Beginner Astrophotography: What I’ve Learned with Budget Gear
Most nights, after the chaos of bedtime—when our kids are finally settled and we’ve taken turns fixing pillows or changing freshly changed diapers—my husband and I are lucky if we can squeeze in an hour of alone time before one of us crashes. That precious hour usually goes to watching TV or playing a video game—anything that doesn’t require too much mental energy because by then, we’re completely tapped out.
Every so often, though, my husband will say he has to work late. He’ll head to his office to meet a deadline, and I try not to sound too excited when I say, “No worries, I’ll find something to do.” Usually, that means curling up with a book, watching one of my guilty-pleasure shows, or indulging in the sacred art of going to bed early (because, let’s be real—I love sleep). But sometimes, on those rare, windless, cloudless nights, I find myself pulled outside, camera in hand, to photograph the night sky.
I’ve always been fascinated by the stars. As a kid, I’d drag blankets out to the backyard and lie on the trampoline, staring up into the vastness, dreaming about the mysteries of the universe. That awe hasn’t faded. If anything, it’s grown. Knowing that looking at the night sky is literally looking back in time speaks to both the scientist and the history lover in me.
So, when I got my first camera, it was only natural to try and capture some of that magic. But astrophotography can feel incredibly intimidating—especially because your gear can make a big difference. I started out with just a Lumix GX-85 and a budget telescope I actually bought for my daughter for under $100. I’m still learning, but I’ve discovered a few tricks that have drastically improved my results, and I’d love to share them here.
1. Stacking: Reducing Noise, Enhancing Detail
Stacking involves combining multiple images of the same object to reduce noise and bring out more detail—especially useful in low-light photography where your ISO tends to run high. Using a tripod, I take a series of photos of the same spot in the sky. Then, I process them using stacking software. My go-tos are PIPP and Autostakkert—both free, although their user interfaces can be a little clunky.
When I first started, the options overwhelmed me. But I quickly learned that I only needed to adjust a few settings based on what I was working on. This tutorial was a lifesaver when I was just getting started.
Here’s an example of a comet I captured—first as a single frame, and then again after stacking. The difference in noise reduction and detail is striking.
2. Creating a Stacked Image from a Video
This is a twist on traditional stacking: instead of taking multiple photos, I shoot a short video. I find this method perfect for photographing the moon. A 10–20 second video provides dozens (sometimes hundreds) of frames in no time. I convert the video into an AVI format using PIPP, then load it into Autostakkert, which stacks the individual frames into one high-quality image.
It’s efficient, especially when you’re short on time but still want a great result. Below is a moon photo I created using this method vs. a single image.
3. You Can Capture Deep Sky Objects Without a Telescope
When I first got my camera, I never imagined I could photograph a nebula or galaxy—but recently, I did exactly that. The method is similar to what I described above: lots of exposures, stacked together. The difference is that this process benefits from the addition of calibration frames.
Calibration frames—bias, dark, flat, and dark flat—help correct for common issues in night photography, like sensor noise or uneven lighting. This article gives a great overview of how to take them.
You’ll also need another piece of software: Registax. Like the others, it’s free and designed for stacking and editing astronomical images. I followed this tutorial to take and process one of the Orion Nebula. While it uses Photoshop, you can achieve similar results using GIMP, a free alternative.
4. Don’t Get Discouraged
Let’s be honest—this hobby comes with a learning curve. It’s heartbreaking to spend hours photographing a full moon, only to wake up and realize your images are soft or blurry. And clear skies are a precious commodity, so a missed opportunity stings even more.
When that happens, I remind myself that every session is a learning experience. Even if the photos didn’t turn out, I still got to spend the evening under the stars, which is always time well spent. With practice and patience, your skills will improve—and when you finally capture that perfect shot, it’s incredibly rewarding.
Finding Beauty in the Stillness
Astrophotography has become more than just a hobby—it’s a quiet escape, a way to reclaim a little peace and curiosity in the midst of parenting, work, and daily routines. There’s something grounding about stepping outside, looking up, and remembering how vast and beautiful the universe is. Even with a basic camera and minimal gear, it’s possible to capture stunning images and feel connected to something so much bigger. So the next time you find yourself with a quiet evening and a clear sky, grab your camera. You might just fall in love with the stars all over again.
