Typical Digital BYA Work

Some recent (2006) 'Point and Shoot' digital cameras are capable of taking excellent photographs of the constellations.  The picture of Orion, below, was taken with a Sony DSC-W100.  The key characteristics are:

• Ability to take a manual exposure of 10 to 30 seconds duration, preferably with dark frame subtraction.

• Speed setting of ISO 800 or similar.

• Ability to lock focus on Infinity (auto focus does not work on the stars!)

Orion:

Orion with Sony DSC-W100 Point and Shoot digital camera (no post camera manipulation). The star and nebula colors are not as prominent as with film.  Orion with some contrast and red enhancement.
Exposure = 15 seconds with dark frame subtraction.
ISO = 800.
Focus = Infinity, Lens at wide angle setting (38 mm equivalent) and f2.8.
Location = 56th and Georgetown Rd, Indianapolis, IN.
Date = Sept 2006 in the early morning.

Moon:

Excellent afocal photos of the moon are possible with a our Orion 4 1/2" Dobsonian telescopes and a digital camera.  The class camera is a Fuji FinePix S3100 4 megapixel camera.

• Penny Hauser (2003).  The first with our Orion 4 1/2" Dobsonian's.  My best recollection is that the camera was a Fuji Finepix 3 megapixel camera, circa early 2003.
  • Waning Gibbous Moon
  • Waxing Crescent Moon (low in the sky and yellowed by atmospheric dust)
     
• Rachel Herndon (2006).  Class camera and scope.  Fabulous shoots; minor unsharp mask sharpening.
  • First Quarter Moon (10-29-06)
  • Waning Gibbous Moon (12-9-06)
     
• Jerad Childress (2006).  Class camera and scope.  Substantial contrast adjustment.
  • Full Moon
     
• Levi Eads (2006).  Class camera and scope.
  • Waxing Gibbous Moon

fwk iupui 2006