The night sky is teeming with spectacular sights just waiting to be imaged, but where do you begin? The Complete Guide to Astrophotography has the answer. Inside you'll find a course like no other - all the techniques and tutorials you need to progress from simple smartphone imaging to fully autoguided deep-sky shots, plus in-depth processing advice.

Welcome

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

NIGHTSCAPES

EQUIPMENT • Essential kit for shooting pin-sharp astrophotos

WHICH DSLR LENS?

TECH TALK: • Camera settings explained

WHICH SETTINGS SHOULD YOU USE?

TECHNIQUE • Master your camera’s settings to capture the stars

STEP BY STEP: • Set up your DSLR for astrophotography

PRO POINTER: • How to focus for pin-sharp results

MASTERCLASS 1 • Compose a view of a constellation and capture it

STEP BY STEP: • Four steps to your first constellation image

PRO POINTER: • Consider your composition

MASTERCLASS 2 • How to image star trails and the motion of the night sky

MORE INSPIRING TWILIGHT TARGETS

PRO POINTER • Montages can reveal planetary progress

STEP BY STEP • Image star trails in four simple steps

MASTERCLASS 3 • Make the most of the many annual meteor showers

STEP BY STEP • How to catch the best images of meteors

THE MOON

EQUIPMENT • The kit you’ll need to start snapping the Moon

TECH TALK • Essential accessories

TECHNIQUE • These tips and tricks will help you get the perfect shot

TECH TALK: • Why video still trumps imaging

PLANNING TOOLS • The best firee apps and software for lunar imaging

PRO POINTER: • Six top first-time targets

MASTERCLASS 1 • Afocal imaging with a smartphone

STEP BY STEP: • Use your smartphone to shoot the Moon

MASTERCLASS 2 • The crescent Moon and earthshine

STEP BY STEP: • Shooting and processing to capture a crescent Moon

MASTERCLASS 3 • Blend multiple exposures into a lunar mosaic

STEP BY STEP: • Processing your panes using AviStack

THE PLANETS

EQUIPMENT • All the gear you need to photograph the planets

TECH TALK: • Why use filters?

CAMERA CHOICE

PRO POINTER: • Seeing and planetary imaging

TECHNIQUE • Master these methods to capture the planets

PRO POINTER: • How to prepare for a night of planetary imaging

TECH TALK: • Keeping your target in the frame

ELONGATIONS & OPPOSITIONS: • Key dates for the future

MASTERCLASS 1 • Capturing Mars with a colour camera

THE OTHER INNER PLANETS

STEP BY STEP: • Refine your image with RegiStax

MASTERCLASS 2 • Create a colour image of Jupiter with a mono camera

THE OTHER OUTER PLANETS

STEP BY STEP: • Merge your R, G and B images into a full-colour shot

THE SUN

EQUIPMENT • From filters to scopes – all you need to capture the Sun

TECH TALK: • How dedicated solar telescopes work

STEP BY STEP: • Make a white-light filter

CAMERA CHOICE

TECHNIQUE • Tips and tricks for successful solar imaging

TECH TALK: • Which mount?

PRO POINTER: • Three popular wavelengths to view the Sun

MASTERCLASS 1 • See sunspots with projections and white-light filters

TECH TALK: • Finding focus

SEEING AND THE SUN

STEP BY STEP: • Imaging the Sun in white light

MASTERCLASS 2 • Hydrogen-alpha imaging with a Coronado PST

TECH TALK • Adjusting your camera settings

STEP BY STEP • Refine and sharpen your images

THE DEEP...