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GordonM

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GordonM
probably a basic question, but if want to stack multiple images I assume I need a Astro mount? Otherwise I presume I’ll get the same star movement as a longer exposure? Never tried Astro before and subject to finding somewhere dark enough!
 
There is software that aligns and stacks star images, if on a PC you can download Sequator for free, it works great, if on a MAC there are a few options but I hear Starry Landscape is good. The idea is that you shoot a bunch of shorter exposures at higher iso, load them in the software, it will align and reduce the noise in them and provide you a tiff output. There are alot of good youtube videos on the subject.

Or if you choose, you could get an astro mount, shoot at a lower iso and a longer exposure as it will track the stars in the sky. I personally havent used one of these but might be trying one out in the near future.
 
While stacking software will align a number of very short shots, you are most unlikely to get enough light to get decent base images, unless, say, you are shooting Milky Way images with something like a 14mm lens. That would enable something like 25 to 30 second exposures>

For galaxies, nebulae and other deep sky objects, to get enough light you will need to do at least 30 second shots, but with a longer lens (say 135mm plus) this would give unacceptable star trails.

The solution would be to use a tracking mount, such as the Move Shoot Move rotator, or Sky Watcher Star Adventurer tracker. These rotate at the same speed as the Earth (one complete rotation in 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds). Once you have aligned with Polaris (in the Northern Hemisphere) or the South Celestial Pole (in the Southern one) you will be able to take exposures of up to 2 or 3 minutes without star trails.

Astrophotographers will often take 50 plus shots, which are stacked and then post-processed. This maximises gathering detail from dark areas, without blowing-out the highlights, while keeping noise to a minimum.

The only problem is clouds!
 

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