Finally got a clear shot of the Andromeda Galaxy after switching to a star tracker mount

I spent about 6 months trying to photograph Andromeda with just my DSLR on a tripod. Getting maybe 2 second exposures before star trailing kicked in. Last month I picked up a used Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer for $250 on Craigslist. First night out with it I got 30 second subs that were tack sharp. Stacked 60 of them in DeepSkyStacker and the detail in the dust lanes blew me away. Has anyone else noticed a huge jump in image quality after switching to tracking?

3 comments

3 Comments

david56218d ago

Honestly, I was in the same boat with tripod-only shots for way too long. That jump from 2 seconds to 30 seconds is the real deal, it's like unlocking a new level in the hobby. Tbh, even just stacking 30 tracked subs on a decent night shows detail you just can't get otherwise. Ngl, the first time I saw those dark dust lanes after stacking, I just sat there staring at the screen for a solid minute.

felix_williams7121d ago

I got my Star Adventurer about 8 months ago and it completely changed my photos too. My first try was M31 and I remember zooming in on the core and seeing details I never knew were there. Going from 2 second exposures to 30 seconds is just a whole different ballgame. The dust lanes really pop out once you stack enough frames. Tracking is honestly the best money I ever spent on this hobby.

angela68721d ago

Right, I get what you're saying @felix_williams71 about the dust lanes popping, but honestly I've been back and forth on tracking for a while now. For me, the whole setup process and hauling extra gear just kind of kills the spontaneous fun of astrophotography sometimes. I'd rather grab 20-second untracked shots on a wide lens and stack a ton of them, you know? That M31 core detail sounds amazing, but I feel like I can still get a decent image with just a basic tripod and a remote shutter. It's all about finding what actually works for your patience level, I guess.