Astrophotography

IP1 Colour Handling MAIN

Colour handling: how to produce full-colour planetary images

Zdenek Bardon,
Sumava mountain, Czech Republic. Equipment: Nikon D810A, Takahashi FSQ106/530, tripod.

Astrophotography

In pictures: total lunar eclipse, 27 July 2018

Your smartphone can be a powerful astronomy accessory during an observing session. Credit: iStock

Astrophotography

Stargazing with a smartphone

Peter Harrison's birthday reception and dinner at the new Planetarium. 24th May 2007.

Astrophotography

Nebulae to nightscapes: judging IAPY 2018

This image from the VISTA infrared survey telescope at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in northern Chile is part of the largest infrared high-resolution mosaic of Orion ever created. It covers the Orion A molecular cloud, the nearest known massive star factory, lying about 1350 light-years from Earth, and reveals many young stars and other objects normally buried deep inside the dusty clouds.

Astrophotography

The best astro images of 2017

Sarah and Simon Fisher, Worcestershire, 30 October 2016

Sarah says: “My husband Simon and I were delighted to have consecutive clear nights in October to image our nearest natural neighbour. The seeing was outstanding, and with UK skies being so changeable (and cloudy) we were ecstatic to be able to have our telescope out four nights on the trot.”

Equipment: Canon EOS 600D DSLR camera, 5-inch Maksutov-Cassegrain.

Astrophotography

Hotshots: top readers’ astrophotos, 2017

Although it looks like the pattern of a shell on the beach, this intriguing spiral is in fact astronomical in nature. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) captured this remarkable image of a binary star system, where two stars — LL Pegasi and its companion — are locked in a stellar waltz, orbiting around their common centre of gravity. The old star LL Pegasi is continuously losing gaseous material as it evolves into a planetary nebula, and the distinct spiral shape is the imprint made by the stars orbiting in this gas. The spiral spans light-years and winds around with extraordinary regularity. Based on the expansion rate of the spiralling gas, astronomers estimate that a new “layer” appears every 800 years — approximately the same time it takes for the two stars to complete one orbit around each other. LL Pegasi was first highlighted about 10 years ago when the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope obtained a picture of the almost-perfect spiral structure. This was the first time a spiral pattern had been found in material surrounding an old star. Now, ALMA’s observations, of which this image only shows one “cross-section”, have added an extra dimension to reveal the exquisitely-ordered 3D geometry of the spiral pattern. A full view of the 3D video can be seen in this video. An additional image shows a composition of the ALMA and Hubble data. Links: ALMA and Hubble observe LL Pegasi 3D view of LL Pegasi

Astrophotography

Eye On The Sky: the top astro images of 2017

August 2001: this close up view of the ISS clearly shows the separate components that make up the space lab (Credit: NASA)

Astrophotography

Evolution of the International Space Station

The Rho Ophiuchi Clouds, by Artem Mironov (Russia)

Hakos Farm, Windhoek, Namibia, 6 August 2016

Equipment: Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR camera, Sky-Watcher 200P reflector, Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro SynScan mount.

Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2017: winners announced

Dave Walker

Nashville, Tennessee

Equipment: Canon EOS 600D DSLR camera, Skywatcher Star Adventurer, Canon 100-400 IS lens.

In pictures: the 21 August 2017 total solar eclipse

Eta Carinae and her Keyhole © Michael Sidonio.png

Astrophotography

Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2013 shortlist

Scintillating Sirius
Steve Brown (UK)

Location: Stokesley, North Yorkshire, UK, 11 January 2016

Equipment: Canon EOS 600D DSLR camera, 250mm lens, Star Adventurer tracking mount.

Astrophotography

Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year: 2017 shortlist revealed

Luke Hayes captured this shot of the Perseid meteor shower from the Dengie peninsula in Essex. Luke used a Canon EOS 5D DSLR camera with a Canon 8-15mm lens. Image Credit: Luke Hayes

Astrophotography

How to photograph the Perseid meteor shower

JUPITER PIX 3

Astrophotography

Making progress