Stunning examples of digital astrophotography
Posted by Diana Eftaiha on Jun 30, 2011 in Inspiration Fix | 5 comments
Astrophotography is a specialized type of photography that entails recording images of astronomical objects and large areas of the night sky. The first photographs of an astronomical object (the moon) were taken in the 1840s, but it was not until the late 19th century that advances in technology allowed for detailed stellar photography. Besides being able to record the details of extended objects such as the Moon, Sun, and planets, astrophotography has the ability to image objects invisible to the human eye such as dim stars, nebulae, and galaxies. This is done by long time exposure since both film and digital cameras can accumulate and sum light photons over these long periods of time. In professional astronomical research photography revolutionized the field, with long time exposures recording hundreds of thousands of new stars and nebulae that were invisible to the human eye, leading to specialized and ever larger optical telescopes that were essentially big “cameras” designed to collect light to be recorded on film. Direct astrophotography had an early role in sky surveys and star classification but over time it has given way to more sophisticated equipment and techniques designed for specific fields of scientific research, with film (and later astronomical CCD cameras) becoming just one of many forms of sensor.
Astrophotography is a large sub-discipline in amateur astronomy where it is usually used in to record aesthetically pleasing images, rather than for scientific research, with a whole range of equipment and techniques dedicated to the activity (Source Wikipedia).
Photo by Logan Brumm Photography and Design
Photo by Paco CT
Photo by Skiwalker79
Photo by Skiwalker79
Photo by kern.justin
Photo by Skiwalker79
Photo by bulliver
Photo by Skiwalker79
Photo by c@rljones
Photo by c@rljones
Photo by Skiwalker79
Photo by lrargerich
Photo by boltron-
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by Insight Imaging: John A Ryan Photography
Photo by Skiwalker79
Photo by .Bala
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by c@rljones
Photo by c@rljones
Photo by Aitor Escauriaza
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by boltron-
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by gainesp2003
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by – Javier -
Photo by jurvetson
Photo by makelessnoise
Photo by eir@si
Photo by c@rljones
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by c@rljones
Photo by kevincole
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by write_adam
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by mugley
Photo by Luke Peterson Photography
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by davedehetre
Photo by Heavenhated
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by c@rljones
Photo by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Photo by kern.justin
Photo by lrargerich
Photo by Thomas Shahan
Photo by Andrew Stawarz
Photo by Matthew Stewart | Photographer
Photo by christian.senger
Photo by c@rljones
Photo by Zach Dischner
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truly stunning in a way that i really cannot describe with words !
Amazing collection of unusual pictures. Thank you very much for sharing Diana
These are incredible!
Really good set of astro pics. Does anyone know what photo 8 from the last is? Is it the sun captured with long exposure? it looks amazing
thank you very much guiys i really appreciate the nice comments.
Nuno that picture was uploaded by By NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. here what they have to say about it:
Pulsar is Still Kicking (NASA, Chandra, 02/26/09)
Artist concept of ancient pulsar PSR J0108-1431. It may be 200 million years old, but NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has verified that it still has plenty of “kick.” Scientists believe it has a velocity of about 440,000 mph — not bad for the oldest isolated pulsar ever detected in X-rays. Despite its youthful attitude, J0108 is slowing as it ages and converting some of that lost energy into X-ray clues.
Image credit:
X-ray: NASA/CXC/Penn State/G.Pavlov et al. Optical: ESO/VLT/UCL/R.Mignani et al. Illustration: CXC/M. Weiss
i dont really understand much of that talk, but im starting to think its been edited a bit!