Deep Sky Dan's groundbreaking advancements in smartphone astrophotography
Astrophotographer Dan Conover's Deep-Sky Imaging Setup
Dan Conover, an astrophotographer based in Nagano City, Japan, has developed a unique approach to deep-sky astrophotography, blending the convenience of smartphone cameras with the precision of telescopes and cooled cameras.
Star Tracker for Deep-Sky Imaging
A key component of Conover's setup is the iOptron SkyGuider Pro, a star tracker capable of supporting cameras and small telescopes, enabling smooth tracking for long deep-sky exposures. This tracker helps capture high-quality deep-sky objects by compensating for Earth's rotation.
Cooled Astrophotography Camera
While the specific cooled camera model used by Conover is not disclosed, these cameras are essential for reducing sensor noise in long exposures, crucial for detailed deep-sky imaging.
Smartphone-Based Imaging Tools
For smartphone astrophotography, Conover recommends devices like the ZWO Seestar S50, which offers a user-friendly deep-sky imaging experience with features like exposures defaulting to 10 seconds, mosaic mode for capturing larger targets, and real-time image stacking.
Additional Equipment and Techniques
A sturdy tripod, manual camera control, LED headlamps with red/green settings to preserve night vision, remote shutter releases, and intervalometers are all vital for smartphone astrophotography.
Summary Setup Suggestion
For a hybrid deep-sky astrophotography setup, consider using the iOptron SkyGuider Pro or a similar equatorial star tracker mount for long guided exposures of deep-sky objects. Attach a cooled astrophotography camera to this mount for high-quality, low-noise imaging. Utilize your smartphone to control the camera and mount if supported by the camera’s software interface, or to operate a device like the ZWO Seestar S50 for simpler, shorter-exposure deep-sky imaging and mosaics. Complement this setup with a sturdy tripod, remote shutter, and manual controls for focusing and exposure.
Conover's Equipment and Techniques
For cooled camera astrophotography, Conover uses a Celestron EdgeHD 8'' or SVBONY SV555 telescope, Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro mount, various cameras and guide cameras, filters, and a range of software for data acquisition, telescope control, and post-processing.
For smartphone astrophotography, Conover uses a Celestron EdgeHD 8'' telescope, Sky-Watcher EQ6-R PRO mount, specific eyepieces, filters, and smartphone adapters.
Conover can be found on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Patreon, where he shares his passion for smartphone astrophotography. His focus in astrophotography is using smartphone cameras and various telescopes, and his YouTube channel is dedicated to this pursuit.
While the process of cooled camera astrophotography is more involved, it produces superior results compared to smartphone astrophotography. Conover uses various software for post-processing, including Deep Sky Stacker, Sequator, Astro Pixel Processor, Adobe Photoshop with RC-ASTRO tools, SIRIL, SETI Astro Suite, and PixInsight.
Recently, Conover has bought a cooled camera for astrophotography, marking a new chapter in his astronomical journey.
- Astrophotographer Dan Conover primarily uses a Celestron EdgeHD 8'' or SVBONY SV555 telescope, Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro mount, and various cameras for cooled astrophotography.
- For simpler deep-sky imaging, Conover endorses smartphone cameras like the ZWO Seestar S50, which features 10-second default exposures, mosaic mode, and real-time image stacking.
- In his deep-sky imaging setup, Conover employs the iOptron SkyGuider Pro, a star tracker that supports cameras and small telescopes, to facilitate smooth tracking for long exposures.
- To further his astronomical pursuit, Conover has recently purchased a cooled camera, marking a new phase in his study of space-and-astronomy.
- A comprehensive deep-sky astrophotography setup, as suggested, utilizes the iOptron SkyGuider Pro or a similar equatorial star tracker mount, a cooled astrophotography camera, and either a smartphone for control or the ZWO Seestar S50.
- The hybrid setup also encompasses a sturdy tripod, remote shutter, manual controls for focusing and exposure, and various software for data acquisition, telescope control, and post-processing, such as Deep Sky Stacker, SETI Astro Suite, and PixInsight.
