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Simple Astrophotography

Paul Money has kindly given us the following tips for successful simple astrophotography.

Film

Slow film (eg ISO 100) will record few stars on an unguided exposure, but with little grain. Fast film (eg ISO 1600) will produce a more densely populated star field, but with much greater grain.

Exposure guide for constellations, starfields and very bright comets

Open your lens to its widest possible aperture. F-stops of f/2 or f/2.8 are ideal.

Star trails, including meteors

Exposures greater than those quoted above: exposures of several hours are possible. Stop the lens down to f/5.6 or f/8 depending on sky conditions. Use any lens up to a 300mm.

Lunar halo

As for constellations above. Use a 28mm lens or wider for the complete halo.

Lunar details, including eclipses

Use a 500mm lens at f/8 and bracket either side of the guidelines below. The figures assume a film speed of ISO 100 and should be taken as a guide: atmospheric conditions can have a large effect.

Planets

As for starfields above. To all intents and purposes, all planets except Mercury appear as points. Take a twilight reading and bracket on either side.

Aurora and noctilucent clouds

Twenty seconds on fast film and up to sixty seconds on slow film when using a 50mm or 28mm lens at an aperture of f/2 or f/2.8.

Artificial satellites

It's best to use a 50mm lens and expose as for startrails or starpoints as the satellite, if bright enough, will make a trail on the film anyway.

In general

Always be prepared to bracket the exposure either side of what you think is right. Be prepared to take a lot of frames in order to get that one shot that everyone thinks is a wow!