dgrancaric

I'm interested to try my hand at astrophotography. I have a Cannon T2i and an Orion 127 mm Cassagrain sacope. Also brought adapters. Have a decent equatorial mounting.

Any advice, suggestions, ideas? Thanks!

BillHill Loc: Saint Augustine, Fl

You will need a good tracking mount. Also registack is an easy, free program for stacking multiple images to simulate a long to very long exposure.

bullfrogs Loc: Chico, Calif.

Polar align that scope and take some photos of the Milky Way tonignt in the S. East. Mars and Jupiter are available also near the zenith, and report back here......Have a great time and share results. you have the correct equipment, to get started. Try M at 15s to start and increase in 10s increments up to 60s. Let us know how it goes. The images will need to be processed somehow.
Bullfrogs

dgrancaric

Thanks for the tip.

dgrancaric

THANKS FOR THE TIP.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

If you have an iPad, go to the App Store and search for astrophotography. They have a couple of interesting and inexpensive apps.

Bigdaver

Are you in the northern hemisphere? Best easy astro target right now is due south at full dark, Lagoon nebula/Triffid nebula/Sagittarius star cloud. All visible with the naked eye in perfect conditions, binocs or scope in any conditions. And if you miss, it is the most detailed area of Milky Way all around these items.
I'd suggest using a high ISO to start, gonna have long exposures with that Mak. When you have your target and a little experience, switch to lower ISO and longer exposure. I'd say ISO 1600 and 3 minutes, or ISO 400 and as long as your local conditions will allow (skyglow). That is a good rough estimate for getting a good long exposure picture. Once you have something that satisfies you, start experimenting.
Also, how do you plan to focus? A Hartmann or Bahtinov mask is easy and well worth making out of paper before you go out. 3 holes or a pattern of slits, makes focus so much easier and sure.