Almagest

New Stargazers

• Parks make great stargazing locations, but some parks close after dark so call ahead.
• Use a program like Stellarium to see what's in the sky and where to look.
• Your eyes will take 20-30 minutes to adjust. Avoid looking at any sources of light: cell phones, headlights, flashlights, etc.
• Use a red LED flashlight. Red light does not affect your dark-adjusted vision.
• While en-route, be sure to dim your dash-lights (usually a small knob left of your steering wheel). A good move anytime it's dark, but moreso when you're away from city lights.
• Bring extra layers. It's often colder than expected since you're not moving very much.

Astrophotography

If you have a DSLR, you can definitely take astrophotos! To give it a try, I've put together a page full of resources that helped me get started.

Quick DSLR Settings Reference:

• Mode: Manual
• Image Type: RAW
• Focus: Manual
• Shutter: 500/focal-length in seconds
• Aperture: Wide (lowest f-stop)
• ISO: 800+ depending on conditions
• Use the 2-second delay or a remote to avoid camera shake
• Use a tripod
• Use an exposure calculator for best results

Don't forget:

• Lens(es)
• Batteries
• Memory
• Tripod

Try different settings for your setup, and enjoy the stars!

Resources

• What's Up? - A monthly video from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory about what will be in the night sky this month.
• Lonely Speck - Astrophotography tutorials, tools, gear + inspiration
• ClearDarkSky Charts - 48hr outlook of the astronomer's forecast: clouds, transparency, seeing
• Stellarium - Free, open-source planetarium for your computer (64-bit version works with Windows 10)
• International Dark Sky Association - Understand the harmful affects of light pollution on people, animals, and ecosystems, and what you can do about it.
• Worldwide Light Pollution Map - Reference multiple sources of light pollution data, worldwide.