Bylong Chasing Milky Way

[Toddyh]

Weekend mission chasing the milky way out Bylong, NSW

1


2


3

[Ozzie_Traveller]

G'day mate

10/10 for all three pics - just wonderful
I do like the windmill in #2 ~ tiny pity it's leaning slightly, maybe next time

Phil

[Toddyh]

Thanks Phil. Yeah I did notice that but didn't bother to fix in post. There was also a slight breeze which meant the edges are not as sharp as I would have liked.

[Gaz]

I always enjoy good night images and these are very enjoyable. Thanks, Tod.

[Toddyh]

Thanks Gaz.

[Grumpy John]

Toddyh , do you mind if I move this post and your other "star" posts over to the Astro Photography section?

[Toddyh]

Not at all John. Move away.

[Grumpy John]

Thanks Todd.

[Grumpy John]

I'm guessing from the EXIF data on these images that:
#1 is a multi shot stacked image
#2 is a 70+ second exposure
#3 not sure what the EFIF is telling me there, seems to be missing some data

[Toddyh]

1 and 3 are layered images John with the church/dam light painted. All of the star images were 6 images stacked in sequator f2.8, iso 3200, 13"

The foreground images for 1 and 3 were shot at f5.6, iso 500, 13"

[Grumpy John]

You did well with #2 considering the 600 rule indicates you should have used a 33 second shutter speed. Rules were meant to be broken though

[Toddyh]

I learned it as the 500 rule and to be honest always thought it should be more like the 300 rule. Even at 13" there is some slight star trails in the corners. 16mm x 13" = 208.
You could imagine the star trails if I had used 33 seconds.

[Grumpy John]

Looking at the EXIF data for the windmill shot (#2) I see 78 seconds.

EXIF Sub IFD

• Exposure Time (1 / Shutter Speed) {0x829A} = 78/1 second ===> 78 second
• Lens F-Number / F-Stop {0x829D} = 28/10 ===> ƒ/2.8
• ISO Speed Ratings {0x8827} = 3200
• EXIF Version {0x9000} = 0230
• Original Date/Time {0x9003} = 2019:08:02 10:18:23
• Digitization Date/Time {0x9004} = 2019:08:02 10:18:23
• Shutter Speed Value (APEX) {0x9201} = -6285402/1000000
  Shutter Speed (Exposure Time) = 1/0.01 second
• Aperture Value (APEX) {0x9202} = 2970854/1000000
  Aperture = ƒ/2.8
• Exposure Bias (EV) {0x9204} = 0/1 ===> 0
• Max Aperture Value (APEX) {0x9205} = -1/1446725825 ===> -0
  Max Aperture = ƒ/1
• Flash {0x9209} = n/a (16)
• Focal Length {0x920A} = 18/1 mm ===> 18 mm
• Colour Space {0xA001} = sRGB (1)

[Toddyh]

6 x 13" = 78"
6 stacked images in sequator.

[Grumpy John]

Doh, I was reading the EXIF as one long exposure.

[Grumpy John]

I'm following your images closely Toddy as I'm off to Cairns for 2 weeks early October and was hoping to get out to the Chillagoe area to try my luck with some night photography.

[Toddyh]

Good luck John. It's the same as sunrise/sunset photography. Need the conditions to work in your favour. Namely moon cycle and clear skies.

[Grumpy John]

They have an observatory there, but it closes at the end of September. Looking at their calendar it may stay open during the first week of Oct.
Looking at the moon phases for the first week of Oct:
1 Waxing Crescent Vis 4.5% Rise 6:37 AM Set 8:16 PM
2 Waxing Crescent Vis 10.6% Rise 7:14 AM Set 9:26 PM
3 Waxing Crescent Vis 18.6% Rise 7:54 AM Set 10:31 PM
4 Waxing Crescent Vis 27.9% Rise 8:38 AM Set 11:34 PM
5 Waxing Crescent Vis 37.81% Rise 9:26 AM 12:29 AM (next day)

I don't think that it would be worth trying to photograph anything later than this.
We arrive in Cairns on the second, I'm not confident that I can make this work.

[Toddyh]

All you can do it go out and try. Might end up with too much moonlight like I did in Mollymook a few week back. That can create something different too.

[Grumpy John]

Hi Toddy, it's me again. Do you use Light Frames, Dark Frames, Bias Frames and Flat Frames when doing your astro photography?

[Toddyh]

Simple answer is no. I don't use them. I find sequator reduces the noise fine.
If I start doing nightscape panoramas I probably should use dark frames at least.

[Grumpy John]

Did you ever try Deep Sky Stacker? That's where I learnt about the extra frames.

[Toddyh]

No John I haven't.

[Grumpy John]

Thanks for all your input Toddy. The night sky is not an easy subject to photograph, there are many contributing factors to consider:
1. External light sources, the moon being the major one (once you're well away from the city lights) . Three days either side of the new moon is probably all you have.
2. Location, you need to be somewhere dark.
3. Weather, no cloud cover is good, likewise no rain or wind.

So, after you've traveled for hundreds of kilometers to the middle of nowhere on one of the 84 days of the year with little, or no moon you then have to hope that there's no cloud, it's not raining, or blowing a gale.

[Toddyh]

Yes all that John. But the moon issue can sometimes be overcome by shooting very early in the night or very late. I.e. before moonrise or after moonset.