Beholding the Seven Sisters: A Stunning Pleiades Astrophotograph
This past week, I managed to capture what I believe to be my best astrophotography of the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters. This iconic celestial sight is a favorite among astronomers and space enthusiasts alike, and I'm thrilled to share my latest effort with you.
Capturing the Stars Under Light Pollution
Photographing deep sky objects can be a challenge, especially when battling the pervasive light pollution common in many urban and suburban areas. My skies fall between Bortle 7 and 9, which means there's a significant amount of artificial light interfering with the fainter details of celestial objects.
Despite these conditions, I was able to bring out the beauty of the Pleiades using a combination of dedicated equipment and careful processing.
The Gear and the Process
Here's a look at the technical details behind this image:
- Telescope: 130mm f5 Newtonian Telescope
- Camera: Modified Canon EOS Rebel T2i (550D)
- Exposure: 65 lights x 4 seconds each
- ISO: 800
- Dark Frames: 18
- Processing Software: Siril for stacking and Adobe Lightroom for finishing touches
It's worth noting that while this image showcases the Pleiades beautifully, capturing the delicate interstellar dust associated with the cluster can be difficult under these conditions and with shorter exposures. My equatorial mount, while functional, is not the highest end, and its single-axis logic drive motor presents its own set of challenges. However, practice makes perfect, and I'm constantly learning and refining my techniques.
The Result
Here is the image of the Seven Sisters:
I'm really pleased with how this turned out, and I hope you enjoy viewing the Pleiades through my lens as much as I enjoyed capturing it. Clear skies, everyone!
