Greetings from Ormond Beach, Florida!

Beginner Introductions
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CosmicCricket avatar
CosmicCricket avatar
Hello Astrobin!

I'm Tim Pratt, from the East Coast of Florida.  I bought my first telescope a little over a year ago on a whim, a small, cheap 80mm.  My first night, I spotted Jupiter and it's moons and was utterly gobsmacked. I've been hooked ever since, and after coming across this site and the absolutely stunning images you all produce, I quickly decided to begin the endeavor of learning the dark arts of astrophotography.  I can't begin to tell you how helpful (and inspiring) the images here have been, especially reading the technical cards.

So far, I've found this to be the most technically challenging, but, rewarding hobby I've ever picked up.

Thank you for the inspiration,

Tim
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Van H. McComas avatar
Van H. McComas avatar
Welcome Tim, I live on the east coast of Virginia and have settled (for now) on time lapse wide angle and landscape astrophotography mainly because I don't have a lot of time to spend late nights outside, maybe when I retire in 3-5 years. You are so right about the technical cards, they have cut my learning curve quit a bit but I still have a long way to go. But I am hooked on this site, visiting it several times a day during the week (so far the manager at work doesn't care) and a few times on weekends. I am following your work and you are doing a fine job of it. Keep them coming and I wish you Clear Skies.

Van
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CosmicCricket avatar
CosmicCricket avatar
Thanks, Van.

One of the other resources that has helped me out tremendously in getting started was The Deep Sky Imaging Primer, by Charles Bracken.  It was such a great resource on everything from equipment to processing.  Even so, there's so much to learn in this hobby, I don't think it'll ever get boring in that regard.

Clear Skies!

Tim
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Lawrence E. Hazel avatar
Lawrence E. Hazel avatar
Greetings to you Tim! I live not too far from you in the village of Lake Placid, just south of Sebring. I have been in astronomy for over 60 years, mostly variable
star observing but now I am firmly hooked on astrophotography. My advice is to learn the sky as much as you can and learn the capabilities of your gear.
Good luck!!

Regards, Larry
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Van H. McComas avatar
Van H. McComas avatar
Tim,

Just to let you know, I am drooling here after you posted that image of your gear.  :-)