My First Astrophotography Shoot: Seeking Feedback and Tips

Last night, I finally took my Star Adventurer Mini and trusty Canon 700D out for a test shoot in Macclesfield Forest. I've been eagerly anticipating this moment, and to finally have something of my own to share is incredibly exciting, even if it's just a first attempt!

My targets for the evening were the Milky Way core, Cygnus, and Andromeda. I was particularly keen to try and capture the majestic Andromeda Galaxy.

The Challenges of Polar Alignment

My first hurdle was polar aligning. I have to admit, it wasn't as straightforward as I'd anticipated, and I'm quite confident my alignment wasn't perfect. Despite this initial struggle, I remained determined and did my best with what I had.

Milky Way Woes

Unfortunately, my attempt at shooting the Milky Way core didn't yield great results. Considering the moon phase, the location, and the fact that I arrived a bit late, it's likely these conditions weren't ideal for capturing the faint core. I won't be sharing those attempts.

Tackling Cygnus

Cygnus proved to be surprisingly tricky. I'm not entirely sure I've successfully identified it in my shots. As it was positioned nearly overhead, using Stellarium to guide me was a bit challenging, but I did my best to get as close as possible.

Andromeda: A Thrilling Success!

However, Andromeda was by far the most successful of my targets! Seeing it appear on my camera screen was a genuinely thrilling moment. It was the most identifiable object in my captures, and I dedicated a significant portion of my editing time to refining it through multiple drafts.

Editing Workflow: Sequator and GIMP

Due to my rather ancient computer, I couldn't use DSS as it resulted in a blue screen. Instead, I opted for Sequator for stacking. After processing with Sequator, I delved into a few editing tutorials and applied what I learned using GIMP.

Sharing My Journey

I'm really happy to have embarked on this astrophotography journey. While these images may seem insignificant or unrefined compared to other beginners' first attempts, I'm determined to improve with the guidance of this community.

Here are my shots:

Andromeda Galaxy

Another Andromeda Shot

Possible Cygnus Shot

My Setup and Data:

Camera: Canon 700D
Mount: Star Adventurer Mini
Location: Macclesfield Forest, UK

Andromeda Exposures:

10 x 120 seconds
10 x 45 seconds

Cygnus Exposures:

10 x 45 seconds
10 x 60 seconds

Seeking Your Expertise

I would be incredibly grateful for any tips, feedback, suggestions, or advice you can offer to help me improve. What are your thoughts on my first attempts? What could I do differently next time?