The ability to photograph what is in the night sky reveals wondrous objects the human eye cannot see. This course offers an introduction to the basics of depending on the type and quality of images being astrophotography. Previously the cost of the hobby ranged from no added expense using basic DSLRs and tripods to thousands of dollars for equipment, sought. The evolution of smart telescopes now allows much simpler and much more affordable options. This course will cover the basics of nighttime imaging during the first three classes. There will then be a session under the stars, using both a traditional telescope rig and a smart telescope, with a demonstration of how the images taken are brought to life in session five. There will be, by necessity, some uncertainty of when the night under the stars will be held, since we will need a night that is clear of cloud cover. At minimum, a basic understanding of digital photographic principles is helpful but not required. There will be a break in the class schedule which will give you time to purchase gear if you wish, but this will not be required.

Bill Griffith has been learning the art of astrophotography since early 2021. During this time, his experience has continued to evolve from simple Milky Way photography to more challenging deep space photography using a variety of hardware and software.