CamCyclopedia
Contents
- Introduction
- Photography Environment
- Telescope and other shooting equipments
- Smartphone meets telescope
- Shooting time and location
- Photographs
- M3 - Canes Venatici
- M42 - Orion Nebula
- M44 - Beehive Cluster
- M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy
- M81 - Messier 81
- M104 - Sombrero Galaxy
- NGC884 - Perseus Constellation Double Cluster
- NGC2244 - Rosette Nebula
- Postscript/Epilogue/Editor’s comments
Introduction
When we initially planned the Astrophotography mode, we didn't consider telescope users. We thought telescope users had sufficient knowledge, equipment, and expertise.
To some extent, that was true, but in reality, we were neglecting them with such an excuse. However, curiosity arose about how it would turn out if we attached the Galaxy camera to a telescope and used it for astrophotography. So, we went to an observatory in Gangwon Province to take some shots.
But then, guess what?
"It turned out better than expected."
That's why I'm writing this post.
Out of those who are reading this post, 99.9% probably don't own a telescope, and more than 95% may have never even seen one. I'll share this story as an introduction to what the results look like when you capture images through a telescope. Unlike other articles on CamCyclopedia, I'll write in a casual style based on my personal experiences and feelings as a developer.
I'll try to keep it simple, but I've also included detailed explanations for those who want to know more.
Now, before I delve into the story, shall I first show you the photo that convinced me to continue shooting because it turned out better than expected?
"The object number 82 in the Messier Catalogue, located near the Big Dipper, is the Cigar Galaxy, also known as Messier 82.
It was given this name because its elongated shape resembles a cigar. Originally, it's an impressive galaxy with red jets extending from its core. In fact, I went out to capture it as a resolution test, without much expectation. However, it turned out better than I thought, and I was able to distinguish the red central part clearly. That became the starting point which made me think, 'I should try capturing other objects as well with a telescope.'
※ Messier Catalog: A list of celestial objects compiled by the French astronomer Charles Messier in the 18th century. It includes a total of 110 objects, such as nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies, and is abbreviated as 'M.' The famous Andromeda Galaxy, M31.
There is another catalogue called the NGC catalogue, which includes most of the celestial objects observed by amateur astronomers. Sometimes, one celestial object can be included in multiple catalogues. For example, the famous Andromeda Galaxy is also known as M31 and is included in multiple catalogues such as NGC224, UGC454, PGC2557."
Shooting Environment
- Telescope and Photography Equipment
Photographing professionally with a telescope requires complex and specialised equipment. It also requires a lot of study. The simplest way is to attach a smartphone to a tripod-mounted binocular-level telescope and take pictures, but the subjects you can capture are very limited. Naturally, good equipment is necessary to obtain good photos. In addition to the telescope, you should also carry a computer, various power/data cables, and batteries.
The photo below was taken simply from a house in the city using the mentioned equipment. It is possible because it is not a place like Gangnam in Seoul. It shows an area in the constellation Leo known as the Leo Triple, where three external galaxies are located together. The size of the area is approximately 1.2 degrees in the direction of the longer axis. The two galaxies on the left, the upper one being M66 and the lower one being M65, and on the right is the NGC3628, also known as the Hamburger Galaxy. The naming creativity of astronomers is always astonishing.
The above photo was created by taking a total of 10 photos, with each of the R, G, and B channels captured for 2 minutes each, amounting to a total of one hour. While astrophotography typically involves capturing and post-processing, this photo was done very simply and roughly, both in terms of capturing and editing. Photos taken with care at darker and clearer observation sites and processed diligently exhibit image quality that is incomparable to this one. However, it should be noted that using a telescope does not guarantee exceptional photos at once, and many things can be seen even in places close to urban areas. Although this is a poor-quality photo, I have uploaded it as it is to convey the fact that well-captured photos can be easily found through internet searches.
※ Types of optical telescopes: Broadly speaking, there are three types: reflecting, refracting, and compound (reflecting-refracting or catadioptric) telescopes. In detail, there are various types such as Galilean, Keplerian, Gregorian, Newtonian, Cassegrain, Ritchey-Chrétien (RC), Kutter, Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT), Maksutov-Cassegrain (MCT), and more. Among these telescopes, amateurs mainly use refracting telescopes for refraction, Newtonian telescopes for reflection, and SCT and MCT for compound telescopes. Among Newtonian reflecting telescopes, there is a specific type called the Dobsonian, which is specialized for low-cost observations. Dobsonians can provide larger apertures for the price and are highly popular for their convenience in astronomical observations.
- The Encounter of Smartphones and Telescopes
If it were possible to remove the lens, you could directly attach a camera to a telescope. However, with smartphones, it is not possible, so you cannot see directly through them. Instead, you connect it to the eyepiece lens, replacing your eyes with a camera in the part you would normally observe with your eyes. This method is called afocal photography. Therefore, not only telescopes but also the performance of eyepieces and camera lenses are directly reflected in the photos. However, in most cases, afocal photography results in a deterioration of image quality, so it is not used unless absolutely necessary. In this shooting, due to the characteristics of the eyepiece lens and the telescope's field of view, we used the T (telephoto) camera for shooting, which does not provide the best image quality compared to the W (wide) camera.
※ Eyepiece lens: It is also called an eyepiece. The magnification of a telescope is calculated as "focal length of the main telescope / focal length of the eyepiece." If you change only the eyepiece of the same telescope, the magnification changes. My eyepiece has a field of view of 68 degrees. In other words, I can see stars within an area of 68 degrees, but the outer area appears black. The wide camera of a smartphone has an approximately 80-degree field of view. If you take a picture of a 60-degree circle with an 80-degree camera, you will only see stars in the circular area, and the rest will appear black. Also, although it is said to be 68 degrees, my inexpensive eyepiece has relatively bad image quality in the peripheral areas, so only the central part is somewhat visible when captured. Therefore, I had no choice but to give up the wide-angle (W) and choose the telephoto (T) option.
- Shooting Location and Timing
Location
The shooting location is the parking lot of Hwacheon Jangyeongcheol Observatory. There is a designated shooting spot for amateur astronomers at the observatory's parking lot.
South Korea, known for its bright nights that can be counted on one hand worldwide, provides the worst conditions for celestial observation. Due to atmospheric pollution, humidity, and light pollution, there are very few places suitable for stargazing. Moreover, due to the heavy equipment and night time safety considerations, it is even more difficult to find a place where you can observe right next to your vehicle. (Nevertheless, endless applause goes to the dedicated professionals in the aerospace field who continue to make efforts.)
Although Hwacheon Jangyeongcheol Observatory is not the best shooting location due to the significant light pollution coming from the south, it is relatively easily accessible in the metropolitan area and offers decent skies. Considering that it is open to the general public, even this level of accessibility is something to be grateful for.
※ Precautions and Tips for Astronomical Observations
If you plan to visit observatories or famous locations such as Gangwon Province for stargazing, it is recommended to turn off or use light sources such as car headlights, flashlights, and smartphone screens with caution. It takes a minimum of a few minutes to a maximum of 30 minutes to readjust your eyes to darkness once they are exposed to bright light. Red lights are generally acceptable. However, always prioritize safety and keep necessary lights on while moving.
Please leave the observing site as if no one was there. Even though it may seem insignificant, it is a highly valuable place for amateur astronomers. They are extremely cautious and concerned about the area becoming inaccessible due to light pollution and civilization.
If you happen to encounter someone observing through a telescope, politely ask if they can show you a glimpse. Many people will gladly share their observations and passionately explain them. If you show interest, they may even provide further information and show you more. Avoid approaching smaller telescopes, as they are usually used for photography. Instead, focus on larger telescopes placed on the ground.
The season
The filming was done at the end of February. It's a tricky time to capture something with astrophotography because different celestial objects are visible in each season. If you miss the season, you have to wait until the next one.
During this time, you should capture the objects of spring in the night sky.
In spring, there aren't many bright nebulae that display vibrant colors. The famous Orion sets early, and the various nebulae around the center of the magnificent Milky Way are not visible. However, spring is a season of galaxies as there are many of them. Some galaxies exhibit distinctive features, but for the most part, they lack the grandeur. It's a season that falls a bit short of impressing someone with its "wow" factor.
The Photographs
I would like to clarify in advance to avoid any misunderstanding. There may be few fields other than celestial observation and astrophotography where the disparity between imagination and reality is as significant. Except for very bright nebulae like Orion, it is impossible to perceive the colors of nebulae and galaxies with any telescope on the ground. The human eye cannot recognize colors in the dark. That's how humans have evolved. Through a telescope, you can only see something hazy and indistinct. Many people who have only seen photos online and then observed through a telescope are surprisingly disappointed with the ordinary appearance. Saturn and Jupiter, for example, can be considered rather cute than grand. However, amateur astronomy has its own charm. The following pictures were all taken in S23 Ultra astrophotography mode.
M3- The Canis Major Cluster
This is the Canis Major Cluster, specifically M3 in the Messier catalogue, also known as the Canis Major Open Cluster. It is called an open cluster because the stars are gathered together in a spherical shape. Inside this small cluster, there are approximately 500,000 stars. When you first look at it with the naked eye, it may appear as if there are smudges or fingerprints on the lens, but as you continue observing, you gradually adapt and begin to distinguish many individual stars. It's fascinating, and when you look up at the sky, you can't help but wonder where exactly you are and feel amazed.
※ Cluster: A group of stars that are close together. They are classified into two types: open clusters and globular clusters.
Open clusters: These are spherical clusters composed of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of old stars.
Globular clusters: These are composed of less than a few hundred young stars and do not have a specific shape.
M42- The Orion Nebula
It's a very famous object. M42, the Orion Nebula.
Contrary to my expectations, the colors were somewhat dull and lacking, so I was disappointed with the object. I started to think, 'Should there be a separate shooting mode for telescope users?' Originally, I expected to see a deep, purplish color in the arms, but it appeared lighter, which was disappointing. I wondered if it was because I used a 3x T camera instead of a 1x W camera, and I felt unsatisfied in various aspects.
If I had a wide-angle lens with a field of view of over 100 degrees, would I have been able to capture it with a W camera?
M44- The Beehive Cluster
This is the M44 Praesepe cluster, also known as the Beehive cluster. In reality, it looks even more beautiful when viewed with a slightly wider angle than the photo above. However, it's disappointing that with the combination of a telescope and eyepiece, the field of view is too narrow to capture it completely.
"It's frustrating that the wider angle is not achievable."
"Nevertheless, I find comfort in capturing the beautiful cross-shaped diffraction pattern unique to reflecting telescopes.
M51- The Whirpool Galaxy
M51 is a galaxy known as the Whirlpool Galaxy. It is located near the handle of the Big Dipper constellation. It shows a large galaxy absorbing a smaller one, and this appearance is likened to a father and son relationship, so it is called the '부자 은하' (Whirlpool Galaxy) in Korea. However, in English, it is called the Whirlpool Galaxy.
M81- Messier 81
The M81 you are currently looking at appears only as the central core in the photo, but in reality, it is a very large galaxy. M82, on the other hand, is more than twice as long as the M81 galaxy. If you look closely, you can also faintly see the extended arms. I wonder if it is visible only to those who are knowledgeable enough. Looking at this photo, I felt that there is still much room for improvement in astrophotography. There is still potential for enhancements specifically for telescope users. Of course, it will become more complex and require more considerations, which means more effort will be needed.
M104- Sombrero Galaxy
M104 is the Sombrero Galaxy. It is named after the wide-brimmed hat called "sombrero" in Mexico. Does it resemble one? It is located in the constellation of Virgo, and its prominent dark band in the center is quite impressive. Due to its beautiful appearance, often compared to Centaurus A galaxy, M104 has been widely featured in various media and people might have seen its image.
NGC884- Perseus Double Cluster
In the constellation of Perseus, there is a phenomenon called the "Perseus Double Cluster." Two open star clusters are located very close to each other, and what you are currently observing is one of them, identified as NGC 884. Due to the narrow field of view in afocal photography, only one cluster could be captured at a time. When viewed with a wider field of view, the sight of the two open star clusters close together is truly beautiful, like the image of an elephant seen through a magnifying glass, so to speak. Indeed, it is regrettable that the field of view is limited.
NGC2244- Rosette Cluster
It is NGC 2244, which is a part of the Rosette Nebula. Originally, I wanted to capture the Rosette Nebula itself. Although not visible in the photo, there is a red-hued nebula enveloping this star cluster. I had hoped to capture the red portions, but unfortunately, they were not visible at all. I need to analyse further whether it is due to the characteristics of the sensor, insufficient brightness, or if it was missed during the image processing stage. I have a hopeful expectation that if I had captured it with a 1x W camera, it would have turned out well.
Postscript
Above were the photos I captured using my personally-purchased telescope and the S23's astrophotography mode.
Since it was a photo of the spring sky, known as the "season of galaxies," it is natural that there are many galaxies in the image. If I had waited until dawn in April or May to capture the sky, I might have been able to photograph other nebulae like the Seagull Nebula. That is a bit regrettable. If I ever get the opportunity to create a third series, I would like to give it another try and satisfy my ambition.
During this photography session, I felt that the astrophotography mode of the Galaxy camera could be a great gift even for telescope users. This particularly applies to those who mainly focus on visual observation and wish to record, even in a simple manner, the objects they have seen. If they can capture those memories with a lightweight smartphone camera instead of expensive photography equipment, it would serve as a useful tool for preserving the fleeting moments of astronomical observations.
Additionally, I also hoped that the astrophotography mode, as a small feature, could raise awareness about the importance of darkness. If such awareness spreads, could it possibly lead to improvements in various light pollution relation issues in ecosystem, health, energy, etc.?
Apart from these hopes, I also had concerns about how much effort would be dedicated to this relatively niche hobby, not only in our country but globally as well. I can only hope that you continue to express your expectations and interest so that I can continue to advance in this field. I wonder if my dream of observing the Milky Way from nearby without having to drive to for hours to remove locations, will ever come true.
With these thoughts, I, a developer who sincerely loves the night sky, conclude my message.
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