George's Astrophotography
On these pages are some of images I have taken recently, most from my home observatory. The images
are divided into groups based on the type of object:
nebulae star clusters galaxies comets
These images were created using digital imaging. Multiple exposures are taken using a digital camera and
then combined using specialized software. By combining images, the signal from these usually dim objects
is increased. In other words, I might take 30 three-minute exposures and then combine them to give almost
the equivalent of a single 90-minute exposure. Taking multiple short exposures allows for errors that might
occur in the process. I can always discard a three-minute exposure and easily take another. That cannot
be said for a single 90-minute exposure! Although photography has been used for years by astronomers,
in recent years digital cameras have revolutionized this technique for studying the heavens. It has made it
much easier for amateurs to create quality images, many of which rival what only professionals could
produce a few years ago.
Las Cruces is a "Mecca" of sorts for amateur astronomers. Our clear skies, especially in the fall and winter,
make for almost ideal conditions for astronomy. Although some amateurs in this area actually do science
with their telescopes (e.g., study asteroid light curves), most of us image the night sky for the sheer
pleasure of seeing objects that we cannot see well through even the most powerful telescopes. Not only do
images provide more detail for a given object, but they also record the colors we cannot see using our eyes
and a telescope. These colors only become apparent through long exposures. For more images by other
Las Cruces amatuer astronomers, see the Member's Gallery of the Astronomical Society of Las Cruces.
are divided into groups based on the type of object:
nebulae star clusters galaxies comets
These images were created using digital imaging. Multiple exposures are taken using a digital camera and
then combined using specialized software. By combining images, the signal from these usually dim objects
is increased. In other words, I might take 30 three-minute exposures and then combine them to give almost
the equivalent of a single 90-minute exposure. Taking multiple short exposures allows for errors that might
occur in the process. I can always discard a three-minute exposure and easily take another. That cannot
be said for a single 90-minute exposure! Although photography has been used for years by astronomers,
in recent years digital cameras have revolutionized this technique for studying the heavens. It has made it
much easier for amateurs to create quality images, many of which rival what only professionals could
produce a few years ago.
Las Cruces is a "Mecca" of sorts for amateur astronomers. Our clear skies, especially in the fall and winter,
make for almost ideal conditions for astronomy. Although some amateurs in this area actually do science
with their telescopes (e.g., study asteroid light curves), most of us image the night sky for the sheer
pleasure of seeing objects that we cannot see well through even the most powerful telescopes. Not only do
images provide more detail for a given object, but they also record the colors we cannot see using our eyes
and a telescope. These colors only become apparent through long exposures. For more images by other
Las Cruces amatuer astronomers, see the Member's Gallery of the Astronomical Society of Las Cruces.
For those who are not familiar with this forecast, "seeing" and " transparency" are the two main items of
interest. In this forecast, dark blue is the best for both conditions. "Seeing" refers to the amount of
turbulence in the atmosphere (less is better) and "transparency" is related to the amount of water in the air
(again, less is better).
interest. In this forecast, dark blue is the best for both conditions. "Seeing" refers to the amount of
turbulence in the atmosphere (less is better) and "transparency" is related to the amount of water in the air
(again, less is better).
| Click above for forecasted sky conditions in Las Cruces. |