Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape Photography Locations => Topic started by: Colorado David on October 30, 2013, 12:54:43 pm

Title: Photographing the Milky Way
Post by: Colorado David on October 30, 2013, 12:54:43 pm

Somewhere on my list of photography accomplishments I aspire to is shooting the Milky Way.  I would like to find a program to locate the best viewing heading based on GPS coordinates.  I know there is an iPhone app to do this, however I am still a Neanderthal and don't use an iPhone yet.  Is there anything available for Macbook that anyone has used with success?  Thanks very much.

Title: Re: Photographing the Milky Way
Post by: Roman Racela on October 30, 2013, 05:31:40 pm

Stellarium. You can get them for Android and iOS smartphones, Windows computer and for your MacBook.

Title: Re: Photographing the Milky Way
Post by: Colorado David on October 31, 2013, 12:50:17 am

Thank you.

Title: Re: Photographing the Milky Way
Post by: kaelaria on October 31, 2013, 01:19:50 am

I use this site - got some uber rare shots here in FL from a spot a few hours north!

http://www.observingsites.com/ (http://www.observingsites.com/)

Title: Re: Photographing the Milky Way
Post by: northern chris on November 15, 2013, 05:31:53 am

I use the App SkySafari Plus on my MacBook Pro for setting up my camera and Telescope.  It lets you see what the sky will look like from any place in the world.

Title: Re: Photographing the Milky Way
Post by: wolfnowl on November 15, 2013, 05:21:15 pm

And if you can, go to the southern hemisphere.  Here in North America we're pointing 'away' from the center of the galaxy.

Mike.

Title: Re: Photographing the Milky Way
Post by: jjj on November 15, 2013, 06:35:47 pm

Starwalk (http://starwalk.mobi/) is a pretty good astronomy app for phone/tablet. Gets a lot of positive reviews.

Title: Re: Photographing the Milky Way
Post by: pepino on November 16, 2013, 09:46:26 pm

StarWalk on the iphone is the best

Title: Re: Photographing the Milky Way
Post by: SangRaal on November 18, 2013, 05:54:45 pm

Sky and Telescope magazine recommends Nick Risinger's(well known astronomer) Sky Guide and Astronomy App(IOS only)$1.99. The magazine also has their own free apps. BTW we are now entering the annual "sweet spot" for doing astro-photography because as it gets cooler the atmosphere holds less moisture and gets clearer, also currently we have 2 interesting comets that have just lit up and should be visible to the naked eye comet Ison in Spica(visible early in the morning and heading for it's perihelion on Nov. 28; it's blue green and ice cream cone shaped. Also Comet Lovejoy C/2013 r1 is visible in the morning sky located just above conselation leo.