A photographer captured the aurora lights and the Orion constellation in one spectacular image for the first time ever.
Roi Levi’s magical shot, taken in Iceland, was only achievable thanks to a new shooting technique.
Visible around the stars in the image is red hydrogen dust that was captured on a Canon EOS Ra, designed for astrophotography, with a special nebula filter attached, the H-alpha.
“I wanted to take things to the next level and do something no one has ever done before,” he tells PetaPixel.
“I decided to go Iceland and use the new filters and gear from my sponsors Optolong and Idas H-alpha filters and I had an idea to capture the aurora northern lights together with celestial objects,” he says.
“I just knew if I planned the image alignment right it will allow me to see Orion and the aurora in the same frame.”
Roi says he used the PhotoPills app to align his lens with Orion while on location near Vesterhorn mountain in Iceland.
Levi captured the two natural phenomena by shooting with the H-alpha filter and without the filter, meaning he never had to move the tripod.
“I used PixInsight for stacking 10 H-alpha frames and processing the image and then the final curve on Photoshop,” he says.
“There is a full colorful universe in the dark skies, and we need to know which filters to use to pull out these dim frequencies in the night skies and to properly expose the hiding gems of the skies for a much better landscape image.”
The shot was almost spoilt by cloud cover with only the Orion fully visible and the aurora dancing in between the clouds.
“Some will say it is even more special with the clouds behind,” he adds.
Levi’s efforts paid off as he was honored by NASA who picked it for their Astronomy Picture of the Day and was also recognized by the European Space Agency (ESA).
Talented Astrophotographer
Levi’s other photos from his trip to Iceland are also fantastic. The Israeli is a hyperlapse cinematographer by day and an astrophotographer by night.
He conducts photo workshops and is planning new photo tours with his special filters in Iceland.
“In 2023 we are making tours in California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Yellowstone, Jordan, Israel, and Iceland.”
More of Levi’s work can be found on his website, Instagram, and Facebook.
The festive season began in Scarborough over the weekend as Father Christmas arrives in town.
The magical Santa Claus made his way to Scarborough on Saturday November 19.He arrived at Scarborough Harbour at 11am and was greeted by Scarborough Sixth Form’s Christmas Band, the cast from YMCA’s Christmas production and team members of This Is The Coast.
He then joined his helpers on his sleigh and headed through town, before arriving at Boyes department store on Queen Street.
The Christmas Grotto was then opened and will remain open all day every Saturday and Sunday and Thursday and Friday afternoons up to Christmas Eve.Boyes department store’s Christmas window displayed was unveiled on Thursday November 17 prior to the arrival of Father Christmas.
1. Santa arrives in town
Santa Claus waves to families and children as he arrives in Scarborough.
Photo: Marson & Co
2. Santa arrives in town
Santa and his helpers arrived in Scarborough by boat.
Photo: CJW Photography
3. Santa arrives in town
Santa and his helpers arrived at Scarborough Harbour before making their journey through the town.
Photo: CJW Photography
4. Santa arrives in town
Santa was greeted by Scarborough Sixth Form’s Christmas Band, the cast from YMCA’s Christmas production and team members of This Is The Coast.
Fiona Morrison and her partner, Andrew Smith, run photography courses through their business Fiona Morrison Photography.
The exhibition will be showcasing the work of Mr Smith and Miss Morrison; Mr Smith’s father, George Smith, who assists with the program and is an avid photographer; and their student Graeme Robertson.
For each photographer, the inspiration for this exhibition comes from the unexpected beauty found in nature.
“The simple things inspire me,” Mr Robertson said.
“Unless you look at the ground, you don’t know what’s around you — there might be something beautiful on the ground.
“You could look at one thing and 20 people could photograph it differently.”
This is also the case for Miss Morrison, but her inspiration also comes from her passion for helping others reach their photography goals.
“My friend said to me a while ago: if it makes your heart sing, you’re doing the right thing — and I love that,” Miss Morrison said.
“I used to be a nurse and that was wonderful and great, but I had to transition to something else and one day I picked up my camera and the peace I felt was amazing.
“So, being a teacher, tutor, mentor and educator in photography, I have seen so many people that have got beautiful talent and beautiful images tucked away, and I just want to encourage and mentor people with their photography to showcase them.”
The exhibition will be open from 9am to 3pm at the MEAC, with various pieces of work up for sale. Entry is free.
Miss Morrison will be running more photography and video programs next year, so if you’re interested in getting involved with Fiona Morrison Photography, contact her via her website or Facebook page.
Since its launch on Christmas Day 2021, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been busy at work uncovering the secrets of the universe and revealing the majesty of the cosmos through breathtaking displays of astrophotography. Here at IGN, we’re curating and updating a gallery of the most spectacular and important JWST’s images as they’re released.
The JWST’s launch was the result of decades spent in planning and development, during which many billions of dollars were spent, and a metric ton of engineering challenges and setbacks were ingeniously and doggedly overcome.
The telescope now orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.5 million km in a region of space known as the second lagrange point. From here, the observatory can stay in sync with our planet as it makes its way around the Sun, while also keeping its all important sunshield orientated in the correct position to shade its delicate mirrors and instruments.
In its short scientific career, the vast 6.5 m (21.6 ft) golden eye of the Webb telescope has imaged cosmos in spectacular infrared detail, peering into the deep universe, and revisiting famous subjects such as the planets of our solar system, and iconic vistas including the Pillars of Creation.
Be sure to check out the gallery to see the most spectacular examples of the JWST’s astrophotography, and head to IGN’s science page for all the biggest space and science news.
Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer
It’s been just over a year since I looked at the superb Punks Billy 2.0, and now, 3LT has launched the Punks Billy 2.0 Darkness edition. The Darkness edition isn’t a new tripod, and a simple new colour option isn’t something we would usually cover, but here this colour change is far more than just an aesthetic update, it also enhances the tripod’s features.
Specification
Leg sections: 4
Load capacity: 18kg
Colours: Black with blue accents & Blue AirHed or Black with Copper accents with Black AirHed
leg angles: 23 ̊, 55 ̊, 80 ̊
Essentially 3LT has once again listened to its user base and produced this understated colour option on a variety of their tripods and L-Brackets. While the design of the units remains exactly the same, the new all-black look is more than just aesthetic.
Users have noted that some of the bright colours used in the tripods can reflect back from certain surfaces, and a pure black tripod is far easier to mask and hide in the shadows than their brighter and more cheerful-looking counterparts.
Now you may be thinking that while 3LT’s USP has always been the bright anodised parts that break away from the usual muted colour tones of most tripods, most tripods, by their very nature, are dark in colour. However, look at almost any tripod, and you’ll notice silver leg adjusters, red or blue bands of colour and bright white logos that are ready to reflect off glass, water and all manner of shiny objects. In contrast, the Darkness is all black; there’s nothing shiny to reflect back and haunt your images in the digital darkroom.
The lengths that 3LT has gone to mask and hide the presence of anything other than black in the 3LT Punks Billy 2.0 is quite extraordinary; sure enough, putting the tripod to the test and the new colour option certainly does the job.
At a recent shoot in a museum and with the Punks Billy 2.0 matched with the LEE FILTERS Elements Circular Polariser and a large black sheet, the tripod vanished from the reflection of protective plexiglass and reflective surfaces. Compared with the usual use of gaffa tape to hide and mask anything on the supports that is light in colour, the neat and tidy form of the Punks Billy 2.0 Darkness edition did the job. Once again in use, the Billy 2.0 reinforces itself as one of the best tripods on the market.
Now, all I need is the same design with 32mm tubes and an accessories thread with stops!
Really this is an outstanding tripod and one of the best investments you make now, for more details check out 3leggedthing.com
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) – The U.N. climate talks in Egypt closed on Sunday with a resolution to address the dual crises of climate change and nature loss, but did little to boost next month’s global meeting on biodiversity.
Countries will gather in Montreal in two weeks’ time to seek a global deal to protect the world’s declining wildlife and degraded ecosystems.
Many environment ministers and campaigners have said the climate talks should underline the importance of protecting nature to help to limit climate change.
But the final deal repeated much of the same language on nature as last year’s Glasgow pact, and there was no mention of the upcoming U.N. biodiversity summit – COP15 – to take place Dec. 7-19.
The decision “failed to signal the need for (COP15) to be successful, demonstrating the continued unnecessary and outdated walls between the U.N. climate and biodiversity approaches,” said Brian O’Donnell, director of non-profit organisation Campaign for Nature.
Campaigners are calling for a fully-fledged “Paris Agreement for nature” at COP15 under which countries would set national conservation targets and then report routinely on their progress in meeting them as has happened for carbon emissions following the Paris climate accord.
“If nations are committed to the text just adopted in Egypt, then they must follow through with ambitious nature conservation targets in Montreal,” O’Donnell said.
Currently, 21 conservation targets are proposed on efforts from reducing pesticide use to cutting harmful subsidies by at least $500 billion per year. The “landmark” target of the draft Montreal deal proposes protecting 30% of the world’s land and sea by 2030 – known informally as 30-by-30.
SAFEGUARDING NATURE FROM MASS EXTINCTION
Scientists believe the Earth is experiencing a sixth mass extinction event, with more than one million species at risk of disappearing.
The world’s wildlife crisis is largely driven by habitat loss, with wild spaces turned into agricultural fields and cities, or degraded by pollution. But climate change poses an increasing threat as temperatures climb, pushing species out of their comfortable ranges.
The final deal from Sharm el-Sheikh spelt out “the urgent need to address, in a comprehensive and synergetic manner, the interlinked global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss”.
It encouraged parties to “consider, as appropriate, nature-based solutions or ecosystem-based approaches” to climate change. These include strategies such as protecting forests or restoring wetlands to aid the Earth’s natural ability to store carbon.
Marco Lambertini, director general of World Wildlife Fund International said nature-based solutions were critical.
“Even by achieving net zero emissions … we will not be achieving 1.5 degrees Celsius. We need nature on our side,” he said.
CHINA AS HOST IN MONTREAL
China holds the COP15 presidency, although the summit is taking place in Montreal, the seat of the CBD secretariat, after being postponed four times from its original 2020 date in the Chinese city of Kunming.
China and Canada have worked closely on arranging the event and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to attend, while Chinese President Xi Jinping is not expected.
The Chinese foreign ministry on Friday told Reuters that “the Chinese side will at the right moment disclose the attendance situation of Chinese officials.”
Canada’s environment minister Steven Guilbeault said his country “had a very constructive and collaborative cooperation with China since the U.N. asked us to host COP15”.
(Reporting by Gloria Dickie; Additional reporting by David Stanway in Shanghai; Editing by Katy Daigle and Barbara Lewis)
CUMBRIA’S Dark Skies Festival welcomed more than 1500 people for their two weeks event.
The festival gave residents and visitors 30 events celebrating the night-time environment.
The events included stargazing and astrophotography, night trail running, canoeing, swimming, wildlife walks and forest bathing.
Events were led by knowledgeable astronomers from the north of England, and Cumbria-based activity companies.
Local businesses hosted dark sky themed events, including ‘The Inn on the Lake’ and ‘Another Place’ in Ullswater and ‘Near Howe Self-catering Cottages’ near Mungrisedale, supporting the visitor economy during its quieter period.
Sally Burchall, who is the Visitor Experience Manager with Forestry England, said: “We focussed our events at Grizedale and Whinlatter Forests, with local businesses helping to provide a wide range of inspiring activities alongside our own passionate staff.
“The diverse programme attracted a range of different audiences, from trail runners, families walking through the woods, to telescope stargazing for Calvert Trust guests with disabilities, with the help of the Cockermouth Astronomical Society.
“Cumbria provides a fantastic base for stargazing and night-time events in our forests, an offer we’re looking to expand with all of our business partners.”
The Dark Skies Officer for Cumbria, Jack Ellerby, of Friends of the Lake District, said: “Most events were planned for variable weather!
“I joined one on a rainy evening in woodland above Ambleside, led by Mindfulness guide Ruth from ‘At Nature’s Pace’.
“I’d had quite a stressful day, but after an hour or so in the dark I was completely chilled and felt very connected.
“You just can’t put a price on the physical and emotional restorative benefit of being in the outdoors after dark.”
The Dark Skies Festival started off the winter season, so do look out for lots more Dark Skies events over the coming months here.
Here are the 30 overcrowded places posted by Urban Hell Group on Reddit. r/UrbanHell is a photography subreddit of “all the hideous places human beings built or inhabit.” The online community invites everyone who wants to explore the darker side of the cities, towns, and villages in our shared world and welcomes any photos which show either ugliness, or a problem in urban development. Rural and suburban nightmares are also allowed.
Scroll down and check yourself. All photos are linked and lead to the sources from which they were taken. Please feel free to explore further works of these photographers on their collections or their personal sites.
#1 China IIRC – One more lane and it’ll be solved
Image Source: u/Idhanirem
#2 Macau – Nice Cage
Image Source: u/waxeryboiliroo
#3 Mumbai, India
Image Source: u/stefaniakio
#4 Dhaka, Bangladesh
Image Source: u/biwook
#5 Taiwan – Air Conditions
Image Source: u/A-Static-Mess
#6 Aerial image of the world’s largest tire deposit, located in Kuwait
Image Source: u/mpcamposz
#7 Los Angeles is an urban desert
Image Source: u/strangetimes69
#8 Guiyang, Guizhou, China
Image Source: u/AustinYaoChen
#9 Concrete canyon in Manhattan
Image Source: u/Sea_Marionberry2231
#10 New York – Flatiron
Image Source: u/moctezuma-
#11 Russia, Vorkuta – Dying North
Image Source: u/joshjson
#12 Athens, Greece
Image Source: u/Zestyclose-Ad5603
#13 Beach life in Karachi
Image Source: u/longwaytotokyo
#14 To Kwa Wan, Hong Kong
Image Source: u/tanmaypendse63
#15 Average Delhi Gurgaon commute
Image Source: u/OutlandishnessOk9447
#16 Dhaka, Bangladesh
Image Source: u/slowersea977
#17 Vegas, minus the neon glow
Image Source: u/FAEtlien
#18 Mirny, Yakutia, Russia …Welcome the the diamond mine
Image Source: u/ExploreMoreMysteries
#19 Supermarket on fire in Tomsk, Russia
Image Source: u/peacedetski
#20 Elevated highway in central Hong Kong
Image Source: u/biwook
#21 “Perspective” complex in Stavropol (Russia)
Image Source: u/emmanuel-monarc
#22 The two sides of Makati, Philippines
Image Source: u/uphillviews
#23 Jakarta, Indonesia
Image Source: u/nicholasbhagasinsan
#24 Moscow, Russia. Smog over suburbs
Image Source: u/joshjson
#25 Somewhere in urban Philippines, is an electric handloom machine?
Image Source: u/kinofil
#26 Cairo, Egypt – wonderful city with terrible air pollution
Image Source: u/mastah_D_Omina
#27 A view of Teesside, UK
Image Source: u/benrsmith77
#28 Powai hills separating rural and urban Mumbai
Image Source: u/xbftw
#29 Singapore
Image Source: u/biwook
#30 Tskaltubo, Georgia. Once a promising spa resort, now derelict and miserable
Wild Lights features millions of twinkling holiday lights across dozens of designed displays throughout the zoo. // Courtesy of The Detroit Zoo
Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo Makes Glowing Return
Wild Lights at the Detroit Zoo, the facility’s annual holiday light show, flipped the switch on its 10th consecutive season Nov. 19.
Presented by Strategic Staffing Solutions, the event features millions of twinkling holiday lights across dozens of designed displays throughout the zoo.
Dates and times for the Wild Lights 2022-2023 season are as follows:
25-26 (5-10:30 p.m.)
27 (5-9 p.m.)
2-3, 9-10, 16-23 (5-10:30 p.m.)
4, 11, 14-15, 26-31 (5-9 p.m.)
2-8 (5-9 p.m.)
New features of Wild Lights include:
An Enchanted Trail where guests can stroll through a forest of lights while listening to the sounds of the season.
Toyland, an immersive installation featuring larger-than-life, lighted toy sculptures, such as a 40-foot-long train – along with a Wishing Tree, where families can make their holiday wishes come true.
The Wild Lights Lodge, a festive, indoor oasis where guests can warm up and take in holiday décor, bar service, s’mores, and more.
“Wild Lights is one of our most successful and fun events of the year, and it’s easy to see why,” says Megan Gregg, senior events manager for the Detroit Zoological Society. “The incredible new activities we have planned for this year, along with all the traditional festivities that are part of Wild Lights, are what make this family-friendly event so popular.”
Wild Lights guests also can check out the Wildlife Photographer of the Year art exhibition, which is included with admission to any Wild Lights event. Owned by the Natural History Museum in London, this exhibition celebrates the best of nature photography and photojournalism using the unique. The Detroit Zoo is the first stop in the United States for the exhibition, which debuted Nov. 19.
For more information and tickets, visit wildlights.detroitzoo.org.
Applications for $50M Going PRO Talent Fund Program Opens Today
Michigan employers looking to take advantage of the Going PRO Talent Fund program will be able to apply for a share of approximately $50 million in competitive training awards over the course of two application cycles starting today.
Going PRO Talent Fund helps ensure employers have the talent they need to grow and stay competitive by providing awards to assist in training, developing and retaining current and newly hired employees. Training must fill a demonstrated talent need experienced by the employer and lead to a transferable, industry-recognized credential.
“We are committed to expanding opportunity for Michiganders, ensuring they have a path to good-paying jobs and making sure businesses can develop the talent they need to compete in the global economy,” says Susan Corbin, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “Since the program’s launch, Going PRO Talent Fund has provided training for 145,000 Michigan workers, supporting the needs of more than 5,000 businesses.”
This year, the application process includes increased transparency for applicants — allowing them to see their scores prior to submitting an application and make adjustments as needed.
The application period for the first award cycle ends at noon Dec. 12. Selections will be announced in January 2023. For more information, visit here.
Sterling Heights-based Jet’s Pizza Debuts in Henderson, Nevada
Jet’s Pizza, the Sterling Heights-based pizza chain, has expanded to the Las Vegas market with its first location in nearby Henderson.
“Nevada has long been on the list of the most requested locations by our fans,” says Doug Pierard, owner of Jet’s Pizza in Henderson. “We couldn’t be more excited to serve the local community and welcome pizza lovers to experience our new location.”
The new location will offer the full complement of Jet’s Signature pizzas, calzone style Deli Boats, freshly baked Turbo bread Stix, fresh salads, crispy wings, and boneless chicken, as well as cookies and cinnamon stix with delivery and carry out options. Gluten-free pizza is available upon request.
With the launch of its Henderson location, Jet’s Pizza has more than 400 locations in 20 states.
Lionsgate Launches Rewards Initiative Using Detroit-based TiiCKER Platform
Lionsgate has partnered with Detroit-based shareholder loyalty platform TiiCKER to launch the Shareholder Red Carpet Rewards program to increase retail shareholder engagement with the studio’s portfolio of film and television brands and franchises.
Lionsgate, home to the blockbuster “John Wick,” “Hunger Games,” “Dirty Dancing,” and other brands and franchises, now will offer verified shareholders an array of perks under its tiered Shareholder Red Carpet Rewards program.
These include limited-edition, collectible Lionsgate commemorative shareholder certificates featuring favorite Lionsgate movies and television series, a 50 percent discount on a full-year subscription to global streaming platform STARZ, discounts on movie tickets in partnership with Atom Tickets and discounts on a broad range of Lionsgate events, experiences, and merchandise. Shareholder rewards also will include giveaways and sweepstakes that give shareholders the opportunity to win free tickets to movie premieres or host hometown screenings.
“We’re thrilled to debut our first partnership with a world-class Hollywood film and television studio and their tens of millions of subscribers and fans in utilizing the TiiCKER platform to build shareholder loyalty and engagement,” says Jeff Lambert, founder and CEO of TiiCKER. “Individual shareholders are loyal and want to connect with the companies they own and Lionsgate’s Shareholder Rewards program is the most comprehensive suite of perks and experiences ever introduced by a public company. We’re honored to be their partner on this blockbuster program.”
Detroit Announces Street Closures, Bus Reroutes, Parking for Thanksgiving Events
Individuals attending America’s Thanksgiving Parade, Turkey, Trot and the Detroit Lions game on Thursday, Nov. 24 should make note of street closures, bus reroutes, and suggested parking, as tens of thousands flock to downtown Detroit.
The city of Detroit also issued a reminder to parade watchers that the building of scaffolds and any device without a city permit is prohibited during Thanksgiving events in downtown Detroit on private or public property. Violators will receive tickets, and the scaffolds will be removed.
ROAD CLOSURES
Nov. 23
Woodward between W. Grand Blvd and Warren to close at 9 a.m.
Woodward from Warren to Congress to close at noon.
Atwater between Civic Center Drive and Third to close at 3 p.m.
Griswold between Fort and Congress to close at 6 p.m.
Nov. 24
Motorists may cross Woodward at these intersections until 5 a.m. Crossover streets are: Warren, Alexandrine, MLK/Mack, Fisher Service Drive, Adams, Park/Witherall, John R/Clifford and Grand River.
Woodward from W. Grand Blvd. to Larned will be closed completely from 5 a.m.-4 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
The following streets will close beginning at 5 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 24 and reopen after the Turkey Trot at approximately 10 a.m.:
Jefferson from the Lodge Freeway to Cabacier
Michigan at Cass
Fort Street from Trumbull to Woodward
Congress from Shelby to Randolph
Larned from Shelby to Randolph
Shelby from Congress to Michigan
Michigan from Cass to Woodward
Monroe from Woodward to Randolph
Lafayette Blvd. from Trumbull to Griswold
Washington Blvd. from Adams to Congress
Atwater from Civic Center Dr. to Third
In addition, the southbound Lodge exits at W. Jefferson/Cobo and Larned Street (Exits 1A & 1B) and the northbound Lodge exit at W. Jefferson (Exit 1A) will be closed beginning at 7 a.m. and during the entire Turkey Trot. The Larned exit will reopen after the Turkey Trot ends.
The Detroit People Mover will be free on Thanksgiving Day and operating from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m.
As a result of street closures for Thanksgiving Day events, DDOT customers can expect delays beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 24 until the end of the parade. Some eastside and westside bus routes will be rerouted.
The following routes will be located on Beaubien between Congress and Lafayette at the Bricktown People Mover Station.
5 Van Dyke/Lafayette
6 Gratiot (Gratiot will be located on Congress)
9 Jefferson
31 Mack
52 Chene
67 Cadillac/Harper
Passengers can transfer by way of the People Mover at no charge (Bricktown Station on Beaubien at Congress and Michigan Station on Cass at Michigan)
These routes will be located at:
3 Grand River will be at Cass on Michigan
4 Woodward will be available at the Rosa Parks Transit Center (Bay 15)
16 Dexter will be available at the Rosa Parks Transit Center (Bay 14)
DDOT will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day for all regular routes at regular fares. For more information, please call DDOT’s Customer Service Office at (313) 933-1300 or go to RideDetroitTransit.com.
The Detroit Municipal Parking Department (MPD) recommends the following facilities:
Ford Underground Garage, Nov. 24, 5 a.m.-7 p.m., $10
30 East Jefferson Ave., Nov. 25, 6 a.m.-7 p.m., $5-$15
Parents can find lost children at the Detroit Police Department Downtown Services, 20 Atwater, or by calling 313-237-2850.
Metro Detroit Young Professionals Start New Committee to Combat Illiteracy
More than 100 metro Detroit young professionals met in late September to learn about the mission of Beyond Basics, Michigan’s leading provider of structured literacy intervention.
The event, conducted at the Riverside, launched the newly formed Leaders for Literacy, which is a committee of adults aged 25-40 who want to do their part to eradicate the crisis of illiteracy in America.
Committee Chair Abigail Turnbull felt moved to become part of the solution after learning about Beyond Basics at a nonprofit showcase in 2021. Currently two-thirds of fourth graders nationwide are reading below proficiency, and pandemic learning losses have only added to their ranks. Turnbull said she was was heartened to learn there is a remedy: Beyond Basics’ multisensory approach helps students achieve grade-level movement in an average of six weeks.
Turnbull’s passion to become a literacy advocate quickly drew her peers to join her in forming Leaders for Literacy, and the committee’s enthusiasm is contagious, as evident by the many young professionals who milled about the venue, enjoying cocktails and music, curious to learn more.
“I’m blown away by the generosity of our attendees,” says Turnbull, an account manager at leading insurance broker NFP. “I’m very much looking forward to keeping the momentum to continue to make a difference and work to eradicate illiteracy.”
Young professionals interested in joining, can email Executive Outreach Manager Katie Nienstedt at [email protected].
I have said it before in my all-in-one, how-to-do-everything astrophotography guide—astrophotography is more accessible than ever before. Great gear can be purchased even on a tight budget, and the advancements with compact star trackers allow for even greater detail to be captured.
As I have also said before in my mega guide, use what gear you have now to get started. But, maybe you have reached the point where it is time to upgrade, or are considering really shifting your focus into astrophotography and want to have the best camera for that. Maybe even, you have a tight budget but still want a dedicated camera for astro. Well, here is what I would recommend for cameras in 2022.
First I must disclose that I have not been paid by any of the brands mentioned in the article to recommend one product over the next. These come from my experience, research, and testing, as well as a general consensus from the astro community.
Table of Contents
Pixel Scaling and ISO
Before I get started with my recommendations, it is important to note a few technical items which play into them. Chief among which is the ongoing debate between more megapixels and “less low-light capability” and fewer megapixels but “more low-light capability.” This topic is still debated on many internet forums today, but for the purposes of astrophotography (not video) resolution of a given sensor is not the only driving factor in noise. Read noise and quantum efficiency (QE for short, this means how much light the sensor is capable of converting into electrons, AKA signal) play a vital role, as does of course the optics you are using to gather that signal.
I want to keep this as brief as possible as the purpose of mentioning this here is solely for providing a foundation for my recommendations below. Yes, you can downscale a higher resolution sensor to represent the lower resolution sensor of the same sensor dimensions, and if all else is constant, the noise will be the same.
So you may ask then, why am I recommending the below cameras, why not just use the highest resolution sensor possible? There are a few problems with this. Higher resolution sensors require higher quality optics to fully utilize that extra resolution. Otherwise, the extra resolution may not be perceived, making it moot. Higher resolution files also require more processing power, hampering workflow.
The main issue is, if you are going to shoot and process with a higher resolution sensor and downscale to a lower resolution, what is the point of shooting with the higher resolution sensor, to begin with? Because higher resolution sensors require more work to ensure maximum efficiency, you would be better off saving your time and money and investing in a product that is already going to offer that level of noise ideal for astrophotography from the start.
With that out of the way, let’s move on to the actual recommendations.
Best Overall (and Nightscape) Astrophotography Camera: Nikon Z6 I/II
Nikon has received a lot of flack for their Z6 and Z7 series, in particular regarding the AF performance versus the rivals of Sony or Canon. The bodies are also now getting old and lack some of the features the latest and greatest the competition has. Look, I am not going to disagree with the fact that the AF is not quite as good as its competitors, but in astrophotography, AF is irrelevant. For all other reasons, the Z6 I or Nikon Z6 II excel as astro cameras in many genres from nightscape to deep space. The line has been my camera of choice for 3 years now going strong.
It has a 24-megapixel BSI full-frame sensor that, in my opinion, is excellent in read noise and quantitative efficiency, and it also has ISO invariance along with a dual-gain sensor.
The Z6 is also capable of adapting virtually any lens from any mount as it has one of the smallest flange distances, making it really easy to transition to from other systems. But, the mount truly shines with the new Nikkor S line lenses. I personally am blown away by some of the glass in the Z system. Coming from Canon L series lenses as well as Sigma ARTS (and also using Sony GMs), much of the Z system glass does a fantastic job at rendering beautiful star colors and shapes with minimal longitudinal chromatic aberration, coma, and astigmatism. Some are better than others for sure, but in my opinion, these are top tier, which is saying a lot considering older Nikon glass had some pretty bad distortions when it came to astro. I will not be going into lens recommendations in this article, however — just know there are some great options.
The Z6 I/II can also be easily astromodified for more response in the h-alpha wavelengths. Some bodies have issues with modification, but the Z6 does not. The Z6 is also compatible with a boatload of capture software for all of you deep spacers out there making it great for both nightscape and deep space alike, depending on your telescope/lens and target. The Z6 also does not have any sensor banding issues like some Canon sensors do, nor does it suffer from Star Eater spatial filtering like all Sony’s do (yes, Sony star eater is still persistent today, Stars are smeared out as exposure time increases, and many crowded star fields turn into weird snake/maze-like groupings). The only minor issue is some concentric ringing, but there is an easy fix for it (basically just use the histogram and expose to the left) and I also personally have never had this issue.
The Z6 I and II have the same sensor, but the Z6 I can be had for cheaper. I do not find the benefits of paying extra for the II necessary for astro, but if you plan to also shoot daytime work with the camera, you may find the better AF and second card slot of the II to be much more beneficial.
Best Budget Astrophotography Camera for Nightscape: Canon EOS 6D Mark I
DSLRs are not quite dead yet. In fact, I would argue that anyone looking to invest in a camera just for astrophotography should start off with a DSLR. In particular, when it comes to nightscape work, a full-frame camera would be great, but the mirrorless options are all expensive, even used. You would be better off saving the money by sticking to a cheaper DSLR and getting better glass up front. Fortunately, the current mirrorless offerings have made this camera particularly cheap — I am talking about the Canon EOS 6D Mark I.
The 6D is a full-frame camera with an extensive lens lineup that is hard to go wrong with. Even in 2022, this camera still shines. Despite a lack of ISO invariance and some sensor banding issues, the 20MP sensor has very low read noise. While there are some good Canon L series lenses out there that are great for astro work, I have seen better results from even cheaper 3rd party offerings such as the Sigma ARTs, Tamron, and Rokinon/Samyang glass which are all available for EF mount.
I have seen this camera dip below the $300 mark on used forums. You can also keep an eye open for the Nikon D610 which offers ISO invariance and access to the same 3rd party glass, but it is slightly more expensive sitting at around $500.
Best Astrophotography Camera for Deep Space: Multiple Choices
Choosing a deep-space camera is a whole other ballgame than nightscape. Deep space cameras need to be paired appropriately with the right Optical Tube Assembly (OTA) for appropriate sampling. If you are undersampling, it means the camera is not capturing the full resolution the telescope is able to provide. Oversampling occurs when light is spread over more pixels than required to reach the full resolution, which can result in much longer integration times than necessary. Sounds confusing? No worries, check out this online calculator which makes it easy to figure out.
Also, remember what I was saying above about how higher resolution sensors require better optics? This is a case for oversampling. There are also mono cameras and full-color cameras — those are discussed in depth in my astrophotography tutorial.
The bottom line is it would be inappropriate for me to recommend one camera over the other with so many factors at play. Instead, I am going to recommend a few of my choices as well as the community favorites which vary in price, sensor size, color, or mono which should hopefully make it easier for you to decide.
For Micro 4/3 chip sizes, I am going for the ZWO ASI294MC Pro for color, and the ZWO ASI1600MM Pro for Mono. Both have low read noise, cooling, and pair nicely with wider focal length telescopes to capture bigger targets. I have noticed some amp glow with the 294MC, but this is fixed easily by proper calibration frames.
The ASI294MC Pro color camera (left) and the ZWO ASI1600MM Pro monochrome camera (right).
For APS-C, the ZWO ASI2600 series (the ASI2600MC Pro color camera and ASI2600MM Pro mono camera) is hard to go wrong with. Both have very low read noise and high quantitative efficiency with the color sitting at 80% and the mono at an impressive 91%. Both are cooled of course.
The ASI2600MC Pro color camera (left) and the ASI2600MM Pro monochrome camera (right).
Stepping up to full frame is very demanding for deep space. It requires you have an OTA which is capable of filling a full-frame image circle, and you are ensuring you are sampling properly. Both ZWO and QHY implement the 62MP Sony IMX455 sensor in their top of the deep space cameras, but the ZWO has more driver support and is slightly cheaper. The ZWO ASI6200MC Pro is the color camera while the ZWO ASI6200MM Pro is the mono variant of the chip.
The ZWO ASI6200MC Pro color camera (left) and the ZWO ASI6200MM Pro monochrome camera (right).
Best Budget Astrophotography Camera for Deep Space: Nikon D5300 / Canon Rebel T3i
Fear not, deep space can still be done on a tight budget with more simplicity if these dedicated astro cameras are not for you yet! The Nikon D5300 and Canon Rebel T3i are hard to pass up. Spec and age-wise, you are probably questioning these cameras, but these DSLRs still rock! Both can be had with an astro mod already complete all for less than $300 and are widely compatible across the board with capture software and adapters for OTA hardware.
In deep space, accurate tracking is far more important than the camera itself, so you would be better off splurging on a good mount and saving some money on the camera if you are heavily budget restricted. These cameras will get great results and are fan favorites in the community with a ton of support. My first ever DSLR was a T3i and I can still vouch for how it got me into astrophotography in the first place.
Best Astrophotography Camera for Planetary and Solar/Lunar: ZWO ASI174MM
Planetary cameras shoot a lot differently than the deep space offerings mentioned above. They do not need cooling and large sensors. Instead, smaller sensors and high FPS are important specs. This is because these targets are imaged much differently than with deep space. Read my complete astrophotography guide for more info on how to do so.
Just like deep space cameras, there is a little bit of figuring out you need to do to match your camera with your OTA. You may also need to add in a Barlow (hardware that crops your field of view) to achieve the correct scaling.
Before we get started with my recommendations, however, I just need to note that ZWO just announced 3 new cameras at the time of writing. But, these cameras are not available to the masses yet and as a result, I have no way of knowing how capable they actually are. It would be wrong for me to recommend gear just based on specs alone without any use, so as a result this article is based on what is currently available. Down the road, these might be adjusted to reflect the new cameras, so stay tuned!
The ZWO ASI174 is a favorite in this field. It offers a 164 FPS capture speed, which is outstanding for planetary, solar, lunar, and even as an autoguider for deep space shooters. This is a fantastic all-around camera. But, it is a monochrome camera which may be a little tougher for beginner use. For that reason, I would also recommend the ZWO ASI385MC which has a slightly slower maximum capture rate of 120 FPS, but features a full-color sensor and is slightly cheaper. Take note however that sometimes capturing planetary data in color may be difficult due to atmospheric dispersion.
Final Thoughts
The ludicrously expensive and complicated barrier of entry into astrophotography is a thing of the past. The impressive capabilities of cameras today can be had for cheaper than ever before, and even older tech still does an excellent job for those looking to save a few bucks.
Software too has been improved so much that even using dedicated astro cameras does not require a degree in astronomy, and the variation of many different types of cameras is proof that you can shoot just about anything under the sun… or the stars… or even the sun itself. Ha!
About the author: Daniel J. Stein is a passionate nightscape photographer working full-time in New Jersey in his family’s commercial plumbing contracting business. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. You can find more of Stein’s work on his website and Instagram.
