Capturing the Dumbbell Nebula with a Mobile Phone
Astrophotography often conjures images of complex camera setups and specialized equipment. However, the accessibility of modern smartphones is opening up new avenues for capturing the wonders of the night sky. In this post, we showcase a remarkable image of the Dumbbell Nebula (M27) captured using a Samsung S21 mobile phone.
The Setup:
The image was acquired using the following equipment:
- Telescope: Bresser First Light 102 AR
- Mount: EQ3 mount with a clockwork motor
- Mobile Phone: Samsung S21
- Adapter: Nexyz holder
Acquisition Details:
The image is a composite of 365 individual light frames, each exposed for 4 seconds. To further refine the data, 40 dark frames and 40 bias frames were also captured.
Processing:
The raw data was stacked and processed using Siril, a powerful free and open-source astronomical image processing software. A final touch-up was then applied using Adobe Photoshop to enhance the details and bring out the vibrant colors of the nebula.
This impressive capture demonstrates the potential of mobile phone astrophotography, proving that with the right guidance and equipment, breathtaking celestial views are within reach.
