Astrophotography

[Nick Armstrong]

I've always loved looking at photos of what lies beyond our atmosphere. It's something I've not got round to trying, not least for fear of the expensive kit needed. Anyway, the photos produced by Hubble and other missions are mind-blowing enough (the NASA daily photo website is a favourite - that 4 Jan photo for example! )

But as if revelling in his Rachmaninov, Medtner &c. playing were not enough, I'm regularly stunned by the photos posted on social media by Yevgeny Sudbin, who's really getting heavily into astrophotography and producing some wonderful results

Here are some of his latest...








All Photos © Yevgeny Sudbin

[Pabmusic]

Wonderful pictures, Cali.

Here's a favourite of mine: the Hubble Ultra-Deep Field. Each light is not a star - it's a galaxy (conservative estimate: 100 billion stars in each)! The patch of sky that's represented is about the size of a thumbnail held at arm's length.

And of course, we're literally looking at history - at least 13 billion years ago in the distance:

[Serial_Apologist]

Hello? Is anybody out there??

[Nick Armstrong]

Wonderful pictures, Cali.

Here's a favourite of mine: the Hubble Ultra-Deep Field.

Agreed - he's another look deep into the Milky Way from the Hubble...

[Jonathan]

I've had a go at astrophotography, years ago when Comet Hale-Bopp was visible (1995?). I've never scanned the photos though. I've not even got the telescope out since moving house last year, I seem to have been too busy!

I remember that I hypered the film by leaving it in the freezer! I always had an ambition to buy a larger scope and a CCD device to have a proper go at astrophotography.

[Keraulophone]

I attempted a little astrophotography this summer on holiday in deepest Perigord Vert, where there was less light pollution than at home. This one was from beside our gîte using a wide-angle 12mm f2.0 lens on a 24mp aps-c camera. It's important to have the widest possible aperture (i.e. 2.0 in this case) in the absence of specialist equipment, as this allows relatively short (less than 20 seconds) exposure times so that blurring is kept to a minimum. It can be a very hit-and-miss process, and one gets cold fingers on those clear nights, though a hip flask helps.

[Nick Armstrong]

All Photos © Yevgeny Sudbin

As is this time-lapse video... with the photographer handily able to contribute a Chopin Nocturne as well!

.

Keraulophone: magnificent!

[Pianorak]

In case anyone is interested. This has just started:

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/orion

[Nick Armstrong]

Another stunner from Sudbin...






"Comet Catalina. Travelling 46,400 miles per second, heading out of our solar system. Passing Earth for the last time. Captured from London. 1 hour 13 mins total exposure."

[Dave2002]

Another stunner from Sudbin...






"Comet Catalina. Travelling 46,400 miles per second, heading out of our solar system. Passing Earth for the last time. Captured from London. 1 hour 13 mins total exposure."

About a quarter of the speed of light if my assumptions and calculations are correct - that seems very fast.

[Nick Armstrong]

© Michael Goh / apod.nasa.gov


Explanation: In the foreground of the featured image are the Pinnacles, unusual rock spires in Nambung National Park in Western Australia. Made of ancient sea shells (limestone), how these human-sized picturesque spires formed remains unknown. In the background, just past the end of the central Pinnacle, is a bright crescent Moon. Arching across the top is the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy. This 29-panel panorama was taken and composed last September after detailed planning that involved the Moon, the rock spires, and their corresponding shadows.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Wow!

I mean, seriously - wow!