My First Tracked, Stacked, and Blended Milky Way Astro Landscape
Ever since I dipped my toes into this captivating hobby back in March, and then managed to capture my first Milky Way in April, I've harbored a dream: to create a true astro-landscape. Specifically, I envisioned the majestic Milky Way galactic core arching over the rolling hills that cradle a local reservoir, all within the dark skies of a Bortle 3 area in Mid Wales.
This past Friday, the stars finally aligned! After meticulous planning using PhotoPills to pinpoint the visibility of the galactic core, check moon phases, and monitor weather and cloud cover forecasts, I had my window. Clear skies, a partial moon that set early, and a perfect stretch of astronomical night awaited.
My journey began with a two-and-a-half-hour drive to the chosen location. Once there, I set up my gear in the quiet darkness, ready to capture the cosmos.
The Gear and the Process
For this ambitious project, I utilized:
- Camera: Canon 600D
- Lens: 18-55mm Canon kit lens
- Mount: Az GTI in Alt Az mode
The resulting image is a testament to the power of stacking and blending. It comprises 9 individual exposures, each captured for 2 minutes and 30 seconds at ISO 1600. These were then expertly stacked using Deep Sky Stacker (DSS), and the subsequent stretching and editing were performed using Siril and Photoshop. I'm proud to say that no artificial colors were added; only subtle enhancements were made to bring out the natural beauty of the scene.
Reflections and Future Endeavors
While I'm generally pleased with this first attempt at a tracked, stacked, and blended astro-landscape, I do have some thoughts for improvement. I feel the foreground could have been more impactful. My plan for next time is to capture separate foreground images during the 'blue hour' to achieve a more balanced and detailed result.
Despite this minor critique, seeing the Milky Way core beautifully integrated with the terrestrial landscape is incredibly rewarding. It’s a significant milestone in my astrophotography journey, and I'm eager to refine my techniques and capture even more stunning vistas of the night sky.
