Are You an Astrophotographer?by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 19 Apr 2008 10:21 PM Are you a backyard astronomer looking to document a starlit sky with your own camera? Recently fellow blogger Courtney Mroch asked me for tips on how to shoot constellations and I thought I would write a simple post on camera set up, focusing, and lighting. Then I realized there is much more to astrophotography than one blog could accommodate. Therefore, I have decided to devote an entire series of blogs to astrophotography beginning with this one on the types of cameras used to capture stellar shots of constellations. The introduction and subsequent swift evolution of digital cameras has made astrophotography available to the masses. Digital cameras are powerful tools for amateur astronomers looking to capture starry images. Not only are digital SLR's easy to use but they are also technologically advanced enough to offer a remarkable range. The digital SLR cameras that have received the highest accolades by professional astrophotographers include the Canon 20D (8 megapixels) the Nikon D70, and the Canon 300D Digital Rebel (both 6 megapixels). That being said most (if not all) astrophotographers use CCD cameras. CCD stands for charge-coupled device. In this case were talking about a silicon chip whose surface is divided into light-sensitive pixels. According to experts, when a photon or light particle strikes a pixel, it registers a tiny electric charge that can be counted. Because CCDs offer large pixel arrays and high sensitivity they can create high-resolution images under a variety of light conditions. A CCD camera incorporates these offerings and translates them into clearer pictures. A CCD camera is a high quality product that offers you more than a standard digital camera, which means it costs more than a traditional camera. However, top astrophotographers are quick to point out that you don't need to shell out a month's salary in order to snap high quality pictures of the heavens. If you know the basics of astrophotography your digital camera should yield favorable results. In my next blog I will go through some tips to consider before you point and shoot a starlit sky. Related Articles: Tips to Consider When Taking Group Shots Telling A Story With Your Shots Snapping Frameworthy Shots Of Your Kids More Common Sense Tips To Capturing A Frame-Worthy Picture Common Sense Tips To Capturing Frame-Worthy Pictures Cameras: Knowing When To Upgrade Digital Photography 101: Getting To Know Your Camera Getting Digital Pictures To Friends And Family FAST! Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevantphotography tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags astrophotography, camera tips, photos, photography, stars Discuss this article
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