Astrophotography with a Smartphone Elevated by Deep Sky Dan to New Heights

Astrophotography with a Smartphone Elevated by Deep Sky Dan to New Heights

In the skies above Nagano City, a new star has risen. Dan Conover, an accomplished astrophotographer, has been capturing the cosmos with an unexpected tool: his smartphone.

Conover found a gap in resources for smartphone deep sky astrophotography and, in 2018, launched his own YouTube channel to fill that void. His focus is on using smartphone cameras and various size telescopes, making astronomy accessible to enthusiasts worldwide.

For planetary astrophotography, Conover employs a suite of software including PIPP, AUTOSTAKERT, and ASTROSURFACE. In the future, he plans to step up to PIXINSIGHT for post-processing.

When it comes to smartphone astrophotography, Conover's setup is both portable and precise. He uses a star tracker like the iOptron SkyGuider Pro, which supports cameras or small telescopes attached to equatorial mounts for tracking celestial objects. A sturdy tripod and an external shutter trigger or intervalometer ensure stability and long exposures without vibration.

For cooled camera astrophotography, Conover employs advanced gear. He uses a dedicated cooled astronomy camera, coupled with large-aperture telescopes and a precise equatorial mount that compensates for the Earth's rotation. Narrowband filters help isolate specific emission lines from deep-sky objects, improving detail and contrast in the images. An autoguiding system maintains precise tracking during extended imaging sessions.

Conover's smartphone astro setup includes the DeepSkyCamera PRO app on a Samsung Galaxy S10. He has upgraded from free post-processing programs such as DEEP SKY STACKER and SEQUATOR, now using Adobe Photoshop for post-processing with the RC-ASTRO tools. He also uses Astro Pixel Processor and occasionally SIRIL for specific tasks.

Recently, Conover bought a cooled camera from Player One and uses the Player One Poseidon-C Pro and the Player One 2'' UV/IR cut filter for cooled camera astro. His mount is a Sky-Watcher EQ6-R PRO with a Geoptik counterweight & bar upgrade.

Conover's proudest achievements are breaking the ceiling of what's possible with a smartphone camera and telescope in deep sky astrophotography. He can be found on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, and for those who wish to support his channel and journey, he has a Patreon.

Anthony Robinson, the founder and owner of Skies & Scopes, a publication and community focused on amateur astronomy and astrophotography, acknowledges Conover's contributions. "Deep Sky Dan is a trailblazer in the world of smartphone astrophotography," Robinson says. "His dedication to pushing the boundaries of what's possible with this technology is truly inspiring."

With his innovative approach, Dan Conover continues to revolutionise the way we capture the cosmos, proving that with the right tools and determination, anyone can become an astrophotographer.

1. Dan Conover, an accomplished astrophotographer from Nagano City, uses his smartphone to capture the cosmos, bridging a resource gap in smartphone deep sky astrophotography.
2. Conover's YouTube channel focuses on using smartphone cameras and various size telescopes, making astronomy accessible to enthusiasts worldwide.
3. For planetary astrophotography, Conover uses software like PIPP, AUTOSTAKERT, and ASTROSURFACE, planning to upgrade to PIXINSIGHT for post-processing.
4. In smartphone astrophotography, Conover's setup includes a star tracker like the iOptron SkyGuider Pro, a sturdy tripod, and an external shutter trigger or intervalometer for stability and long exposures.
5. For cooled camera astrophotography, Conover employs advanced gear, including a dedicated cooled astronomy camera, large-aperture telescopes, and a precise equatorial mount.
6. Conover's smartphone astro setup includes the DeepSkyCamera PRO app on a Samsung Galaxy S10, with Adobe Photoshop and RC-ASTRO tools for post-processing.
7. Recently, Conover bought a cooled camera from Player One and uses the Player One Poseidon-C Pro and the Player One 2'' UV/IR cut filter for cooled camera astro. His mount is a Sky-Watcher EQ6-R PRO with a Geoptik counterweight & bar upgrade.
8. Anthony Robinson, founder of Skies & Scopes, acknowledges Conover's contributions, calling him a trailblazer in the world of smartphone astrophotography, inspiring others with his dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology in capturing the cosmos.

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