Amateur vs. Pro: My Copernicus Photo Compared to Andrew McCarthy's

It's always inspiring to see the incredible work of renowned astrophotographers. Recently, I decided to put my own amateur skills to the test and captured an image of the magnificent Copernicus crater. To see how far I've come, and to gain some perspective, I've placed my photograph side-by-side with a professional shot by the talented Andrew McCarthy.

This comparison isn't about competition, but rather about learning and appreciating the journey of astrophotography. It's amazing what can be achieved with accessible equipment and a lot of dedication!

My Setup & Process

My shot of Copernicus was taken using a Celestron Powerseeker 60AZ telescope and an iPhone 15. Post-processing was handled in Adobe Lightroom, with the final side-by-side comparison created using Canva.

The Comparison

Here's the image showcasing both photographs:

It's incredible to see the details captured by both approaches. While the professional shot exhibits a level of clarity and detail that comes with advanced equipment and extensive experience, I'm proud of the progress I'm making with my setup.

The Learning Curve

For those just starting out in astrophotography, remember that every expert was once a beginner. The journey of learning and improving is what makes this hobby so rewarding. It's a continuous process of exploration and discovery.

I'm excited to keep pushing my boundaries and learning more about capturing the wonders of the night sky!