Astrophotography image scale. Today we will break it down and make it work .

Astrophotography image scale Deep Sky section with sampling rate based on seeing, required barlow, etc. For more details, visit the Understanding Image Scale and Field of View page. Essential tools for astronomers and astrophotographers. Many people believe that only expensive, proprietary tools can deliver the detailed, vibrant results they’re looking for. Problem 1 – Two telescopes are used for astrophotography. And the larger the scope, the more expensive top-notch optical quality will cost. Astrophotography image acquisition software such as N. Image scale and exposure factor Image scale of the telescope (Nyquist-Shannon-Sampling-Theorem) and exposure factor The image scale gives a statement about how much sky section (in arc seconds) can be represented on one pixel. Using a common guide camera such as the ASI120MM which has a pixel size of 3. To achieve this, astrophotographers must properly match their focal length and pixel size with their seeing conditions. Formula: CCD Pixel Size / CCD Resolution Astrophotography and CCD Calculator Features Basic parameters such as FOV, resolution, airy disk, image scale, etc. Overview Edit Your Images From Astrophotography is a fascinating pursuit that captures the beauty and scale of the night sky, but refining these images requires the right software. Oct 29, 2024 · In astrophotography, sensor size directly impacts how objects are framed and appear in the image, particularly when photographing celestial bodies, such as planets, stars, and nebulae. com you will find all the information about Astrophotography Image Scale and much more about photography. At matthughesphoto. Image courtesy: ESO/ P. I suggest you read this guide but if you are ready to move forward and looking for guidance on a particular step in the astrophotography process click one of Cloudy Nights Home Sep 24, 2021 · When you increase the focal length or decrease the pixel size (image scale) beyond this point, there is no more image detail being recorded, you are just making a larger image. Planetary section with sampling rate, required barlow, video times for planets. Jul 18, 2024 · In the world of astrophotography, the link between image resolution and pixel size is key. You can still do planetary imaging with any scope, but the image scale will be smaller with a small scope, and smaller scopes will resolve less detail. The plates were taken using the Samuel Oschin Telescope between 1987 and 1991. Image Scale per Pixel Focal Length and Focal Ratio Needed For Critical Sampling Focal Length Needed for a Desired Image Sampling Angular Size Based on Distance Linear Size and Distance should be in the same units. Learn how to master the Kelvin scale for that perfect celestial shot, balancing hues from warm to cool for true-to-life images of the cosmos. What camera and pixel size for YOUR scope? Full explanation, let's get NERDY! Cuiv, The Lazy Geek 65. Pixel-scale (the subject of this calculator) is arguably the most important factor to consider when choosing a camera for your telescope, but there are others: sensor size, sensitivity, dark current, read noise, anti blooming, etc. However, capturing high-quality images can be challenging due to various factors such as atmospheric turbulence, light pollution, and equipment limitations. Jan 4, 2016 · The right image is downsampled to the same scale as the 7D1 image. Aug 24, 2018 · The ZWO ASI294 MC Pro is a competent one-shot color CMOS camera for deep-sky astrophotography. We will mention how to successfully achieve a well Jun 23, 2019 · All times are GMT +10. The right match is Astrophotography- Image Scale or Pixel Scale Can anyone advise the correct terminology for determining your arc sec per pixel value for astrophotography when checking your telescope / camera angular resolution Formula P= ( pixel size in microns x 206. From finding dark sky locations to choosing the right equipment, discover practical tips for capturing stunning night sky images in any conditions. Credit: Rouzbeh Bidshahri There are several factors to consider when designing a deep sky astrophotography setup, including image scale, resolution, sampling rate, and atmospheric conditions at your site. Frames Per Second (FPS) Calculate the chip size of a CCD if you have the CCD pixel size and resolution. Smaller pixels have both some inherent advantages and disadvantages over larger pixels, but the truth is that in most things that matter, larger pixels are generally better. The first step is to determine your images scale in arc-seconds per pixel. The telescope aperture and focal length must also be matched to the sensor size and Astronomy Calculations: Pixel ScaleContent: Calculators menu: Excel sheets Minimize vignetting from filter and off-axis adapter Drake's Equation Mount gearbox ratio calculator Bit resolution calculator Sky background calculator Magnitude relations Depth of focus Focuser Gearbox ratio Exit pupil Angle conversions Max exposure on tripod Jun 21, 2023 · You can calculate your imaging scale by using the formula: (Pixel size camera (um) / focal length telescope (mm)) * 206. Calculate the chip size of a CCD if you have the CCD pixel size and resolution. A, Astro Photography Tool, Sequence Generator Pro, and SharpCap, just to name a few. I am now using the "new to me" SubFrame selector. pixel size (microns) x 206. A, Astro Photography Tool (APT), or the ASIAIR Plus allow you to control the bin mode of your camera. JPG files use lossy compression, making them smaller but potentially reducing image quality. 8 / 130 = 6. Apr 13, 2024 · Article-at-a-Glance Understanding the difference between JPG and PNG file formats is crucial for astrophotography. Stacking increases the signal-to-noise ratio, giving a cleaner and more detailed image. I have the asi2600mc and Skywacher esprit 150 and also the Esprit 100 The Object Calculator is combination of built-in data bases and formulae that allow computing various parameters of your imaging setup (like FOV, CFZ, size, resolution etc. Jul 19, 2017 · Now each image scale depends on the pixel size of the camera and the focal length of the telescope: Image scale (arc-seconds/pixel) = 206 x S / FL Apr 29, 2025 · Here is an in-depth deep-sky astrophotography how-to walkthrough that takes you from setting up the telescope, to processing the final image. Learning how to align astrophotos in Photoshop can benefit your astrophotography in many ways from an improved signal-to-noise ratio to a more balanced image. This is really important to imagers as we try to make the best of our systems as well as the general sky conditions (seeing). But you don't need a PhD to understand the sampling theory that's involved. Aug 11, 2025 · When understanding how imaging scale works, you'll discover essential tips to improve measurement accuracy and optimize your imaging process. From making sure your stars are nice, and your guiding is good. However, a growing number of free programs now allow amateur and intermediate astrophotographers to enhance their images Jan 9, 2021 · All times are GMT +10. Assuming your 30 mm guide scope is f/4 that would be a focal length of 120mm. The illustration is a modification of an original photograph taken at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in Chile, a place with excellent dark-sky conditions, perfect for astronomy. This ensures your images are sharp and detailed. Wallner. The total field of view of the camera is then derived using this image scale. Astrophotography, also known as astronomical imaging, is the photography or imaging of astronomical objects, celestial events, or areas Image Scale To obtain the best images, it is very important to match your camera to your optical system. Too much resolution and the images will be fuzzy. Consider the objects you want to capture, your equipment, and your preferences for image quality and portability. 3 / telescope focal length General rule of thumb, < 1. Not all telescope/camera combinations may actually Mar 25, 2024 · Binning in astrophotography is a transformative technique that combines pixels to enhance image clarity in low light. tools site and the CCD suitability calculator. You can still take some very nice images with apertures as small as 5 inches as seen below. It also can help to export the FOV size to your Planetarium application for easier target selection and frame orientation (see Planetarium section). Focal Ratio - posted in Experienced Deep Sky Imaging: I was trying to figure out the ideal pixel size for a given telescope, where the pixel resolution scale = the maximum resolving power of the telescope, and I noticed something rather interesting: The optimized pixel size depends solely on the focal ratio (f/#) of a telescope! I found that for a Part 1 of a series of posts looking at aspects of astrophotography down on a single-pixel level. Jun 7, 2018 · Detail level achieved in astrophotography depends on imaging setup pixel scale and resolution. This table will help you do that. 5, typically these are f/9 using a QHY600 that has 3. PixInsight Sub Frame Selector Process - Astrophotography Processing I finally gave in when forced. Sep 13, 2024 · Astrophotography image capture software are specialized pieces of software designed to operate your astrophotography equipment. Understanding how your telescope's resolution relates to your image sensor pixel size will guide you in camera and lens selection. But what is the difference between them? Feb 29, 2020 · Often this is not a problem since a large image scale is typically used to image smaller objects such as galaxies. This is for the camera mounted at the prime focus of the optical system. Mar 23, 2022 · Speculation: In public facing images the "scale" on a micrograph can be in units of length but on a astrophotograph the scale would have to be in units of angle, and muggles don't think it terms of angular size. Knowing the field of view of a CCD camera or image chip on a certain telescope is important when selecting targets for imaging. Too low resolution and you will not be achieving the full Jul 19, 2017 · F = Image scale of the guide scope / Image scale of the imaging scope Now each image scale depends on the pixel size of the camera and the focal length of the telescope: Image scale (arc-seconds/pixel) = 206 x S / FL where S is the size of the camera pixels in microns and FL is the focal length of the telescope in millimeters. It is also a useful way of comparing cameras or combinations of cameras and telescopes. 0 arcseconds/pixel. Field of View Calculator Test different telescope, camera & eyepiece combinations. Professional astronomy calculators for light travel time, angular size, field of view, pixel scale, telescope magnification, and more. In this video me and Aaron tell you 5 things YOU need Jan 12, 2024 · The difference in sensor size between a crop sensor and a full-frame astrophotography camera. I have read many people talking about this scale and for me I am just not getting it, I was hoping to find out a bit more in simple terms. They all play a part. A well sampled astrophotography setup is going to produce photos with details that are sharp and well resolved: they won’t be too pixelated or too soft. What is the Bortle Scale? The Bortle scale is a way of measuring the quality (brightness) of the night sky for a particular location. – theory – gear Lucky imaging gives us amateurs the possibility of shooting deep space targets at resolutions hitherto only seen in multi million dollar professional observatories. Accelerate your learning with a 100+ pages of step-by-step, beginner-friendly instruction that will teach you powerful processing techniques to edit your astro photos. Expressed in arcseconds per pixel, it influences image resolution and detail capture, depending on the telescope's focal length and camera's sensor size, guiding astronomers in matching equipment for optimal celestial imaging. This astronomy webtool helps to calculate a variety of parameters, such as field of view (FOV), image scale, minimum pixel size (to avoid oversampling) and sensor diagonal based on different telescope and Andor camera combinations. For example, I saw someone with an RCOS 12. If you take the pixel size in arc-seconds and multiply by the number of pixels, that gives you the field of view the camera sees. Remember that not all telescope/camera combinations actually work, although the calculator will let you make any combination. 33 megapixels is already a lot higher than most astrophotography cameras but that’s likely due to it being full frame and most Astro camera being micro 4/3 or 1” or aps-c. Includes detailed breakdown of Bortle classes, measurement tools, and expert recommendations. What is the image scale? Image scale describes how many arc seconds of sky are covered by each pixel in the camera. By selecting your equipment from our extensive database (camera, telescope, focal reducer) or manually entering key details (focal length, pixel size, sensor size), you can visualize your composition in real-time with the help of the dynamic Aladin API Part 3 of a series covering many aspects of Astrophotography on a single pixel scale: Gain, ISO, Sensitivity, Offset, Pixel-Bucket, Well-Depth. Here’s a great tool you can use to calculate your field of view and pixel size using different telescopes and cameras. Richard S. Mar 14, 2024 · How much better are astrophotography images taken under a dark sky? In this article, I compare the same image from a Bortle 6 to a Bortle 3. Seeing (sky clarity) defines size of star (point spread) Our skies are usually 2-4, so each star, at best, is 2-4 arc-seconds in size. Jun 4, 2025 · Choosing a sensor size for astrophotography depends on your needs. Best for Beginners, families, educators, outreach, and travel What we like Fully automated astrophotography Great image quality for the size Built-in solar and lunar modes Excellent portability Best value in smart telescopes What we don’t like Feb 27, 2023 · Understanding astrophotography focal length is crucial for capturing stunning images of the night sky, whether you’re photographing wide-field starry landscapes or zooming in on distant galaxies and nebulae. Choosing the right file format depends on the intended use, such as web sharing or . Pleasing images can be made using less than optimum equipment. Jan 15, 2018 · Knowing your pixel scale will help you take better astrophotography. FAQ What is pixel scale in astrophotography? Pixel scale measures how much sky each camera pixel covers, expressed in arcseconds per pixel. The scale changes according to the ‘seeing’ conditions entered. Often referred to as image scale, it is measured in arc seconds per pixel. Feb 29, 2020 · Pixel size factors into the resolution obtainable with a given setup and is one way to match an appropriate camera and telescope. Whether Pixel scale, crucial in astrophotography, measures the sky area each camera sensor pixel covers. The first has a mirror diameter of 20-inches and a focal length of 5000 mm, the second one is more portable and has a diameter of 10-inches and a focal length of 2000 mm. However, the field of view can be made greater on a given telescope by using a larger CCD chip, so it is possible to have both a wide field and a large image scale by using the right combination of telescope and camera. Vignetting and field of view, coma, focal depth, thermal shift of focus. Astrophotography FormulaeFormulae for Astrophotography Calculators for AstrophotographyAstrophotography Formulae Mar 22, 2023 · Image of the Butterfly Nebula with an optimized setup with high signal-to-noise ratio and high resolution. Look up your telescope’s focal length on the left, and your camera’s pixel size along the top. The time is now 03:48 PM. The telescope aperture and focal length must also be matched to the sensor size and pixel size of the camera. This is determined by: Guidescope Suitability Find the optimum imaging/guiding combination Guidescope Suitability Calculator Calculate the resolution in arc seconds per pixel of a CCD with a particular telescope. I am trying to figure out how folks with long focus equipment can avoid oversampling with these 3 pixel CMOS cameras. In the video below, I walk you through the process of capturing deep-sky astrophotography images using a DSLR and telescope. The time is now 12:27 AM. An image of Orion's Belt composited from digitized black-and-white photographic plates recorded through red and blue astronomical filters, with a computer synthesized green channel. Under-sampling planetary images using a sensor with a pixel pitch too large to capture the telescope's resolution will loose details that cannot be recovered in post processing. David Astro Tools offers a suite of free, user-friendly tools for astronomy and astrophotography enthusiasts. The calculator uses maths to determine its result, it is not influenced by brand or sales spiel. N. May 28, 2025 · What does seeing mean in astrophotography? Discover how it can affect your astrophotography images and what you can do improve your night photography. Resolution depends on both the focal length of the telescope, and the size of the pixels in the camera sensor. When the pixel scale is below 1”/px, you are oversampled meaning 1 pixel takes up a very small bit of sky. Look at similar pages for example. Horálek, M. com you will find all the information about Astrophotography Image Scale Calculator and much more about photography. The PixInsight Subframe Selector process is specifically designed to help astrophotographers select and evaluate the quality of Feb 17, 2023 · Astrophotography processing is essential for capturing stunning images of the night sky. High-resolution images show amazing detail, letting us explore the cosmos closely. If you find that your images are smaller (in both file size and resolution) than you expected, be sure to check if the camera defaulted to the Miss the old Bintel Astronomy Setup Calculator? Here's a new and improved version where you can test your telescope and camera for ideal sampling and field of view. Mar 23, 2011 · Here is a formula that you may find of use when doing astrophotography… You hook up your camera directly to your telescope. Aside from the opportunity to collect astrophotography images with improved signal, I am also able to see many more stars in the night sky from my backyard visually. Long focal lengths and small pixels result in higher resolution. Jun 7, 2020 · Image Scale is a measurement that can have a huge impact on your photography. Here we cover the basic operation of a pixel, well-depth, pixel size, and quantum efficiency. A telescope with a slightly longer focal length but still modest size captured this image of the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction on December 21, 2020. Nov 26, 2020 · Pixel ScaleThe pixel scale is just 206 * (pixel size) / (focal length). This is the only step that is central to editing any kind of astrophotography. These images are then stacked and further processed to create a final image of a deep-sky object. 8u, the pixel scale is 206 * 3. Jun 2, 2023 · In astrophotography, data refers to both the quantity and the exposure time of all the pictures you took of a single object in space. There are plenty of options available, though some of the most popular ones are N. 3 /focal length in mm = image scale in arcsec/pixel Proper sampling: Each star should be recorded over 3-4 pixels. The process begins with choosing a target to image, moves on to taking your photo, and then editing it into a high quality final image. While a larger image sensor may seem like an obvious advantage, remember that this camera will be much more unforgiving to the optics you pair with it. 265 Add New Equipment To Database Many of the best astrophotography results involves capturing fifty or more images of celestial objects. If the result suggests your existing telescope / camera combination is less than ideal please don’t shoot the messenger. It's rarely mentioned in the astrophotography sphere on the internet fora but it's really important to realize. Resolution Formula: ( Pixel Size / Telescope Focal Length ) X 206. Dec 22, 2023 · The effects of light pollution and the Bortle scale. Formula: CCD Pixel Size / CCD Resolution Dec 3, 2019 · Page 1 of 2 - Optimum Camera Pixel Size vs. Apr 24, 2025 · Page 1 of 2 - Help understanding " / pixel scale for imaging - posted in Beginning Deep Sky Imaging: Hi, I am looking at the astronomy. Nov 13, 2025 · There are several vital astrophotography techniques you need to master to a create a great image. Light pollution plays a very undesirable role in most forms of astrophotography, with deep sky imaging among those most impacted. Apr 28, 2021 · Astrophotography revolves largely around resolution and sampling. The net result is that the typical atmospheric conditions play a major role in determining how small the time average star image is in the image plane. Mar 4, 2024 · Discover the secrets of color temperature for stunning astrophotography. For deep-sky targets however, you can't just continue to magnify your image of the sky or use smaller pixels to get increasingly higher resolution and scale. Jan 20, 2021 · Pushing your image scale too far only yields faint and blurry images. May 27, 2025 · How does your telescope’s focal length and f/ratio change your night-sky views and images? Is there a hard magnification limit? Are “fast” f/ratio telescopes always better for astrophotography? In … F where F is the focal length in millimeters and ‘Scale’ is the image scale in arcseconds per millimeter. The … Develop Your Image Processing Skills There are many tutorials, walkthroughs, and tips floating around online, but what you really need is an easy-to-understand method that works. Today we will break it down and make it work Oct 18, 2024 · Astrophotography Post Processing Technique: Image Stacking Image stacking is the process to combine all your light and calibration frames into a single image. Ideal for capturing the night sky's beauty, it strikes a balance between resolution and noise Mar 15, 2021 · Understand focal ratio to improve your astrophotography by reducing shot noise and producing brighter astro images. In this guide, we’ll break down how Jan 12, 2025 · In this wide field astrophotography processing tutorial, I show you how creating a starless image, and stretching with GHS can be a gamechanger. Understand how to adjust settings for optimal results and combat light pollution The processing trick around this is to Drizzle which was originally developed for Hubble images but it helps a LOT with both recovering details and creates a better noise profile in undersampled images. It related to two parameters within the imaging system Pixel size of the camera (in my case 3. This calculator may be used to calculate the image scale for a camera/scope combination. Written by Dylan O'Donnell. It determines the resolution and detail level of your images. However, CMOS-based sensors for astrophotography are becoming increasingly popular (see my recent article in Sky & Telescope’s May issue on The IntegerResample tool in PixInsight allows you to downsample an image using pixel binning. 69 microns) The focal length of the telescope (in my case 1600mm) Irrespective of the image scale Jul 2, 2018 · Elements of Astrophotography - Calculating Image Scale/Field of View The general formula for determining the Field of View (FOV) for a light collecting area, whether at the pixel level or for the overall imaging area is: Dec 23, 2023 · There are several factors to consider when designing a deep sky astrophotography setup, including image scale, resolution, sampling rate, and atmospheric conditions at your site. Please don’t base your purchase decision on pixel-scale alone. 6 micron pixels and his final This image illustrates the Bortle scale, which measures the impact of light pollution on the dark skies at a given location. Whether you use it for broadband true-color images on a moonless night or ultra-long-exposure images using your favorite narrowband filter, this camera can produce insanely beautiful images. So this is what Drizzle does with noise. Pixel size factors into the resolution obtainable with a given setup and is one way to match an appropriate camera and telescope. Jan 28, 2023 · Photographing Galaxies, image scale, seeing and etendue - posted in Beginning Deep Sky Imaging: Since it’s been cloudy cloudy cloudy I’ve had plenty of time to read and think and draw up many spreadsheets calculating image scales and etendue for a large number camera and telescope combinations. Dec 20, 2024 · Learn how to use the Bortle Scale to improve your astrophotography. In astrophotography your image scale is gonna be more important than resolution. 3 )/ focal length in mm Lots of sites use “Image Scale” and others use “Pixel Scale” JA I was referring to Image Scale or Pixel Scale as the angular resolution of your image train ( telescope and camera ) expressed in arc sec per pixel IS or PS = camera pixel size in microns x 206. Galaxy season is coming up so I’ve been especially thinking about what an optimal set up would Nov 12, 2025 · The images it produces are genuinely impressive for its size. Parameters for artificial star distance, roddier Jun 16, 2020 · Pixel size is a big consideration when selecting a camera for astrophotography. Calculate, plan, and optimize your imaging sessions with ease. 265. The 'CCD Gizmo' allows you to determine important information relating to a given telescope and CCD camera configuration, including FOV (in arc minutes) and image scale in arc seconds per pixel. The right side image was made with a 7D Mark 2 camera, and although a better sensor, the major differences shown here are due to the effects of light pollution. I. Related Photography Pages: Recently Added Photography Pages: Interested in photography? At matthughesphoto. In The Field The work for image stacking begins in the field. You can do the same thing in the software by simply scaling up the image instead of scaling up your telescope! Here is what over-sampled and under-sampled images look like: Image scale calculation - Cloudy Nights Found information about Astrophotography Image Scale Calculator? We have a lot more interesting things about photography. Sep 24, 2018 · The correlation of adjacent pixels implies that a measurement of the noise in a drizzled image on the output pixel scale underestimates the noise on larger scales. Jul 5, 2021 · Image scale for CMOS cameras - posted in Equipment (No astrophotography): I only have experience so far with CCD (this will be changing very soon). 0 arc sec per pixel means your oversampling and > 2 arc sec per pixel means your undersampling When taking photographs of objects such as the Moon, Sun or planets it is useful to calculate the final image size of the object on the film. Learn techniques and software tools to enhance your astrophotography. The focal length of your lens determines your field of view and the level of detail you can achieve, making it a key factor in astrophotography. 5K subscribers Subscribed DSLR astrophotography is a great way to get started, as you may already own a beginner-level camera that will work great for capturing images of space. Matching Sensor Size to Your Telescope When you’re into astrophotography, it’s key to match your camera’s sensor size with your telescope. And to determine pixel scale, you first need to know your field of view. Sep 16, 2021 · When recording the planets at this fairly small image scale, there's no need to fuss with fancy lucky-imaging techniques — a single exposure with a color camera can still make a remarkable image. PNG files offer lossless compression, preserving image details but resulting in larger file sizes. Equation 1: Image Scale Per Pixel P = (8 * S) / (FL) Where: P is the image scale per pixel in arc seconds S is the size of the pixel in microns FL is the Calculate precise pixel scale for astrophotography — optimize resolution and image quality for your telescope and camera setup. The David Astro Tools Astrophotography Framing Assistant is a powerful tool designed to help you precisely frame your celestial targets. ) without need to enter "hard to find data". Feb 15, 2018 · Capturing crystal-clear astro images involves a delicate balance of having just enough pixels for the object you're imaging. The image below illustrates how detrimental the effects of light pollution can be. Wright Jr. This is easily one of the best color cameras I have ever used for astrophotography and my go-to choice for a Jan 20, 2021 · The time averaged effect of the distortion is what blurs the image increasing the size and form of the point spread function of the whole system (telescope + atmosphere). hwdgba yhzlvv ykibzkh ahndq istpne bwnk jlqziwc usir vlqyi gutpibg lzeygy dsgzn kwltco ivnqgge grppbqzs