How to get into astronomy and astrophotography in the Bay Area – SFGate

Theres something truly captivating about looking up at the night sky and pondering the nature of the stars above us. While that may sound overly lyrical or philosophical, humanity has been studying the stars for millennia now, and questions about our place in the universe and even the solar system have come to the forefront with newer and better technology.

While cosmology (and astrophysics) is certainly interesting, theres no reason why you cant also take part in a couple of interesting hobbies related to the stars: Astronomy and Astrophotography. In fact, San Francisco has some great places to do a bit of both, and after a little shopping there's no reason you can't start partaking in this fun and fulfilling hobby.

Before starting out, theres a couple of tips you should keep in mind.

First, light pollution is the enemy of astronomy because it drowns out the light coming from the stars. Thats why using a light pollution map is going to come in handy for figuring out where exactly to do your thing.

Second, astronomy doesnt have to be expensive and as youll see later, there are some good starter telescope kits to help you get going for only a coupled hundred dollars. Even without a telescope, you can pick up a really good book on astronomy for beginners, Nightwatch, and just go out and look at the stars.

Finally, and this more of a general tip: It can get chilly at night, especially in places where there isnt much light pollution, so be sure to take warm clothing, water, food, and a first aid kit, since you might be far away from civilization for a while.

Now when it comes to actual astronomy and astrophotography probably one of the best places in SF to do some star gazing is Strawberry Hill in Golden Gate Park. Not only is it quiet and secluded, but its also not that well known, especially by tourists, so you arent likely to get crowded out. Its also remote enough to cut down on the light pollution which makes it easier to see the stars.

Lands End is also another great point, especially on clear nights theres an amazing view of the sky. Actually, the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers host star parties near the USS San Francisco Memorial you can catch as well.

Moving on to the East Bay, probably one of the best spots is the Sibley Volcanic National Reserve, as its well protected from light pollution by the hills. That being said, arguably the best spot of all is Mount Diablo. Its a bit of a drive but it cuts out a ton of light pollution, and in the summer, you get an awesome view of the Milky Way.

Then, over on the South Bay, there are a few observatories that might be worth checking out, but if you want to rough it on your own, the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve is where you want to go. I mean, the name is even in the title! Youll find some great sky views there with limited to no light pollution, which is great.

Finally, the Noth Bay has two great spots: Mt. Tamalpais and Muir Beach Overlook. Theyre both popular spots in both the daytime and the nighttime, so you might find others out there doing some stargazing as well, which is great if you want to connect (and not so much if youre a lone-wolf introvert like me!).

Right, now that you know there where lets look at the how, at least in terms of equipment.

First things first youll need some form of telescope, and the Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ is an excellent starter kit. It comes with the telescope (of course), an equatorial mount, which is fancy speak for a tripod that adjusts for the earths rotation, as well as a couple of eyepieces and three lenses. If youre willing to fork over a little more cash, the Celestron AstroMaster 102AZ is a fancier choice with a more powerful telescope, and a slightly better mount and set of lenses.

AstroMaster 102AZ Refractor Telescope

Celestron

amazon.com

$435.99

If youre going to do astrophotography, thats a bit more complicated... and expensive. For example, youll need to use a motorized mount since taking pictures of the stars require long exposure shots. A couple of options are the Orion AstroView EQ Mount which is a good budget option, or the Celestron Advanced VX Computerized Mount, which is expensive, but probably one of the best-in-class.

Celestron Advanced VX Computerized Mount 91519

Celestron

amazon.com

$2598.98

Youll also want a good auto-guider that connects to the mount and helps it keep a fixed point in the moving sky. The Orion StarShoot AutoGuider is what you need, although it is expensive. Just be aware you dont necessarily need an auto-guider, it just makes life much easier.

Orion 52064 StarShoot AutoGuider

Orion

amazon.com

$299.99

Then of course theres a camera adaptor for the telescope. The SVBONY Telescope Camera Adapter and/or the SVBONY T2 T Ring Adapter should cover most camera and telescope pairings, although always make sure to double-check the threading on the adaptor to see that it fits both.

Ring Adapter and T Adapter

SVBONY

amazon.com

$13.99

Id also recommend getting light pollution filters, especially if youre near the city. The SVBONY Telescope Filter should work for most telescopes and the SVBONY Camera Filter should work for most cameras. Speaking of light pollution, youll want to use a red light, rather than a traditional white light, since white light will overwhelm the light receptors in your eye and make it harder to see at night.

SVBONY Telescope Filter

SVBONY

amazon.com

$72.99

Finally, theres a bunch of software that will come in handy when working with astrophotography. For example, the Astro Photography Tool is great for controlling your camera, whereas the Cartes du Ciel and Stellarium pieces of software will help with mount control. Also, since astrophotography requires a bit of image processing, youll probably need the Deep SkyStacker app, or if youre willing to pay, Images Plus, which is a bit fancier and has more functions.

Id like to end this piece by giving you a few cool local resources to check out, especially if youre really interested in getting deeper into astronomy.

For starters, theres the Astronomical Association of Northern California, the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers (SFAA), and The Astronomy Connection (TAC). All of these are great amateur associations that cater to astronomy enthusiasts.

Theres also the Chabot Observatory and the Foothill College Observatory, both are great for shows, exhibits, classes and facility rentals. On the other hand, if youre looking for something to mix both entertainment and academics, theres the Fujitsu Planetarium and the Morrison Planetarium. They have everything from light shows to lectures, and are great if you want to get your kids into astronomy.

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How to get into astronomy and astrophotography in the Bay Area - SFGate