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The ASI AIR Improvement Wishlist

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The ASI AIR is a great device that can help get the ball rolling for anyone getting into deep sky astrophotography. But what’s missing? Some of those things are available in other programs, others are just features that would be nice to have. Let’s go over that. In this post, we’ll go over my ASI AIR Improvement Wishlist. Now, some of these ideas are some things they could add in fairly quickly. Admittedly a few are some things that should be considered for future iterations, even if it takes a few years. These additions will ease the transition between beginner…

How to Set Up the ZWO AM5

Articles, Equipment, Guides, Guides and Tools, Youtube VideoAstro Escape2 Comments
Introduction In this article, we’re gonna go over how to set up the ZWO AM5 so we can get you up and running. Whether you already have one or you’re looking to buy one, hopefully this will help you out with exactly what you need to capture some great images. As of the time of publishing this article, ZWO has announced the AM3. You can follow the same steps below for that mount too! Tripod The first thing you’re going to need is a tripod. This guide uses the tripod that was designed for the AM5, but you can use…

Beginner Deep Sky Objects – June to August

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When you are beginning deep sky astrophotography, it can be overwhelming to choose an object with the massive number of objects out there. The time between June and August presents us with a multitude of objects to pick from. In this article we will go over my top seven June to August picks for beginners, with a setup with a smaller focal length. Just like the previous article, there are some rules Lagoon Nebula Starting off with an object you can even see in Milky Way pictures, is the Lagoon Nebula. It is one of the few nebulae you can…

Pixinsight Top Five Common Processes

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Introduction When you first start using Pixinsight, there’s a lot to learn. Be aware that there are some processes that you will use almost every time you process an image. In this post, we go over the Pixinsight top five common processes, to help you get going. I’ll give a slight example of what each does, but keep in mind that this won’t go in depth, this is a general overview. Pixinsight Common Process Number 1: Screen Transfer Function This is Pixinisight’s auto stretch. One thing to note is that this is just a preview, not an actual stretch. But,…

Beginner Deep Sky Objects – March to May

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When you are beginning Deep Sky Objects, this time of year can be a little bit of a challenge if you don’t have a large focal length telescope. Large nebulae are either setting within a few hours of sunset, or rising in the morning, limiting time on those objects. The objects this time of year are rather small from our perspective, but they are doable. When you are beginning Deep Sky Objects, this time of year can be a little bit of a challenge if you don’t have a large focal length telescope. In this post, I will list seven…

Which Software to Use? Astrophotography Programs Master List

Articles, Guides, Guides and Tools, SoftwareAstro Escape3 Comments
Below you’ll find the list of currently used programs for Astrophotography. There’s a lot out there, all covering each step of the process. We all need to plan our sessions under the stars. There’s acquisition software, for when you are actually under the stars collecting data. There’s also processing. I’ll also link a few websites that are great for sharing your images if you had planned on it!  Because this is intended to be a master list, if you know of something I missed, please reach out to me with the price, operating system, and a brief description and I’ll…

Getting Started In Astrophotography: Setup Examples for Each Style

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When getting started in Astrophotography, there is a lot to consider with your setup. You should ask yourself which kind of images you would like to take. Widefield night time landscapes? Constellation or star field shots? Deep Sky Objects? What about Solar System Objects? There is no right or wrong style to choose, each has a different approach that can be very rewarding. There are different equipment requirements, although there can be some overlap. In this post, I’ll explain different styles and setups, and what you will need to get started with that style of astrophotography. Night Time Landscapes Description…

How to Add Landscape to Stellarium

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Introduction Stellarium has a lot of landscape already built in, but wouldn’t it be nice to have the landscape where you usually are observing or imaging from? In this guide, we will go over how to add landscapes to Stellarium. We’ll need to use a panorama image, so if you don’t have one we’ll go over how to get one using Google Maps. Stellarium comes with a bunch of ground textures to choose from, even some fun ones like Mars and Saturn. But if you are in planning, it’s advantageous to have the ground be the same location you’ll be…

ASIAIR Plus Setup Guide

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Version 1, published 11/10/2021 – Currently still under revision, need a clear sky to add pictures! This guide is for new users of the ASIAIR Plus, and intended to help out with any setup issues that may occur. Before beginning, please be sure to download the ASIAIR app on the mobile device you will be controlling the ASIAIR Plus with. You also need to make sure you have a good power supply for it. The ASIAIR Plus runs with a 12V power supply. So, whether that’s power from your house or a battery, you’ll need to power it. I recommend the…

Deep Sky Stacker Quick Guide For Beginners

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Deep Sky Stacker can be daunting when you first start out, but it doesn’t have to be. In this guide, I will walk you through the absolute basics of using Deep Sky Stacker. Please do be aware that this guide is for complete beginners, more advanced options will not be discussed in this guide! If you are looking at how to stack moon and planetary images, check out the guide here, because Deep Sky Stacker does not work for Solar System objects! Downloading and Installing Deep Sky Stacker If you don’t already have Deep Sky Stacker installed, head on over…