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9.
Insert an illuminated reticle eyepiece into the radial guider.
10.
Find a suitable guide star in the telescope field. Do this by rotating the guider and adjusting the prism. This can be
the most time consuming process.
11.
Open the shutter using a cable release.
12.
Monitor your guide star for the duration of the exposure using the buttons on the hand controller to make the needed
corrections. Don't forget to use the PEC function.
13.
Close the camera's shutter.
When getting started, use fast films to record as much detail in the shortest possible time. Here are proven
recommendations:
•
Ektar 1000 (color print)
•
T-Max 3200 (black and white print)
•
Konica 3200 (color print)
•
T-Max 400 (black and white print)
•
Fujichrome 1600D (color slide)
•
3M 1000 (color slide)
As you perfect your technique, try specialized films, that is films that are designed or specially treated for celestial
photography. Here are some popular choices:
•
Ektar 125 (color print)
•
Tech Pan, gas hypered (black and white print)
•
Fujichrome 100D (color slide)
•
T-Max 400 (black and white print)
There is no exposure determination table to help you get started. The best way to determine exposure length is look at
previously published photos to see what film/exposure combinations were used. Or take unguided sample photos of
various parts of the sky while the drive is running. Always take exposures of various lengths to determine the best
exposure time.
