Astrophotography

Guides and galleries to inspire and help you get the most out of imaging the night sky.

Creat a pinhole camera and track the path of the Sun across the sky

How to make a pinhole camera

A view of comet C/2017 T2 PanSTARRS on 21 March 21st 2013, Carinthia/Austria at AMOS Observatory. Credit: RenePi / Getty Images

How to see and photograph comet C/2017 T2 PanSTARRS

If you're a planetary imager, make sure your laptop and software are ready for a new season of astronomy. Credit: Steve Marsh

Astronomy FAQs I would like a telescope I can use with my EOS 7D and laptop. Any suggestions?

Massive galaxy UGC 2885 Hubble Space Telescope, 5 January 2020 Credit: NASA, ESA, and B. Holwerda (University of Louisville)

Astronomy FAQs What type of mount is best for deep-sky astrophotography?

Astrophotography can be tricky to do from a big city shrouded by light pollution. Credit: Paul Carstairs / Alamy Stock Photo

Astrophoto guides

How to capture astrophotos from a light-polluted city

Neptune and its largest moon Triton imaged through a 356mm telescope. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astronomy FAQs My planetary photos appear tiny in my DSLR. Do I need more magnification?

The difference in the apparent size of Mars when it’s at its most favourable opposition and when at its most distant from Earth. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astronomy FAQs My images of planets have coloured fringes. How can I fix this?

Graeme Whippy, Essex, UK. Equipment: Nikon D5300 DSLR camera, 55-300mm lens.

Astrophotography

Gallery The 7-8 April Supermoon, in pictures

Tele Vue 2x Barlow lens

Astronomy FAQs What is eyepiece projection and how do I do it?

Canon EOS 1000D DSLR camera body

Astronomy FAQs Why do I need to cool my camera?

How to remove chromatic aberration from your astrophotos. Credit: Paul Money

Astrophoto guides

Image processing How to get rid of unwanted colour fringes on stars

Maxim dl

Astronomy FAQs How do you set up MaxIm DL software for autofocusing?

The Rosette Nebula in hydrogen-alpha, before dark frame calibration (left) and with reduced thermal noise after it has been applied (right). Credit: Steve Richards

Astronomy FAQs What is a dark frame in astrophotography?

Supernova SN2011fe in Messier 101 – supernova hunting is an important activity ideally suited to amateur astro imaging. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astrophoto guides

Image processing Deep-sky imaging for science

Spectroscopy Credit: LWA / Getty Images

Astrophoto guides

Imaging for science Astronomical deep-sky photometry and spectroscopy