Astrophotography

Capturing the night sky in photographs is usually assumed to be the domain of specialists, but Arnold opens this seemingly remote area to anyone with an interest in photography. He guides the reader step by step through choosing and using a camera; photographing with a telescope; getting the best out of black-and-white and colour film; and processing astrophotographs at home or in a hotel room. He gives instructions on photographing the Sun and Moon, planets, meteors, comets, stars and man-made satellites, as well as capturing rainbows, halos and other earthly phenomena. This new edition has been fully updated to include the various forms of digital imaging, ranging from digital cameras to webcams, as well as, of course, dedicated astro CCDs (charge-coupled devices). Such equipment has led to a revolution in observational astronomy, allowing amateurs to image faint nebulae and galaxies quickly and in great detail. Techniques of digital manipulation are also discussed, such that the reader will be familiar with all forms of astroimaging. Lavishly illustrated with more than 100 colour and black-and-white photographs, as well as star charts and diagrams, this book is attractive and approachable as well as highly informative. It concludes with a list of equipment resources and useful contacts.