![Read more about the article Beginner Astrophotography Setup [A How To]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/finalsetup.png?fit=1126%2C1080&ssl=1)
https://youtu.be/NAoeZax48ow The beginner astrophotography setup takes many forms. There's no one way to setup for astrophotography. It's simply about taking the steps to do it. Therefore, never fear, Kevin's setup…
![Read more about the article Wide Field Astrophotography and First Light with My Orion ST-80 [Andromeda Galaxy]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/M31_Andromeda-Galaxy_9_20_19_web.jpg?fit=1080%2C831&ssl=1)
Because it's small and great for wide field astrophotography picked up an Orion ST-80 telescope. The ST stands for Short Tube. In case you're wondering, first light, simply means the…
![Read more about the article My Polar Alignment Methods [Telescope Setup]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/IMG_20190602_164653.jpg?fit=4032%2C3024&ssl=1)
Messier 51 or M51 or Whirlpool Galaxy. Telescope: RRRT (Fan Mountain) Camera: SBIG STX-16803 Exposure: Red: 14 @ 2 min Blue: 14 @ 2 min Visible: 14 @ 2 min…
![Read more about the article Messier 51 On The RRRT [Whirlpool Galaxy]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/M51-Whirlpool-Galaxy_RRRT_05072019.jpg?fit=962%2C940&ssl=1)
Remember my last article? You know the one about my experience at the Fan Mountain Observatory in April 2019. The outcome was to target Messier 51 or the Whirlpool Galaxy…
![Read more about the article UVA, Norfolk State & Me [Fan Mountain Observatory]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_20190426_192727-EFFECTS.jpg?fit=4032%2C3024&ssl=1)
Fresh off seeing my UVA Cavaliers win the NCAA Mens Basketball Championship, I couldn't wait to visit grounds. In fact I packed all my UVA gear
![Read more about the article Orion Astroview 6: Equipment Spotlight [Moving Prime Focus]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Mirror-Extension.jpg?fit=628%2C479&ssl=1)
I moved prime focus without cutting the OTA (Optical Tube Assembly) on my Orion Astroview 6 telescope. Huh? How? No way? The first thing I did when the Canon EOS…
![Read more about the article Bahtinov Mask: Equipment Spotlight [Focus]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IMG_20190127_194051.jpg?fit=3619%2C1973&ssl=1)
I 3D printed a Bahtinov Mask, so I can clearly see the sky. There are numerous objects in the night sky. Using a telescope brings them into view but how…
![Read more about the article Canon EOS XTi: Equipment Spotlight [DSLR Camera]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/image-20181226_160328.jpg?fit=4032%2C3024&ssl=1)
The Canon EOs XTi joins my astrophotography family. I started using my Google Pixel Really Blue to photograph night sky objects. I've captured the Orion Nebula, Sun, stars, planets, star…
Progression from start to totality Total Lunar Eclipse The total lunar eclipse was beautiful! I took more than 500 pictures of this event to create this photo. The 2019 total…
![Read more about the article Dark Sky Astrophotography [Smokey Mountain Getaway]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Planets-8-11-2018.jpg?fit=1076%2C1116&ssl=1)
August is a busy month for my family, and we took a weekend to visit the Smokey Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Wow what a great opportunity to do dark sky…
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