefmehdi3875]

HI amazing video, am wondering what your mount is?

[@gamesjuilianna3724]

Good job!

[@kevinoconnor9147]

Hi Trevor, you look like my son & he is like you " Smart & resourceful", good onya lad, its good to be passionate with great interests & hobbies.I am an amateur photographer just getting into AP with my canon 70d.My goal is to shoot wide angle shots of the Milky Way & stars without a foreground, i know most people think its more aesthetically pleasing but i like to put more emphasis on the subject (s) i am shooting.Ive some good lenses (Sigma 10-20mm 4>5.6),(Samyang aka Rikonon 14mm 2.8),(Sigma 24mm 1.4),(Tamron 70-300 4>5.6) & also a (Celestron C90 MAK) for use .Ive on order due next week a (Vixen polarie star finder) so hopefully ill have enough gear to take some good shots. I have got satisfactory results without a star tracker (wide angle)15 to 30 seconds, but when the pic is zoomed in its very distorted & blurry even after post editing the raw files.What do you think i can do to create an image that can be zoomed in to show fine details of the stars, i am from rural Australia so light pollution is not an issue....Cheers Mate & keep up the good work Kev

[@anthonyj1775]

great video

[@paoloportillo7700]

Amazing Eagle Nebula. I've recently upgraded my equipment to an AVX with SWED80.. been using your videos as reference. Hoping to get same results as you do! (shoutout from PH)

[@AstroBackyard]

+Paolo Portillo Awesome. That's a great imaging rig. Your results will definitely be similar to mine. Thanks!

[@charellelipa5990]

I'm from Philippines too! Hello po Kuya/Ate "How cruel is this world that I can't even see the stars clearly" Park Shin Hye's line in Doctor (Kdrama). btw I love this! You're amazing Trevor. Astrophotography can make me feel like I have a disorder named Wanderlust. Therefore, I can imagine things when I see a Calming Place. Sorry because I only know few words in English and only hope that I can expand my vocabulary someday PS I wish I had a Telescope hehe

[@NathanChisholm041]

I always put my rig together fully ready to shoot then one by one disassemble it and pack it in the car so i 100% know i have all my gear!

[@WDE1121]

Nathan Nice!

[@Nonosquare2000]

Is the field of view based on sensor size?

[@truthobservatory6767]

is there a software that is compatible with mac ?

[@itsmarv3982]

Can you give me a link to buy the telescope pls i wanna buy it

[@tempesfugit2147]

Another great video!! Nice images, nice comments, good music, good editing. You will soon end up being invited by the Discovery Channel ;-) Keep up the good work, it is always a pleasure to watch your videos!

[@gadgetmanbowen3081]

I have enjoyed your videos over the years. On your camping trip packing I noticed you probably put some bug repellent in your trunk. I used to hunt and used bug repellent that contained Deet in it. Bug repellent with Deet that you may have on your hands damaged my plastic / rubber plastic covered items such as range finder, handlebar grips and a few other items that were affected. After much research I changed to Avon Skin-so-soft Bug Guard Plus Bug Repellent for my exposed body parts and sprayed my clothes several hours prior to putting them on with Permethrin that is for clothing, gear and tents. The spraying of the clothes will last through many washes without reapplication. Many campers, hikers and some military units use these items from my research. I live in the deep south USA where we have pesky mosquitoes most of the year. Just thought I would pass this on.

[@toddjenest3212]

How do you get the focus perfect?

[@seanwilliamodonnell]

Great vid! Only the good die young!!! (I heard u blaren billy mcjoleson during the mount balancing)