Little Maya in the Big World: Astro-Photography

To document the skies I see around the world, I'm attempting to learn the basics of night photography. These photos will additionally act as educational tools as I talk to children about outer space.

I'm using a Nikon P7000, which is not an ideal camera for star photography due to its limited manual mode and the size of the lens. Also, because I'm traveling without a computer, I haven't been able to process any of the photos I've taken. But with clear skies, a sturdy tripod and a bit of luck, I've been able to take some raw images that, while not professional or even very good in quality, do show the beauty of the skies I've seen.


Just after sunset in the desert outside of Antofagasta, Chile. You can see some of the Milky Way just left of center, and a bit of zodiacal light to the far right. 9/9/2012


More of the Milky Way. Antofagasta Desert 9/9/2012

Large Magellanic Cloud visible towards the center. (Personal for me since I did my undergraduage thesis on Milky Way satellites.) 9/9/2012

Telescope against background of Milky Way and light pollution dome to the left. Antofagasta Desert 9/9/2012

Update!! Finally I purchased my first DSLR! It's a Canon 550D that I purchased secondhand for very cheap from a fellow budget traveler trying to pawn off his valuables. This camera's really changed the game, and I've been taking some nice photos since then. Still no post-processing abilities, though!

Eta Carina Nebula in skies about Mt John Observatory. Tekapo, New Zealand. Used tracking mount from astrophotography workshop, Earth&Sky astronomy tours.

Cluster 47 Tucane in skies about Mt John Observatory. Tekapo, New Zealand. Used tracking mount from astrophotography workshop, Earth&Sky astronomy tours.