#Art Blog article n.30: Unveiling the Cosmos: A Journey into Deep Sky Astrophotography
24. September, 2024 - Reading time 15 Min. - Written by Angel Monticelli
#cosmos #spaceart #discoveringuniverse #stars #nebulas #astrophotography #nightsky #scifi
In this Art Blog post, we will be exploring the art of photography, focusing specifically on astrophotography. The thrill of discovery that comes with capturing images of the cosmos sparks a sense of wonder and propels us beyond the boundaries of our current knowledge, ultimately contributing to the advancement of our civilization's understanding of science and art. Throughout history, humans have viewed the stars as deities, immortalizing them in paintings and sculptures. As we delve deeper into astrophotography, we begin to see the connection between art and the vast expanse of the universe.
ANTON MEIJER & HIS AMAZING ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY
A curious child
My fascination with the night sky began in my childhood. I was born in a little city in Argentina, back in the late 70s. When I was a young kid, at the age of 6 or 7, I remember looking into the sky and seeing a persistent dust cloud. I was questioning myself why this cloud never goes away. Little did I know that it was an arm of our galaxy, the Milky Way. I was fascinated with the view and without the Internet or a tutor, I only could dream of knowing more.
I also remember checking on the stars' patterns and trying every night to spot them again. I remember knowing what was “La Cruz del Sur” or the South Cross to spot the southern celestial pole. These are four stars that form an imaginary cross, and with some rough measurements, you can pinpoint where the South is.
But more into it, I was fascinated with a star group commonly known as the “Tres Marías” or the Three Kings, and a closed-by group of another three stars in line, a little fainter. From these three dimmer stars, to my later surprise, I found that the star in the middle wasn’t actually a star, it was the Orion nebula (astronomically classified as M42, or Messier 42). The image here shows these stars in the Orion constellation.
A couple of years later I bought my first pair of binoculars to watch the night sky, and I can tell you, I was in awe. The sky in this little town in the 80s, offered a clear view, with little to no light pollution. It was breathtaking.
Blinded by the light pollution
Time passed by, and I moved to a bigger city to get my Engineering degree, in which the sky was so light-polluted that you couldn’t even see the bright planets. There is a scale to measure the light pollution, the Bortle scale. The Bortle scale is a nine-level numerical scale that measures the night sky's brightness in a particular location. It quantifies the astronomical observability of celestial objects and the interference caused by light pollution. John E. Bortle invented the scale and first published in the February 2001 edition of Sky & Telescope magazine.
The Bortle scale in my “new” city was 9+ which is the worst. My passion for the night sky didn’t dwindle but it was dormant. Meanwhile, I was following the progress of the Hubble Telescope and was amazed by its discoveries and the images produced.
And I guess that at this point I was thrilled about the Deep Sky Objects (DSOs), these distant celestial bodies hold a unique allure for astrophotographers, offering glimpses into the grand tapestry of the universe.
Deep Sky Objects
After 10+ years, I moved again, but this time to a new country in the Northern Hemisphere. Luckily the light pollution in my city is not that bad. While from my rooftop I have a 7 to 8 in the Bortle level, if I travel an hour, I can be on a 4-level sky. But even more, with narrow-band filters you can eliminate a lot of that annoying white glare of the sky.
While I occasionally capture the Moon and planets, my fascination lies in the pursuit of these elusive DSOs.
Photographing DSOs presents a rewarding challenge. Unlike capturing the Moon or planets, DSOs require long exposures to gather enough light to reveal their faint details. Overcoming light pollution and mastering specialized techniques are part of the journey, but the results are nothing short of awe-inspiring.
While it can be rewarding, it can also be frustrating. Too many things that could go wrong. Like, the weather, exposure time, vibrations in your setup, technical issues, and more. But in the end, if you can end with a great image the feeling is amazing.
I had in my eyes the images of The Pillars of Creation published by NASA and taken by the Hubble Telescope. At the time it was out of my reach, but I was wondering if I could ever capture this beauty. Here is my own capture of The Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula or M16 (Messier 16).
In the DSOs categories, the very first nebula that I captured was the Orion Nebula (M42) , the tiny spec in the Orion constellation, that one from my childhood! I took it using a quite affordable Maksutov telescope, not well designed for DSOs but for Moon and planetary observation, but my stubbornness drove me to try it anyway. A few months later, with much experience and some new equipment, I took another shot to the same target.
Here are both images:
Starting Your Journey
One of the nicest aspects of astrophotography is its accessibility. Contrary to what you might think, you don't need a fortune in equipment to embark on this celestial adventure. My first forays into the cosmos were through a humble pair of binoculars, and the sheer number of stars and celestial wonders they revealed was out of this world (pun intended!). My initial astrophotography setup is in the image. I have started with a Sony A6000, a combination of lenses, a Manfrotto tripod, and an iOptron star tracker.
For beginners interested in DSOs, I recommend starting with a DSLR or mirrorless camera, a sturdy tripod, and a wide-angle lens. This setup allows you to capture stunning images of the Milky Way and other large nebulae. As you progress, you can explore dedicated astrophotography cameras and telescopes to delve deeper into the cosmos.
If you’re not sure about it, you can use your smartphone and a tripod. Here is a shot I took with a OnePlus 6, 5 years ago.
But, don’t be fooled. Once you bite into this hobby, there is a ladder to climb that could be very expensive!
The Thrill of Discovery
The true magic of astrophotography lies in the thrill of discovery. It's the moment when, after hours of capturing and processing images, you reveal details that were invisible to the naked eye. I vividly recall the excitement of realizing that the middle "star" in Orion was, in fact, the Orion Nebula, a vast stellar nursery where new stars are born.
There are some good software alternatives for processing your astrophotos. I have started using Siril, a great free software tool to stack, and process astronomical images along with Gimp, another great free software to post-process the final images. Of course, you can use PixInsight, a paid image-processing software specifically designed for astrophotography. It's highly regarded within the astrophotography community for its powerful tools and capabilities, and is often considered the industry standard for advanced image processing.
Final words
Astrophotography is not merely a hobby; it's a journey of exploration, wonder, and self-discovery. It bridges the gap between ourselves and the cosmos, allowing us to connect with the universe on a profound level. Through the lens of a camera, we unveil hidden celestial beauty, igniting our curiosity about the vast expanse above and our place within it.
If you've ever felt drawn to the night sky, I urge you to embark on your own astrophotography adventure. The rewards are immeasurable, and the sense of accomplishment from capturing your own celestial images is truly awe-inspiring. Don't be deterred by the perceived complexity or cost. Even with modest equipment, you can achieve remarkable results.
Remember, the universe is a vast canvas waiting to be explored. All you need to do is look up, embrace the wonder, and start capturing its breathtaking wonders.
Written by Angel Monticelli
Check more Astrophotography material of mine at my Instagram account: @angelitusss
MORE ON ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY & ART:
SCULPTURES INSPIRED BY UNIVERSE EXPLORATION
SPECTACULAR GRAVITATIONAL LENSING
READ BLOG POST N.4 ON ROSETTE NEBULA
ANTON MEIJER & HIS AMAZING ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY
CLEAR SKIES BY JAUME ZAPATA
#cosmos #spaceart #discoveringuniverse #stars #nebulas #astrophotography #nightsky #scifi