Stars, star clusters, galactic nebulae and galaxies are popular photo motifs for amateur astronomers. The quality of an astrophoto is mainly determined by the observation site and the technology used. If you want to learn more about what you can see in the sky after it has gotten dark, I recommend the Deep-Sky Corner.
Fig. 1: The constellation Orion. The camera was guided with a telescope and during exposure time I defocused it. With this trick one can see the constellation and the different colours of the stars. Otherwise the stars would be burned out and appear white.
Fig. 2: Messier 42, the Orion nebula. — 3.5/500mm Flatfield-Kamera, January 1997
Fig. 3: The double star cluster h and Chi Persei in constellation Perseus
Fig. 4: Star trails of the rising constellation Orion. This picture was taken in 1998 while we were waiting for the big Leonid meteor shower which came one year later.
Fig. 5: The constellation Orion is setting behind the famous mount Matterhorn. Picture taken from Gornergrat with the dome of the observatory in the foreground.
Fig. 6: Rising Orion above the city Chur, taken from the 18th floor of a building. Just for imagination what light pollution means. — Nikon D70, 24-85mm Zoom lens, 30s @ ISO 1600, 10 December 2004
Fig. 7: The milky way on Lukmanierpass. The foreground has been flashed to achieve mor depth on the picture. — Nikon D70, 120s at ISO 1600, 24mm at f/4.5, 11. Dezember 2004, 22:27 MEZ
Fig. 8: View from Lukmanierpass towards south. One can see the light dome above Milano. They belong to the cities with the biggest light pollution in europe. — Nikon D70, 180s at ISO 1600, 24mm at f/4.5, 11. Dezember 2004, 23:51 MEZ
Fig. 9: The starry sky above Lukmanierpass. The trees have ben flashed with internal flash of the D70. Interestingly the sky has a yellow-brown colour while the colours from the flash are correct. This is caused by different colour temperatures. Unfortunately I did not take this picture in NEF format and hence cannot modify the white balance. — Nikon D70, 120s at ISO1600, 24mm mit f/4.5, white balance sun, 12. December 2004, 02:25 MEZ
Fig. 10: View from Hotel Langis on Glaubenbergpass towards Sarnen down in the valley, covered by fog sea. The light dome behind the mountens is caused by Milano's light pollution. — Nikon D70, AF-S 24-85mm lens, f=24mm, f/5, 300s at ISO 800, white balance tungsten, graduation curve adjusted, 6 February 2005
Fig. 11: Trails of stargazers at Hotel Langis on Glaubenbergpass. — Nikon D70, AF-S 24-85mm, f=24mm, f/5, 190s at ISO 800, white balance tungsten, graduation curve adjusted, 6 February 2005
Fig. 12: Trails of stars above trees and mountains. I set the white balance to 3000K because then the night sky appears blue, which is not scientifically correct but looks more natural ;-) If the white balance is set to sunglight then the night sky appears brown. I recommend using NEF for all night scenes or under illumination circumstances which are unclear. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 28-70mm, f=28mm, f/2.8, 480s, ISO 200, white balance 3000K, Glaubenbergpass, 22. April 2006
Fig. 13: The polar star above a fir tree. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 28-70mm, f=28mm, f/2.8, 960s, ISO 100, white balance 3000K, Glaubenbergpass, 22. April 2006 — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=959 s; f=28 mm; f/2.8; ISO 100; 2006-04-22 0:02:19
Fig. 14: Circumpolar stars with clouds on Mirasteilas 2006 in Falera. — Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm 1:4, f=12mm, f/4, 30min, ISO 100, colour temperature 3000K, 24 September 2006
Fig. 15: View from Ahornalp towards north into Berner Mittelland. The haze in the sky increases the waste of light and energy into the night sky. The chain of hills on the horizon is the Jura. — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=960 s; f=24 mm; f/3.5; ISO 100; 2007-05-19 0:43:40
Fig. 16: Trails of stars and astronomers during a telescope meeting on the Ahornalp. The bright wall of the restaurant wasn't that bright in reality. It was lit by a dim light through the curtains of a parked caravan. The sculpture on the left and the roots on the right were lit by a blue LED. — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=960 s; f=17 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 2007-05-19 2:17:31
Fig. 17: Circumpolar stars above a high current pylon on Glaubenberg nearby Sarnen in canton Obwalden. The bright light pollution on the horizon is caused by the area Zurich-Aarau-Lucerne. I used a flash to illuminate the foreground. Next time I should use a warm color filter to match the color temperature of the night sky. Or use a second exposure to process differently. It's way too blue. — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=1800 s; f=13 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 2008-02-09 22:02:20
Fig. 18: Circumpolar stars above a snowcat on Glaubenberg nearby Sarnen in canton Obwalden. The foregroundwas illuminated by a flash. — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=900 s; f=13 mm; f/4.0; ISO 200; 2008-02-09 22:40:00
Fig. 19: Circumpolar stars above a snowcat on Glaubenberg nearby Sarnen in canton Obwalden. The foregroundwas illuminated by a flash. — EXIF: Nikon D200; Δt=480 s; f=12 mm; f/4.5; ISO 200; 2008-02-09 23:15:03
Fig. 20: This picture of circumpolar stars is made of 112 single exposures of 30 seconds each with an interval of 40 seconds. ISO was set to 3200 and colour temperatore to 3200K. From the lower part a timelapse on YouTubewas created. I realized afterwards that there is no movie format for portrait mode. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=30 s; f=19 mm; f/4.0; ISO 3200; 2009-05-23 0:37:05
Fig. 21: Star trails above the tank shooting place on Gurnigel during a star party. It's a composite of 100 pictures with 25 seconds exposure time and an interval of 30 seconds. Sensor sensitivity set to ISO 6400. Color temperature 3200 Kelvin. Total of 272 images were used to create a timelapse. The sensitivity is too high and the sensor noise too strong. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=25 s; f=17 mm; f/4.0; ISO 6400; 2009-08-23 0:25:14
Fig. 22: Star trails above the observing site Chinginas nearby the Mirasteilas Observatory in Falera. This picture is a combination of 74 single exposures with 25 seconds exposure time and an interval of 30 seconds. Sensor sensitivity set to ISO 3200. Colour temperature set to 3200 Kelvin. Section of a timelapse movie consisting 414 single images. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=25 s; f=17 mm; f/2.8; ISO 3200; 2009-09-18 22:36:09
Fig. 23: Setting constellation Orion with the bright star Sirius, shot from Glaubenberg in canton Obwalden. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=30 s; f=17 mm; f/3.2; ISO 3200; 2011-02-05 0:53:29
Fig. 24: A meteor caused the earth's atmosphere to glow for a fraction of a second. Underneath the shooting star are brightly illuminated clouds caused by light pollution of the italian city Milano. Single exposure of a timelapse movie. Milano has the highest light pollution of all Europe. Electricity is way too cheap. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=29 s; f=17 mm; f/3.5; ISO 3200; 2011-02-05 22:00:06
Fig. 25: The star polaris, also called northern polar star above firs. The stars are rotating 15 °/h counter-clockwise around the north celestial pole. The brightest star near the north celestial pole is currently Polaris. In 12'000 years it will be Vega. Tha'ts due to the precession of the earth's rotational axis. Combination of 15 exposures with 4 minutes exposure time at ISO 400 each. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=240 s; f=17 mm; f/3.5; ISO 400; 2011-02-06 1:55:25
Fig. 26: Amateur astronomers on the tank shooting place on Gurnigel during a star party. In the foreground is a large dobsonian. Visible on the horizon is the Gantrisch mountain chain with the light pollution of Thun. Single exposure of a timelapse movie. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=30 s; f=17 mm; f/3.5; ISO 3200; 2012-08-18 22:54:59
Fig. 27: Amateur astronomers on the tank shooting place on Gurnigel during a star party. In the foreground is a large dobsonian. Visible on the horizon is the Gantrisch mountain chain with the light pollution of Thun. A car was driving across the place. One should avoid that. If you know that you'll leave early, please park your car near the entry or further away near the restaurant. Single exposure of a timelapse movie. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=30 s; f=17 mm; f/3.5; ISO 3200; 2012-08-18 23:13:41
Fig. 28: The setting moon is located in the gap on a fir tree. Starparty at Ahornalp in Emmental, canton Berne. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=15 s; f=25 mm; f/2.8; ISO 1600; 2011-05-06 22:02:39
Fig. 29: A mountain bike on top of car's roof is rising up from the light pollution. Above it the star are circling around the polar star. Starparty at Ahornalp in Emmental, canton Berne. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=961 s; f=17 mm; f/5.6; ISO 200; 2011-05-06 23:49:39
Fig. 30: A tree is groung out of the yellow light pollution and growing towards the celestial north pole which is circled by the circumpolar stars. Starparty at Ahornalp in Emmental, canton Berne. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=240 s; f=17 mm; f/4.0; ISO 200; 2011-05-07 0:30:27
Fig. 31: The constallations Big Dipper (left) and Little Dipper (right). During the exposure the camera lens was set to defocus so that around the brightest stars a halo showing their colour appears. Starparty at Ahornalp in Emmental, canton Berne. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=30 s; f=25 mm; f/3.2; ISO 3200; 2011-05-07 1:19:31
Fig. 32: View towards the galactic center of our Milky Way galaxy. The dark stripes are intergalactic dust ... or maybe soot from a Volkswagen Diesel? Starparty at Ahornalp in Emmental, canton Berne. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=30 s; f=17 mm; f/2.8; ISO 6400; 2011-05-07 2:25:17
Fig. 33: View towards the galactic center of our Milky Way galaxy. The dark stripes are intergalactic dust and the yellow dome on the left hand side is light pollution, probably from the city Lucerne. Starparty at Ahornalp in Emmental, canton Berne. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=60 s; f=17 mm; f/3.2; ISO 1600; 2011-05-07 2:48:31
Fig. 34: Oh my god, is that an awful light pollution from the lights on the road to Davos. It would be so nice in the mountains if there wasn't that light pollution. The night was clear and the Milky Way was straigt up. It would have been a great picture with the reflections on the calm surface of the lake. But no, the municipal works service of canton Grisons wasted a lot of money for a total useless lighting on a road. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=30 s; f=17 mm; f/4.0; ISO 3200; 2012-03-16 22:27:22
Fig. 35: The lights of the houses are reflecting on the calm surface of Lake Davos. The next day we went diving in that lake. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=480 s; f=17 mm; f/2.8; ISO 200; 2012-03-16 22:59:46
Fig. 36: Single frame of a timelapse sequence with 600 pictures of 30 seconds exposure time each at ISO 3200 and f/2.8 aperture. With higher ISO the Nikon D3 has too much noise. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=30 s; f=17 mm; f/2.8; ISO 3200; 2013-08-02 2:08:23
Fig. 37: The milky way rises above the hazy sea of light pollution. Some illuminated cirrus clouds are blocking the celestial view. In the front some amateur astronomers with telescopes have been caught in the act. Spring telescope meeting at Ahornalp. — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=20 s; f=17 mm; f/2.8; ISO 3200; 2018-05-19 1:07:12
Fig. 38: The milky way rises above the hazy sea of light pollution. Spring telescope meeting at Ahornalp. — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=15 s; f=17 mm; f/3.5; ISO 6400; 2018-05-19 2:09:09
Fig. 39: The milky way rises above the hazy sea of light pollution. The light pollution is caused by Lucerne. The tree was lit for a few seconds with the display of an iPhone. I should use slightly orange instead of pure white instead to get a warmer tone. Spring telescope meeting at Ahornalp. — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=15 s; f=17 mm; f/3.5; ISO 6400; 2018-05-19 2:16:37
Fig. 40: Milky way above the observing site (former tank shooting place of Swiss army) on Gurnigel. Passing by cirrus clouds are poisoned with light waste from the cities in Switzerland. Single frame out of a timelapse sequence. — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=25 s; f=14 mm; f/3.5; ISO 6400; 2019-08-30 23:12:28
Fig. 41: web20200710_D850_M31.jpg — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=30 s; f=300 mm; f/2.8; ISO 800; 2020-07-09 23:42:18
Fig. 42: web20200710_D850_M31_crop.jpg — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=30 s; f=300 mm; f/2.8; ISO 800; 2020-07-09 23:42:18
Fig. 43: Stack of 50 x 120s at ISO 1600,15 dark frames, 15 flat frames. Nikon D3 and Nikkor 24-70mm 2.8G at f/4, guided with SkyWatcher StarAdventurer Pro. Stacking with Starry Sky Stacker, post processing with Photoshop. Friday, 18 September 2020 on Glaubenberg Pass, Switzerland. Picture in full resolution. — EXIF: Nikon D3; Δt=120 s; f=50 mm; f/4.0; ISO 1600; 2020-09-18 21:26:05
Fig. 44: Big meteor (bolide) during an observing night with the 30" Slipstream dobsonian on Hasliberg. — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=20 s; f=14 mm; f/2.8; ISO 3200; 2021-08-14 0:30:01
Fig. 45: Clear sky on the former tank firing range on the Gurnigel. Composite of 13 shots of a time-lapse sequence. — EXIF: 2021-09-04 23:49:56
Fig. 46: Combination of 400 individual images during the predicted Tau Herculid meteor storm. However, this did not take place or consist of dark matter. It was also cloudy most of the night. Taken on the Bözberg. The yellow clouds due to light pollution are mainly from Basel. — Nikon D850, Nikkor AF-S 14-24 mm 2.8G, 31. Mai 2022
Fig. 47: web20220531_DSC_9420.jpg — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=20 s; f=14 mm; f/2.8; ISO 2500; 2022-05-31 0:59:31
Fig. 48: web20221029_d850_00707.jpg — EXIF: 2022-10-29 21:51:07
Fig. 49: Hansjörg gets enlighted. Observatory with zodiacal light on the Astrofarm Tivoli in Namibia. Single frame of a timellapse sequence.. — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=20 s; f=14 mm; f/2.8; ISO 6400; 2023-09-12 21:07:01
Fig. 50: Windmill with water tower and Milky Way on the Astrofarm Tivoli in Namibia. Single frame of a timellapse sequence.. — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=20 s; f=14 mm; f/2.8; ISO 6400; 2023-09-13 23:09:59
Fig. 51: Stargazing with the 25" Dobson on the Astrofarm Tivoli in Namibia. Single frame of a timellapse sequence.. — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=20 s; f=14 mm; f/2.8; ISO 6400; 2023-09-15 23:06:12
Fig. 52: One of the remote observatory of the Astrofarm Tivoli in Namibia. Single frame of a timellapse sequence.. — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=20 s; f=14 mm; f/2.8; ISO 8000; 2023-09-16 23:56:32
Fig. 53: The Milky Way shot from Amden above Walensee and Kerenzerberg from the observatory of a friend. Single frame of a timelapse sequence. — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=20 s; f=14 mm; f/2.8; ISO 6400; 2023-10-07 20:33:36
Fig. 54: Milky Way shot from the meadow near Mirasteilas Observatory Falera during the telescope meeting. Single frame from a timelapse sequence. — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=20 s; f=14 mm; f/1.8; ISO 1600; 2024-09-06 21:23:49
Fig. 55: Setting Milky Way at Hasliberg-Reuti. Single frame, guided with SkyWatcher StarAdventurer. — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=120 s; f=14 mm; f/1.8; ISO 800; 2024-11-02 0:27:02
Fig. 56: Rising constellation Orion above the forest near Hasliberg-Reuti. Single frame, guided with SkyWatcher StarAdventurer. — EXIF: Nikon D850; Δt=30 s; f=50 mm; f/2.8; ISO 3200; 2024-11-02 0:46:30
