Whole books have been written on astrophotography. I don't mean to supersede them here but merely to interest the new astronomer in a fascinating aspect of observing. While not much equipment is required to get started, be warned that making star pictures can consume vast amounts of time and effort. But then again, that's what most people are looking for in a hobby. Within this book I have listed, for each astrophoto, the exposure time, optical configuration and film type so that the reader may get a feel for typical photographic parameters. While some professionals state that photography is a science, determining the correct exposure is usually a matter of trial and error. Framing the subject and composing the ideal picture is certainly an art.

Since a 20-cm S–C telescope is already at hand, all that is necessary is a camera. The common ‘idiot proof’ auto-focus, autoexposure, point-and-shoot cameras usually won't work for astrophotography. Their light meters aren't designed for the low light levels involved and if you bolt one on the backplate of your S–C the range sensor will see only the rear of the telescope and tell you that you're standing too close to your subject. Most photographers use a 35-mm camera body. Mine is a 20+ year old junker whose light meter hasn't worked in a decade. The shutter doesn't work except on the ‘Bulb’ or ‘Time’ (for time exposures) setting.