Skip to main content

Starry, Starry Night

In this episode, Starry, Starry Night . . .


Welcome back to On the Fly! This week, we're exploring the basics of astrophotography. Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what's really out there? I’ve discovered a way to explore distant galaxies–without a telescope–or leaving my backyard.


Consider this: each night, when the skies are clear, a breathtaking display unfolds above us—a cosmic dance of light and color. When you step outside, you notice the moon and perhaps a few stars. However, you can open a gateway to the universe with a camera, some adjustments, and a tripod.


Suddenly, faint whispers of light transform into vibrant galaxies, swirling nebulae, and star clusters that shimmer like diamonds scattered across black velvet. That fuzzy patch you thought was just a smudge becomes the Andromeda Galaxy, our closest galactic neighbor, an astonishing 2.5 million light-years away. You're capturing light that has traveled millions of years to reach your camera sensor. How amazing is that?


The best part? You don't need expensive equipment to get started. Even a basic DSLR camera (or your Smartphone) and a tripod can reveal wonders you'd never see with the naked eye.


Let me be honest—I have a secret advantage here in Southern California. While others bundle up in layers of winter gear to catch a glimpse of the stars, I'm in my backyard with a light jacket, enjoying the crisp, clear nights with temperatures in the high 40s. That's practically balmy weather for winter stargazing!


Ok, I get it–you can’t avoid light pollution; this poses a challenge, especially if you live in a city. Find a darker spot a bit further from town, or use a dark sky app to discover the best viewing areas near you. For me, it’s as simple as going out when my neighbors are tucked in for the night. I turn off all the lights in the house and enjoy a dark sky window from my backyard.


One word of caution, though. When you're ready to take your astrophotography to the next level, you'll discover some incredible tutorials online. Start by watching instructional videos created by astrophotography experts. Be prepared to be amazed–and possibly a little intimidated. The images they proudly showcase are often the result of years of experience and advanced equipment—telescopes and specialized cameras—and usually involve intricate post-processing using multiple software applications.


Don't be discouraged!


Now, let’s start by switching your camera to manual mode. Make these adjustments indoors; fumbling around in the dark can be frustrating. A wide-angle lens is ideal as it captures more of the sky–focus on infinity. Set the ISO between 800 and 1600; this will make your camera more sensitive to light, and use an aperture of f/4 (f/2.8 if possible). Limit exposures to no more than 10 to 15 seconds for the best results. Your camera can capture more than you ever imagined. Exceeding 15 seconds may produce star tracers, which could be your intention. Don’t hesitate to experiment!



I'm excited to share the photos in this blog post, which are my first attempts with my DSLM camera! After processing them in iPhoto, I felt an incredible rush of excitement. When Lori saw the pictures, she exclaimed, “It looks like that in our backyard?”


Start simple, experiment, and enjoy the journey of discovery. Tonight, before the moon gets too bright, grab your camera, put it on a tripod, and try a 10-second exposure pointed at the brightest star you can see. You might be surprised!


Imagine capturing the Big Dipper, the Orion Nebula—a stellar nursery where new stars are born—or the Pleiades, a cluster of sparkling young stars that looks like a dipper. Scan the sky with your phone's app, SkyView, free from the app store. You may be able to capture planets within the same frame. If lucky, you might catch a meteor (a falling star) streaking across the sky–fleeting moments of cosmic magic.


Astrophotography is a journey of discovery that lets you explore the universe. It is a humbling and awe-inspiring experience, allowing you to witness the breathtaking beauty of the night sky and—dare I say—add a touch of magic to your life.


I’m Patrick Ball, reminding you to stay curious, ask questions, and explore on this starry night.

Comments

Most Popular of All Time

Beyond Facts-The Deep Dive

✨ In this episode, Beyond Facts: Reimagining School–in the Age of AI . . .   This week's podcast is a bit different; it's another example of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can offer tools to creatively enhance your analytical presentation of information. We took this week's blog and copied it into Gemini with the question, “If a story is to work, it must, on some level, create an illusion of escape and also achieve a goal simultaneously. Does this apply to my blog post that follows?” What's created is not just an analysis of the writing, but an AI-generated discussion produced “On the Fly” - Enjoy! Did you know that the word "school" comes from the ancient Greek word scholÄ“ , which originally meant "leisure"? Not a rigid schedule or droning lectures filled with "facts," but free time for thinking and conversation. To the Greeks, learning happened best when life slowed down—when you had room to reflect, to ask questions, and to wrestle ...

A Heart Full of Thanks

Oh, the thanks I could think, and the thanks I could say! For the wonderful people who brightened my day. The first one is Lori, my wife, sweet and true, Who knows just the thing and knows just what to do. She whipped up a feast with a smile and a sigh, With corn on the cob and a steak cooked “On the Fly!” My neighbor, Steve, with a mischievous gleam, Said, “No fence work today! No work, it would seem! You’ll paint with some water, some colors so bright, And sign your new painting with all of your might!" I laughed and I said, “But I don’t know that skill! I’ll slap on some paint and see what sticks still!” Then there’s my friends on the Facebook machine, The best group of readers that ever was seen! They read all my blogs and they hear my podcasts, They send all their cheer that's built to last! And Billy and Linda. A Snoopy card in the mail. A wonderful surprise that was sure to prevail! From very good friends, a delightful new tale ! But the thanks didn't stop, no, not...

The Summer Surprise

In this special episode, The Summer Surprise . . .   Well, howdy there! It's me, Huck Finn, and lemme tell ya, somethin' special happened just the other day. We called it "The Summer Surprise.” Phew-wee! That ol' post box, it coughed up somethin' good! Wasn't no bills, nor them pesky ads, and thankfully, no regular ol' rocks neither. Nope, this here was a letter, folded up neat as a pin, looked a bit like one o' them school lockers, just sittin' there waitin' to be opened. It was from young Sierra, a mighty fine friend, and she'd gone and made some pure, honest-to-goodness artwork with her own two hands. My fingers they was all thumbs, just itching to see what kind of wild wonder she'd whipped up this time. I unfolded that paper, careful-like, you know, and bless my bare feet, there it was! A picture of a whole gymnasium and a mini-soccer field, all done up in colors that just popped. She'd used crayons and pencils, and you could tel...

A Pirate's Ponderings

In this episode, A Pirate's Ponderings: Turning 69 with a Classic . . . When was the last time you were so compelled by a quest that you had your bags packed and your boots on before the first rooster crowed? For me, this summer has been exactly that, a journey where the world outside faded away and the one inside my head roared to life. I felt like that young cabin boy in training, with the vast ocean of a great story stretching out before me. My hand was on the wheel, navigating every swell, riding the waves, and eager to see what lay just beyond the horizon. This wasn't a journey across lands, but a flight of imagination that has been an exciting ride. My adventure took off on the deck of the Hispaniola as I became lost on Treasure Island . My imagination soared, and I could almost taste the salt spray and feel the ship's timbers groan as we sailed toward our destiny. Below deck, in the narrow, shadowy depths, I could smell the hearty meals Long John Silver and Jim Haw...