Stargazing Vlog - First attempts at Astrophotography

[@davidduffy9806]

Thanks for sharing your first time with us, mirroring all our experiences. Cheers

[@banquo3051]

Press the magnifying glass symbol when in live view twice for 10x ,magnification when focusing

[@Teeb2023]

Yep. Life saver. For added comfort, attach the camera to a phone, or even better, a tablet, and use DSLR controller (on Android).

[@dsloop52]

Rick, the video will be encouraging for those just starting out. I love your discovered enthusiasm for the hobby. You will find all the items that will help you get better and better, that's the fun of the hobby.

[@ninatheambulancecamper]

Loved this one Rick, looking forward to using mine again once I feel a bit better. Glad the camera found a new lease of life, it worked really well for you. Heres to photographing many more of the sky's mysteries ;).

[@djkrilos]

Rick try what's called a bahtinov mask for sharp focusing whilst in LIVE VIEW on your camera. This will give you perfect star focussing. Do this on a bright star at the start of your imaging night then lock the focusser so that it doesn't move. You should only need to do this once.Also don't use a bright light, switch to a red light to reduce your light pollution.

[@TheMathMog93]

*Bahtinov mask. But indeed, those are a veeeery handy tool, even if you can't see it though the live view.

[@ernestjoyner1553]

you dont use it to look thru. just to focus real real good

[@neiluk78]

Fantastic vid Rick...Keep them coming buddy.

[@thegreenknight2658]

Enjoyed this vid. Great first capture of the Orion Nebula and M31.

[@777-Phil]

Many thumbs up for your sharing explorations and exhaustive studies.

[@Munzer1977]

Rick made me spent 40+ minutes listening to him chatting, i almost forgot what i was searching for.

[@19Photographer76]

Rick, you should have your viewfinder blocked off for accurate exposures. What's the magnification of your telescope? You haven't told us anything about it? Also, it would be best having the camera tethered to a laptop. The problem with a Refractory telescope is the purple fringing we saw on one of your images. You'll need a special achromatic filter to handle that.

[@CrosbyFilmProduction]

You may find it easier to use a 7 inch camera monitor on your camera to view and focuse or try using a web camera connected to laptop and take photos that way. However love your video and I hope this helps.

[@tomwall8403]

I really get a kick out of watching you play around and discover things. Keep it up! Three suggestions to make your life easier. 1) Use a hand mirror to view the picture on the back of your camera. 2) Use (make?) something called a "Bahtinov mask" to help get a good focus. 3) To ensure you have your faint targets centered, use a precise goto function in your hand controller. I don't know what the Sky Watcher name for this command would be. I've only used Meade and Celestron. By the way, I have that same scope riding on a Celestron cg5. Keep having fun!!!

[@richardthered]

Brilliant video, was wondering how you was getting on with the telescope. Changing the subject, have you got a in door aquarium? I just have some goldfish but they are amazing creatures and i spend hours watching them. I thought a tank would look good in your kitchen, front room or chill out room. How is the meditation going?? Ever though about past life regression?? Again many thanks Richard

[@deborahthompson9252]

I don't know anything about telescopes and I was totaled absorbed, loved it, and could have watched for hours. Please do this again!

[@GalacticHunter]

Awesome, what a nice setup you have :D Reminded me of my first attempts as well :)

[@PRODIGY5369]

Thanks for the video. I found this while reawakening my 30+ year old interest to embark exactly on the journey you are now on. Really enjoyed it, wish you luck with it and hope to see more as you grow into it. I am in Warks, our council switches the street lights off at unsociable hours.

[@gettingpast4391]

Nice refractor. I came here thinking of buying a 6" refractor but seeing you laying and crawling around on the ground reminded me of why I now use reflectors and SCT's. You saved me nearly $1000!

[@Lisallamaa]

this was so fun. would you be able to link to where you found the telescope please? :) I love how you're always doing different things in your videos it's always exciting.

[@BasilHerby]

Noticed the new camera! The time stamp works quite well for this kind of thing! Do you have any plans for the photos?

[@ethanroo8006]

Rick, I am sure someone has probably mentioned by now that you can get a bahtinov mask. I use that and use a video monitor that I mounted on my telescope to see the live view from the camera. Having that monitor is such a time saver because you don't have to run back and forth to your computer. Between those two items you should be able to focus in a couple of minutes. Clear skies Ethan

[@peggybagley8031]

very nice Rick!Thanks so much.hope you are doing well.

[@stormaurora5536]

To focus, center a bright star in live view, focus it to a point, then it will be in focus for clusters. If you can't see anything on live view, up your ISO until the object becomes visible, then focus and reduce the ISO. Great video, clear skies 😃

[@ItsAnonymousGuy]

This is the kind of video I was looking for! Thank you :)

[@MarkGarth]

Enjoyable video Rick. Astronomy is a fascinating hobby, albeit slightly frustrating at times. You need to spend time processing those images and also learning to take individual frames that can be stacked into a composite image. Too much to explain here, but there are plenty of videos and help guides, in print and on the web. Good luck :-)

[@jefff8106]

Backyard EOS is definitely your friend when using a Canon DSLR. Not overly spendy but worth every penny. You GOTO's are nice and accurate. Polar align might need some tweaking.

[@djkrilos]

Way to find the maximum length of your exposure time:-"600" RULE. Each camera manufacturer has whats called a sensor croping factor which is needed to calculate the shutter speed setting on your camera. NIKON camera has a sensor croping factor of 1.5. So we have the following variables required to calculate the optimum shutter speed:- Lens size (L)- Camera Sensor Crop Factor (CF)- 600 Rule (R) Formula:- Lens Size (L) x Camera Sensor Crop Factor (CF) = (L x CF) Then 600 Rule (R) / (L x F) = SHUTTER SPEED (S) E.G. 300mm Zoom Lens on a NIKON D3200 Formula:- 300 x 1.5 = 450 then 600 / 450 = 1.33 Seconds SHUTTER SPEED WILL BE SET TO 1.3 Seconds

[@anthonyexmouth]

djkrilos that's only relevant when not using a tracking mount and camera lenses for wide field milky way pictures

[@djkrilos]

Anthony....correct. And as Rick isn't using a guide scope to track then the above rule applies.Same rule applies for the milky way otherwise you will get star trails.

[@anthonyexmouth]

djkrilos a guide scope certainly helps but you can still get 3 to 5 min subs unguided with an heq5 or neq6. if you used the 600 rule you'd never get anything over a second with with even a fast ed80

[@nash.achiller1452]

+djkrilos He does not have a guidescope, so it's not autoguiding, but the mount is still tracking in RA. I also have a HEQ5.

[@ernestjoyner1553]

he has a mount that tracks !!!!!!!!

[@NEXIS981]

lol, at 15:19 it looks like as if you would have a Antler ;) Interesting Astrophotography Vlog and amazing Photos, thumb up :)

[@keeplookingup911]

This is quite a neat wireless setting. I have often seen people, they make Astrophotography so complicated by using all sorts of devices and wires everywhere. I think a good telescope and a good mount with a decent DSLR can get amazing views too.

[@peterdonnelly1074]

I really enjoyed that. I definitely felt you're excitement when you stumbled across M42. You are very patient. I'm about to go through the same thine :>) having just bought a telescope with a view to learning to do astrophotography. I've got a very similar mount - NEQ6.

[@jasonbourne2133]

hey rick love you vlogs would love to see more :)

[@cota29th]

Rick, does the camera have a magnify button in live view? When I do Astro shots on a DSLR, I usually boost the ISO waaay up and use the magnify toggle to find a point to focus.

[@tomwright4060]

Good video...I use a 7" focusing screen to help me that feeds from the camera via HDMI

[@jwgaming75]

Love that you got a new scope - awesome! I've been reading that SE branded scopes are really good for astrophotography. If you're having some focus problems, look into getting a bahtinov mask for your scope :) With it over the front of the tube, take some test shots of a bright star and see where the "spikes" appear on the camera/laptop. If all the spikes are centered--making like an asterisk, then you're at perfect focus. If not centered then adjust focuser of scope, taking test shots until it is centered and perfect :)

[@Ray-se1km]

Nice setup mate. Get an LPR filter for the residual light. Works wonders. Backyard EOS for the camera control and focus. Been doing this since the seventies myself.

[@graemecollin]

Cool stuff! My favourite ... I was going to say constellation, but it's really an open cluster within the Taurus constellation, is M-45 - Messier 45, also known as Pleiades, Subaru (in the far east), and the Seven Sisters ... I would love to actually see it (rather than simply a downloaded or book photo) at some point ...

[@ripleymagic]

Rick you can hook your DLSR up to a laptop and using adobe lightroom or Capture One 9 to get a live view and this will be a clearer image than the screen on the camera

[@anthonyexmouth]

Jonah Ripley an even better option is to get backyard eos . free for a month and about £30 after. awesome for controlling canon eos and makes focusing easy

[@CoderTronics]

I am pretty sure Canon offers some free software for this as well as another option

[@DeePaignall]

Impressed with the microphone foam - Zero wind noise (which I hate!), what is it made from?

[@ThatSwedishGuy]

I know others who use it, think its called dead cat, yeah I know. But thats what I have heard it is called

[@deanmindock5020]

I hadn't noticed that but you're right. I think any sort of shaggy fibrous material would work.

[@paulkazjack]

That viewing session looked like a total nightmare! Very uncomfortable positions that in turn affect your ability to concentrate and enjoy the hobby. And that's without all your equipment dewing up!

[@rickvanman]

paulkazjack Yes it sure has been a steep learning curve :)

[@Neiljevans1]

fantastic. your a clever man... can you wire it up to a laptop or tablet

[@petersteiner4765]

One solution to your focus problem is to set the camera to full manual, and focus on infinity.Alternatively, if that Canon model's in-camera software offers a variety of autofocus choices, (as does my Nikon,) you should be able to obtain good results by setting autofocus to a single point - directly in the centre of the screen.

[@instrumentenfreak]

Focus on the moon (or farest visible object) and mark the position. The focus settings should be the same every time... In germany we have some nice spots for astro-looking (is this word correct? xD)

[@royaltyfree686]

It's coming along nicely matey. :-)

[@nash.achiller1452]

15:57 Now you're hooked! :)

[@skyprop]

Agreed! the very moment! :)

[@AllanNorstrand]

Was just thinking when you said you needed more zoom how about a canon 2x extender on the camera ??? thats what i use on my canon 100 to 400mm lens to get it up too 800mm

[@michaelsabella5924]

I noticed on another channel the person had this all connected to a laptop and used some sw to be able to view what yr scope is looking at, this way you dont have to lie on the ground in a twisted position...

[@sirroxalot]

Dude! I started building a camper van and you had the best video I could find. I'm starting to get into astronomy and you're into that, too. If you like 80's hair-metal, then we're twins. lol

[@aquaticmist1]

Best way to focus is live mode high ISO and zoom button on a bright star. And lock the telescope focus after your done or it will move when slewing around the sky.

[@pdc023]

I love this, Rick. It reminds me of my learning curve when I was first attempting astrophotography. Most everything you discuss went through my mind, and all of your lessons I also learned through trial and error. I encourage you to keep experimenting and learning through experience. You'll get there, and you will have a greater understanding of the issues once you've worked them out for yourself. I would suggest, though, investing in a Bahtinov mask. It will solve your focus problems quite easily. They are very cheap (less than $20 US), and make pinpoint focusing a breeze. I would like to suggest a few easy targets to concentrate on for the first few months. Try to shoot the double star Albireo, and try to capture the contrast in the star colors (one will be bright yellow, and the other brilliant blue). Shoot Jupiter and it's moons. Jupiter will be pitifully small in the setup you have, but with good seeing, you might be able to pick up the cloud bands of the planet. Try Saturn, and see if you can pick up the rings (again it will be quite small). And once you are comfortable with operating the system, start increasing exposure times to 1 minute, and go for M51, the Whirlpool galaxy, and M81/M82, Bode's galaxy and the cigar galaxy. Good luck, and clear skies.

[@rickvanman]

Thanks for the great tips!

[@deanmindock5020]

Also take a gander at this site: nightskyimages.co.uk/bahtinov_mask.htm There is a reference there to further ways to get the best out of the Bahtinov Mask.

[@stuknda80z15]

This is why I have a dob. I can stand straight up 90 percent of the time and look at whatever for long periods without crawling about like a hunch back

[@nickdigscali9939]

You're a fast learner, doing very well. There should be a zoom feature on the camera live-view to get better star view for focusing. Bahtinov masks help a lot with focus, which you mentioned in another video. Light pollution filters do wonders. The price is worth it. Also if you want to film nebulae, getting the camera modified to remove certain filters will allow much greater sensitivity to the gas clouds. Although it can be done without camera modification by going to dark skies and doing many hours of long exposures. I highly recommend the website Cloudy Nights for amateur astronomers. Lots of forums on astrophotography and astronomy in general.

[@render66]

Obviously is not properly polar aligned. No way you have star trails at 10 sec if you are well aligned ...

[@ernestjoyner1553]

give the mount some time to settle down.........

[@AllotmentDiggers]

You can watch the moon, Jupiter and the star Spica in the constellation Virgo the Maiden climbing above the eastern horizon by about 10 to 11 p.m. local time. Tonight Rick

[@alexreshilov2491]

You could use HDMI and TV, for tracking and a remote to control the camera. It can be done from home. Good luck

[@davesallotmentdiary3945]

Few things rick. Get it hooked up to a laptop and run it through something like lightroom so you can live view on large screen. You can also view images without prating about straining your neck. you can also control most settings from laptop which again saves pratting about in dark. Get registax and start watching turorials on image stacking. Learn about taking dark frames too. Most images you see by amateurs are stacked images ( lots of short exposures stacked together). Doing real long exposures require crazy expensive cooled imagers and filters along with crazy high eh glass and trackers. Good start dude

[@rocketman1104]

What ASA did you have your camera on?

[@BenjaminEagan]

Nice rig you've got there, how's the light pollution in that location?

[@rickvanman]

thanks, it's not good :o(

[@jasonmushersee]

I have a Logitech 1080 pixel webcam mounted on the focuser plugged into the dell laptop that has a 1280 pixel monitor. I set up the mead telescope next to my car and sit in there with the heater on. Just for now until i build some kind of observatory. I had to download free Logitech software for this camera and it's got a menu of focus/contrast/filter bars and it can move the target to the center of the monitor. Last friday i tried to photograph the lunar eclipse but like you said about venus it's just too bright. I got a few good close up pictures until the old 2005 laptop battery crapped out. Will be building a proper observatory this summer for climate/insect control.

[@elaineburton1759]

jasonmushersee lk?kojkj

[@ommee1422]

My apologies for going off topic but whats the back ground sound on your video?

[@kukla608]

THE MOON WOW!! Thanks so much. Misty maybe but I loved seeing the moon.

[@BackyardAstronomy2018]

It helps if you setup before dark and focus your camera

[@ukinfamous]

Would it not be worth shooting tethered to a laptop with software like digicamcontrol? Least you would see the shots you were taking.

[@sparkyprojects]

I don't know if that canon can output preview via AV (composite), my Olympus can, though i would need a splitter cable if using wired remote, luckily i also have IR remote. If you can use AV out, then something like this monitor (i have this) www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00J2PEGN6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 This one has 2 AV inputs, so you could monitor the canan andd the video camera if you wanted. Could you get a right angle adaptor for the viewscope ? that would make it easier

[@kentcarping8710]

Rick, get your self down to wooda farm in bude. we have had many nights there star gazing. it's truly amazing night sky there. your very high up

[@ant_hart]

I'm a complete beginner myself but heard a real simple way to focus...switch to auto mode on the camera before its dark/in the day with your camera in Auto focus then focus on a distant object..once its auto focused switch to manual focus/ turn off AF to stop it adjusting and if you have it on your lens lock it....once you put it in manual mode it will be good to go..hope that makes sense! :) Just subbed great vids:) Ant

[@davidwalker9594]

Amazing audio quality man. I initially thought it was a voice over.

[@ScudoCamper]

Bloody he'll thay moon was awsome. Let's hope it's full moon on the next trip out mate. :-)

[@davesallotmentdiary3945]

Scudo Camper nooooo the full moon is shite to image. Its all washed out with no amazing craters on the terminator when its in partial phase. Its better the shoot when its either waxing or waning crescent

[@paulscbr600]

Hi Rick, if you have a laptop, get yourself backyard eos, its for canon digital cameras, and for focus a bartinof mask is very good

[@skyprop]

Before using your scope MAKE sure it is LEVEL (Including the mount and OTA and Pointed true North to start) at that point do your 2 star Alignment. Pick two stars as far apart as possible to use as alignment stars and calibrate with those. This will help alot. Before all that make sure your OTA and Finder (If using one) are properly Aligned.

[@mischef18]

So your hobby is still looking up then. Liked the vid bro. All the best

[@Nottsboy24]

Cool video! well done :)

[@Sheila6325]

Oh how I LOVED this video!!!! I was so excited, and enjoyed every minute of it. I do have one suggestion LOL You could always cut a hole in your roof and you would have the best view of them all!!! LOL No kidding, I have seen where people added rooms to their roof, that also have a sliding roof for their telescopes, to see the sky from all directions. Now THAT is a love of the sky! This was not only fun, but also very Amazing. Thank you! SheilaPS I have also seen telescopes up on tall stilt like things, and they also get a stool to sit on. Fun, Fun, Fun! (your photo is Amazing!!)

[@deanmindock5020]

I like Rick's attitude a lot. He bumbles along with a super positive attitude, like a curious teenager. He is doing a service for all us wannabes.

[@TheWonkyAstronomer]

To photograph Hades you have to point it straight down.

[@tomwestre1725]

FOcus on a bright star like Sirius...Antares...Vega in live view in your camera. Note the number on the focus tube. Now Go ahead and image If you can't get longer than 15 seconds check your polar alignments, and tripod level. . Get a finder scope that takes a diagonal and 1 1/4 inch eyepiece...its a lot easier that way if the scope points up.

[@privateprivate3813]

I'm not experienced with photographing through a tele, but typically for focusing on the moon with long camera lenses, one option that has worked well is when in live view zoom in digitally with the camera and 'then' set your focus. This would work even better I would think in combination with the laptop live view. I could be wrong, but this works perfectly with my Nikon D750 and the 200-500mm Nikkor for focusing on the moon. I understand it's going to be harder with a distant star etc. Try it out.

[@retrorestore]

The Moon was great. Plenty of surface detail.

[@deanmindock5020]

It was good but it could be much much better. Rick needs a light pollution filter for the camera. www.astronomik.com/en/clip-filter-system.html

[@Neiljevans1]

the idea with the laptop is so you can go live with a webcam

[@tommylee2894]

Hey RIck, Maybe get yourself a Shoe Stool or a Mechanics Creeper. Also I know your can get filter lens to clean out some of the artifacts that end up on your pics. Learning as you go, I'm sure you know is the best way to retain best practices when using a piece of tech gear, like that of your Telescope! Waffle on mate!

[@mickeyred]

I am watching your astrophotography videos in the wrong order, it is fulfilling to see that suggestions here have made it to later videos.

[@solodog71]

Very good sir, for a starter your doing well, *****

[@ghost70]

Buy a cheap second hand canon 60d /70d that has a flip out screen no need to bend down then. Also need to astro modify the camera for extra details in red hydrogen range. Also usefull app called synscaninit give exact details for the handset. Need to perform factory reset on the handset ech time you set to remove old data. then polar align and 3 star align should be good to go then

[@tonydd1735]

Like you l enjoy astrophotography, problem is light pollution here on the Wirral, l have with little a bit of success photographing orion nebula,milky way etc. Still learning hopefully will be buying a telescope similar to the one you have when l retire in couple years time, my wife thinks l'm nuts photographing the stars outside in the middle of winter in the garden, maybe we are but it is a hobby we enjoy. l wonder if it is possible to leak the telescope and camera to a laptop and be able to sit in a nice warm environment (l have my man shed fully insulated and warm).With light pollution where l live our local council have started to replace the old street lamps with new LED lamps and the light from LED's being directed down this this as helped 100% starting to see a lot more stars more clearly.Thank you for a enjoyable video

[@beck5787]

Let stargazing be thy yoga. ;o)

[@skyprop]

that shed in the back would make a great remote location for you to sit snugly warm and control your telescope and camera remotely. Just saying. :)

[@elliottastro-imaging9298]

Hey!! Nice video!!!!!!

[@BionicRasta]

Although astronomy is fascinating for the observer, the steep learning curve & technicalities puts me off these kinds of hobbies, that along with the cost. Its one of those hobbies that once you've got set up, suddenly discover that you need other things to improve it & before you know it you've spent a few grand. Looking up this video of M46, you should look at Messier 47 which is an open cluster, much closer & stars brighter kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3upi59-ebCelc0

[@tubedude54]

And thus begins a hobby that will bleed you dry LOL!! I know... been an amateur astronomer for 50 yrs now! Clear skies!

[@bmmcwhirt]

Telescopes do not zoom. The only thing you can do is get a higher resolution camera and crop the images.

[@rupertpowell]

A Barlow lens will have the desired effect.

[@NathanChisholm041]

shouldn't leave you controller dangling as it stretches the wires and they will snap!

[@rickvanman]

sadly its a choice between that, or colliding with the base of the telescope on the more overhead objects :o(

[@NathanChisholm041]

They never make them long enough lol... Well Rick i'm enjoying watching your adventure, and have bought the same scope myself and have hooked it up to the computer using backyardeos and having a ball! Are you using a tracking scope? i bought one and its made a huge difference to my photos! Anyway Orion is just popped up here in Australia so i'm off to capture the night skies so good luck mate...

[@skyprop]

Get and use a star Diagonal to use with the camera. this will keep your knees off the ground.

[@More-Space-In-Ear]

You could of course pull the legs fully out or if your taking a lot facing one way, lift the telescope onto the step around your shed, this will easier for your back. 👍🏼

[@seanimal3]

for manual focusing get a mirrorless camera lol

[@LASERMASTERS]

The moon!

[@ernestjoyner1553]

a diagonal would help and make things easier !

[@ricford39]

Amateur night under the stars. Sorry but this IS funny.

[@trentla7506]

nice vid mate

[@rojka-_-]

i love you rickwanman i love scence i love telescope like like cub cub

[@alanroberts4060]

Wow cool or what :O

[@121ian121]

put some sort of flat platform over your pond. then put your telescope on it.

[@121ian121]

screw or pins to stop platform sliding on pond

[@Swedeonamotorcycle]

When you get hooked on astrophotography From now on it usually starts to get expensive. :)

[@rickvanman]

indeed! am finding that :)

[@PlotToPlates]

Damon and Austin seem really good people and friends. Would the focus just be infinity? On my Canon 550D you can shoot bracketed shots over three different F Stops, I also have Magic lantern firmware installed that gives you lots of non Canon options, it may not work with the Canon you have. www.magiclantern.fm/ Also on My Canon you can remote to a Laptop/Computer using Canon software and make setting changes and I think view the screen. "EOS Utility is an application that brings together all of the functions required to communicate with the camera. Functions for downloading and displaying images, remote shooting, and camera control of each setting when an EOS DIGITAL camera is connected to a computer have been integrated." www.canon.co.uk/support/ I like your new hobby. You have helped my many times, so if I can help you just a little it would make me very happy to return the favour.