Announcements - Check Here for Updates!
A Message from the Instructors
How to Navigate this Course
Table of Contents
Access to Stellar Perks
Affiliate Earnings - Get Started Here!
Useful Resources
Astrophotography Glossary
Before We Begin...
Season 1 - Table of Contents
How We Got Started
What Resources Should You Read?
How to Get Motivated: Astrophotography Apps and Websites
Get to Know Your Objective
Introduction
The Camera: Your New Best Friend
The Telescope: Making the Right Decision
The Mount: Strong and Sturdy
Camera Accessories: Make Your Life a Little Easier
Telescope Accessories: Don't Leave These at Home
Power Sources: Getting Amped on the Field
DSLR Camera - Equipment Summary
What Equipment Will You Be Using?
How German Equatorial Mounts Work
How to Attach a Clip-On Filter to a DSLR Camera
Introduction
Menu Walkthrough and Important Features to Activate
Main Menu Settings (ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture)
How to Switch to Manual or Automatic Focus
How to Switch to BULB Mode
Summary of Camera Settings
How to Use an Intervalometer
Introduction
Battling Light Pollution: How to Find the Perfect Location
Weather Wizard: Which Websites and Apps to Use
Scouting a Location to Image from
What Object Should You Image?
How to Frame Using Planetarium Software
The Dangers Out on the Field
Survey
Introduction
How to Set Up Your Equipment
How to Attach the Camera to Your Telescope
How to Balance Your Rig
How to Plug in the Cables
How to Polar Align
Initializing the Mount and 3-Star Alignment
Introduction
How to Focus at Night
What Settings Should We Use?
How to Focus the Guide Camera
How to Use the Auto-Guider
Using the Intervalometer and Taking Test Shots
Passing Time While Imaging
Calibration Frames: How to Take Darks, Bias, and Flats
Introduction
Importing the Files
Downloading Raw Data
Stacking with Deep Sky Stacker
Stacking with PixInsight
Processing a Globular Cluster With PixInsight
Post-Processing with Lightroom
PixInsight - Access our Processing Workflow for Beginners
Processing Summary
Beginner Processing Survey
Messier 13 - Final Image Results
Introduction
One-Shot Color Cooled Astrophotography Camera
Telescopes - Using a Reflector Over a Refractor
Mounts - The Jump to a High-End Mount
Filters - Do You Need Them?
Batteries - We. Need. More. Power!
OSC Camera - Equipment Summary
Introduction
Planning Ahead with SkySafari
SGP: Dashboard Walkthrough and The Basics
SGP: Preparing Our Imaging Session
SGP: Settings Used to Capture M33
SGP: Setting Up Text and Email Notifications
Introduction
Setting Up the Equipment
How to Use a Coma Corrector
How to Collimate a Reflector Telescope
Initializing the MyT Mount
SGP: How to Focus
Test Shots and Launching Our Series
Calibration Frames with SGP: Taking Darks and Flats
Introduction
Transferring Files
Download Our OSC Camera Raw Data!
Debayering: Why is it Important?
Processing a Galaxy with PixInsight
Messier 33 - Final Image Results
Introduction
The Monochrome Camera
The Telescope: We're Using Another Refractor!
Extra Accessories: An Off Axis Guider and Electronic Auto-Focuser
How to Mount the OAG on the Camera
The Electronic Filter Wheel and Narrowband Filters
Mono Camera - Equipment Summary
Introduction
Understanding monochrome cameras
Planning Our Shot
What is the ASIAir?
What is a Field Flattener?
Introduction
Setting Up in the Backyard
ASIAir: Initializing and Connecting the Equipment
ASIAir: How to Focus and use the Electronic Focuser
ASIAir: How to Focus the Guide Camera on the OAG
ASIAir: Test Shots and Launching Our Series
ASIAir: Shooting Flats and Darks
ASIAir Pro - Mount Controls and Auto-Guiding
[2022 Update] Full Walkthrough using the ASIAir Plus
Introduction
Transferring Files from the ASIAir to the Computer
Download Our Raw Data!
Processing Walkthrough of Monochrome Data
IC 5070 - Final Image Results
Introduction
Our Favorite Printing Companies
Displaying Your Art
Final Thoughts
Before You Go...
Welcome to Season 2!
Season 2 - Table of Contents
The Milky Way: What is it, and Why Photograph it?
Survey: Your Current Milky Way Photography Skills
Introduction
The Best Time to Image the Milky Way
The Best Location to Photograph the Milky Way and Escaping Light Pollution
Using SkySafari to Plan our Shot
Useful Apps for Milky Way Photography
PhotoPills Walkthrough
Planning our Shot: Summary
Introduction
The Camera: Canon 7D Mark II
The Tripod: Orion Paragon XHD Heavy Duty
Image Acquisition: Wired Intervalometer
The Lens: Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8
Other Accessories: SD card / Battery pack
Beginner Equipment Summary
Introduction
Camera Navigation: Canon 7D Mark II
The "500 Rule"
Camera Settings
Switching the Lens to Manual Mode
Activating BULB Mode on the camera
Camera Settings - Summary
Introduction
Arriving on Location
Setting Up the Equipment
Focusing the Lens
Framing the Milky Way and Taking Some Test Shots
Taking Images of the Milky Way
Photographing the Milky Way - Summary
Introduction
Download our Raw Image!
Enhancing our Image using Lightroom
Processing Summary
Survey: Milky Way Beginner Section
Introduction
The Camera: Canon Ra
The Lens: Samyang XP 14mm f/2.4
The Tripod: Carbon Fiber Tripod
The Star Tracker: Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro
Accessories: SD Card and Wireless Intervalometer
Advanced Equipment Summary
Introduction
Camera Navigation: Canon Ra
The "NPF Rule"
Camera Settings
Switching the Lens to Manual Mode
Activating BULB Mode on the Camera
Camera Settings - Summary
Introduction
Scouting for Foregrounds during Daytime
Setting Up the Equipment and Balancing
Polar Aligning the Star Tracker
Focusing, Framing, and Taking a Test Shot
Understanding the Histogram
Tracker OFF: Capturing the Foreground
Tracker ON: Capturing the Milky Way
Photographing the Milky Way tracked - Summary
Extra - How to Make a Milky Way Arch Panorama
Introduction
Importing and Organizing the Files
Download our Raw Files!
Stacking the Milky Way using PixInsight
Processing the Milky Way using PixInsight
Adding a Foreground using Photoshop
Milky Way Processing Summary
Introduction
Purchasing a Print and Finding a Custom Frame
Hanging Your Work
Galactic Course Season 2 Conclusion
Survey - Season 2
Welcome to Season 3!
Season 3 - Table of Contents
Survey: What do you struggle with the most?
Introduction
The Camera: Canon 7D Mark II
The Lens: Rokinon 10mm f/2.8
Image Acquisition: Wired Intervalometer
The Tripod: Carbon Fiber Tripod
Other Accessories: SD Card / Battery Pack
Optional: Star Tracker
Equipment: Summary
Introduction
When & Where to Shoot Star Trails
When & Where to Shoot Time-Lapses
Useful Apps for Planning
Useful Photopills Features
How to Find Polaris
The Settings We Use for Star Trails
The Settings We Use for Time-Lapses
Planning and Settings: Summary
Introduction
Scouting the Location
Setting Up the Equipment
Focusing the Lens
Taking Star Trails Images of the Sky
Extra: How to Use the Built-In Intervalometer Feature in Newer Cameras
Capturing Light: Summary
Introduction
Importing and Organizing the Files
Download Our Raw Files!
Lightroom: Enhancing the Images
Photoshop: Removing Plane Trails & Creating Star Trails
StarStax: Creating Star Trails
Photoshop: Blending a Foreground
Transforming Star Trail Data into a Video
Star Trails: Conclusion
Introduction
Ordering a Metal or Acrylic Print
Hanging your Art
Introduction
Scouting the Location
Setting Up the Equipment
Focusing the Lens
[Untracked] Taking Images of the Sky
[Tracked] Tracking the Earth Rotation
Photographing the Motion of the Sky: Summary
Extra: Using the Built-In Time-Lapse Feature in Newer Cameras
Introduction
Importing the Files to the Computer
Download our Raw Files!
Enhancing our Images using Lightroom
Using a Video Editing Software to Turn our Pictures into a Video
Time-lapses Compilation Video & Conclusion
Final Thoughts & Conclusion
Season 3 Survey
Welcome to Season 4!
Season 4 - Table of Contents
Survey
Introduction
The Most Popular Observatories in the World
Analyzing Weather, Altitude, Distance, Darkness, Owners…
Choosing the Right Observatory
Touring an Observatory
Finding the Right Remote Observatory: Summary
Introduction
The Telescope and Camera
The Computer
The Software
The Mount
The Power Management Box
The Auto-Focuser
The Dew Heaters
[Optional] The Flats Panel
Power (UPS, AC adapters..)
The Pier Extension / Pier / Tripod
[Optional] The Security Camera
Cable Management and Cleaning
Getting your Equipment Ready: Summary
Introduction
Removing the Previous Telescope
Setting Up Your Equipment & Balancing
Plugging in the Cables
The Art of the "Double Loop"
Testing Connections & Saying Goodbye One Last Time
The Ideal Park Position
Polar Aligning
Setting Up: Summary
Introduction
Checking the Weather Before Imaging
Mapping the Observatory Shared Drive
Using the Roof Status File as a Safety Monitor
Connecting to your Equipment from Anywhere in the World
Launching our First Sequence
Parking & Downloading the Files
Checking the Files & 1st Light!
Taking Flats Remotely
Requesting Technical Support
Images Taken from the Remote Telescope and Summary
Introduction
Remote Imaging - Too Easy? Not "Real" Enough?
Telescope Live Walkthrough
Training Session Using our Remote Telescope
Understanding How it Works: Summary
Introduction
Data Acquisition using Advanced Requests
Data Acquisition using Bundles
Importing Telescope Live Data into PixInsight
Summary and Images Taken Using Rental Equipment
Introduction
How to Download Data from the HST or JWST
Organizing your RAW Files
How to Understand the Filters
How to Combine the Channels Properly
Process Data from the JWST
Final Touches in Lightroom
Download a Processing Guide for Professional Data!
Professional Data Acquisition: Summary
Final Thoughts & Conclusion
Season 4 Survey
Welcome to our Comet Imaging & Processing Workflow!
Table of Contents
How to take Pictures of Comets
Processing - Before We Start
Download our Process Icons
Download our Raw Data
Data Calibration and Stacking
Getting our Star Mask
Comet Alignment
Batch-Removing the Stars and Stacking the Data on the Comet
Processing the Comet Image
The Final Image
