Capturing the Galactic Heart: My First Milky Way Core Shot!
Hello fellow stargazers!
I'm incredibly excited to share my very first attempt at capturing the majestic core of the Milky Way. For anyone starting out in Milky Way photography, you know the thrill and challenge that comes with chasing these celestial wonders. I'm so proud of how this turned out and wanted to share the process with you all.
The Gear and the Goals
This shot was made possible with the following equipment:
- Camera: Nikon Z5
- Lens: f/4 24-120mm
One of the biggest hurdles for beginners is managing tracking. For this capture, I'm proud to say it was untracked, relying on a longer exposure to gather enough light. The total exposure time was approximately 7 minutes.
The Workflow: From Raw to Radiant
Achieving this result involved a dedicated processing workflow:
- Sequator: This powerful software was my go-to for stacking and initial processing. Stacking is crucial for reducing noise and bringing out faint details in astrophotography.
- Darktable: After the stacking process, I moved to Darktable for some basic aesthetic edits to enhance the final image.
The Conditions
For those who are curious about the observing conditions, this shot was taken under a Bortle 5 sky. While darker skies are always ideal, it's encouraging to see what can be achieved even in moderately light-polluted areas.
A Beginning
This is just the start of my astrophotography journey, and I'm thrilled with this milestone. Seeing the intricate details of our galaxy emerge from the darkness is a truly rewarding experience. I hope this inspires other aspiring astrophotographers out there!
Thanks for looking!
