Yosemite's Night Sky: My First Astrophotography Adventure with a Star Tracker

I recently acquired a star tracker and Yosemite seemed like the perfect backdrop to put it to the test. While the atmospheric air glow presented a challenge, requiring some post-processing to edit out, I'm thrilled with the results of my first outing.

The Setup and Settings

My camera of choice for this expedition was the Nikon Z7ii, paired with the Nikkor Z 20mm f/1.8 lens. For the celestial portion of the shot, I utilized a 720-second exposure at ISO 125 and f/1.8. The foreground, captured in the dark upon arrival, was exposed for 300 seconds at ISO 640 and f/1.8. I've opted for a lighter setup, using an MSM Nomad tracker, for easier portability during backpacking trips.

Navigating the Night and Post-Processing

The star tracker worked beautifully, and I'm particularly pleased with the richer color rendition this time around, a benefit of the lower ISO. However, I did notice some grainy textures in the sky that looked like noise. I'm wondering if this is typical even at lower ISOs, or if it might be an artifact of my processing workflow. I used StarXTerminator to separate the stars and sky for individual editing in Photoshop before re-combining them. Any feedback on this would be greatly appreciated!

Embracing the Glow

Some fellow stargazers suggested letting the air glow shine, noting its potential to add beautiful colors and that removing it might actually reduce the image quality. It's a perspective worth considering for future shoots!

This experience has been incredibly rewarding, and I'm eager to continue honing my astrophotography skills. Yosemite's night sky certainly provided a stunning canvas for my first adventure with a star tracker.