SAS Lecture: Astrophotography – Getting Started

In this months talk, Chris Duffy our current Chair will be giving an exciting and interactive  talk on “Astrophotography – Getting Started”.

The talk covers the basic principals in taking pictures of astronomical objects. This includes nebula, galaxies, stars and the planets.

The talk includes demonstrations using telescopes, cameras and other equipment setup at the venue.

Advice and guidance on the equipment you will need and how to get the best out of equipment you may already have.

No previous knowledge or experience is required and the talk is ideally suited to the beginner starting out in astrophotography.

While the talk will also be broadcast over Zoom it’s recommended to attend in person to get the best experience from the talk.

The talk will cover

Equipment:

• Types of suitable camera.
• DSLR basics, getting off the “auto” setting.
• Dedicated astro cameras.
• Telescope types and their suitability for astrophotography.
• Understanding sky conditions and matching cameras to telescopes.
• Tracking mounts and polar alignment.
• Filters.
• Controlling the the equipment via software.

Image capture:

• Taking long exposure pictures.
• Multiple exposures.
• Calibration exposures.
• Guiding.
• Image capture software.

Image Stacking and Processing:

• Stacking and calibrating images.
• Staking software.
• Tweaking and processing your images.

Talks in Person

This walk will be held at the Washington Wetlands Centre (Discovery Room).

Please show you support to our speaker and the Society if you can on the night.

Hopefully we’ll see you all at the Washington Wetlands Centre (Discovery Room) , a Raffle & Refreshments as usual.

 

Zoom Access

The talk will be in-person and while the talk will also be broadcast over Zoom it’s recommended to attend in person at the Washington Wetlands Centre to get the best to get the best experience from the talk.

But if you can’t make it in person and  you interested in viewing and participating (i.e. Q&A) in this month’s talk,  please send an email request to zoom-meetings@sunderlandastro.com

Stating your:

• Name
• And if you are a current/potential SAS member (i.e. Single, Family, Concession, etc) or you have a just a general interest in the lecture(s)

We will be then send you details on How to join the Zoom video meeting for the SAS talk.

The requisites will be:

• Meeting ID – 375 091 0450
• Password Begins with “C*****”
  • which are the usual zoom password details

Talk will also be broadcast via Zoom (providing no technical and/or WIFI difficulties)

 

When Who Where

• Date:  Sunday 21st January 2024,
• Time: 7pm.
• Speaker: Chris Duffy FRAS.
• Venue: Washington Wetlands Centre, (in the Discovery Room) and via Via Zoom baring any technical difficulties.

Our speaker

Our speaker is Chris Duffy is the current chair and an very active member of SAS and is a keen advocate on Astronomy outreach in the community.

Chris also works as a professional astronomer at the Battlesteads Observatory.

Chris is the astrophotography director at AstroVentures, an expert astrophotography and astronomy teacher with a passion for Dark Sky objects.

A committee member of Sunderland Astronomical Society, Chris gives expert talks and presentations to society members and the public at the society’s outreach events,
Chris has been specialising in deep sky astrophotography for many years and is recognised as an accomplished photographer of faint distant objects using long exposure techniques.