It may be a slice of the future today, but SpaceX has also proven to be a spoiler for at least one photographer trying to snap a unique photo of Comet Neowise.
As any astrophotographer will tell you, it is a niche but incredibly rewarding genre within our favorite medium. As with all the good things in life, you must work to get the best results, but the stunning images of the skies that are possible with patience and practice keep many photographers coming back for more.
So when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presents itself, it’s no surprise that many jump at the prospect of photographing a rare celestial object. Comet Neowise is amazing to behold, and some of the images we’ve seen are fascinating. However, the last thing he wants to happen, especially after sacrificing his sleep and crawling to a site free of light pollution, is to find his shots ruined by an unexpected source of frustration.
• Read more: The best lenses for astrophotography
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to Daniel López, who, after departing with the intention of recording a Neowise telephoto time lapse, discovered that most of his captured pictures featured SpaceX’s Starlink satellites crossing the comet.
The plan was to shoot multiple 30 second exposures with one Canon EOS Ra mirrorless astrophotography camera, which could then be software stacked for superior detail. Around 20 of his paintings were hijacked by satellites, whose reflective surfaces made them appear as bright streaks, highly noticeable against the darkness of space and compositionally destructive.
“The field is not too big, 200mm with a full frame, but it turned out to be passing right over the comet.” says López
The photo I posted a couple of days ago shows that he is giving something to talk about. That image, as I already explained, was the sum of some 17 images of 30 seconds each, added so that, in the final image, all traces appeared. Well this is the time lapse video of that photo. You can clearly see how almost 25 of the 34 images I used to make the video show traces.
“The field is not very large, 200mm with a complete picture, but it turned out that they passed just above the comet,” Lopez wrote on Facebook. “That image … was the sum of about 17 images of 30 seconds each, added so that all traces would appear in the final image. Well, this is the time-lapse video of that photo. You can see clearly how almost 25 of the 34 images I used to make the video show traces. “
Earlier this year, SpaceX revealed plans to reduce the light pollution footprint of its Starlink fleet by adjusting the angle of its solar panels and installing umbrellas on the newer units.
To avoid falling into the same problem, you can track starlink satellites To make sure you have an unobstructed view as you plan your own night sky shoot!
Read more:
The best camera mounts for trackers for astrophotography
Astrophotography in your backyard # 1: shooting star trails
The best CCD cameras for astrophotography in 2020
