I started with a DSLR camera and a cheap zoom lens (then I upgraded to the RedCat 51), a sturdy tripod, and the skywatcher star adventurer! You really just need a camera, lens, tripod, tracking mount, and free time! I think when I started I spent about $1200, buying used could be cheaper than that!

Thanks!!

There are very few photons being captured in each frame so the colors on this photo are enhanced in the stacking + processing! I use a refractor telescope with an astro camera attached. I recommend looking on CloudyNight if you want to get started with used gear, it’s a lot cheaper!

Great question! The Hydrogen Alpha is ~650 nm! Visible light to us is ~400-700! The ionized oxygen is ~500nm! I did not use a filter when I took this image!! You’re correct that you could take an IR image or use a NIR filter to gain other info from the object then use false color in the processing!

The Soul Nebula is an emission nebula! The red is mostly from ionized hydrogen, which is the most abundant element in the universe. The blue comes mostly from ionized oxygen, which emits blue wavelengths when excited by the radiation from nearby stars!

Looks awesome! Nice work! 🤩

I am an amateur astrophotographer and a physics student. I would like to join this feed to contribute to the astrophotography community.

Yes

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