Astrophotography by Walt Davis

$Vega is the second brightest star in the Northern Hemisphere. The first star after the sun to ever have its picture taken. This picture was taken with a Nikon D70 and 600mm f4 ED lens - diffraction spikes created with fishing line and stopping down the aperture ring. By Walt Davis.$

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Object Information

Name:

Vega

Star Type:

White Super Giant

Description:

Vega is the second brightest star in the Northern Hemisphere. The first star after the sun to ever have its picture taken. This picture was taken with a Nikon D70 and 600mm f4 ED lens - diffraction spikes created with fishing line and stopping down the aperture ring.

Magnitude:

0.0

Related Photos:

Lyra Constellation

References:

Vega

Lyra Constellation

Google Images

Acquisition

Location:	Latitude 44.841N by Longitude -122.869W at an elevation of 87 meters. Aumsville, Oregon USA
Date:	June 6, 2008
Zone:	-8 (Pacific Standard Time)

Equipment

Imager:	Nikon D70
OTA:	Nikkor 600mm f4 ED telephoto lens
Barlow:	none
Platform:	2X Super Modified Nikon Imaging Platform
Guiding:	none

Imaging

Mode:	Mode 2
White Balance:	Sunlight
Color Space:	sRGB
Format:	JPG (1504 x 1000)
Light frames:	Single 30 sec frame at ISO 1600.
Darks:	none
Flats:	none
Filters:	none
Mask:	none
f-stops:	f22
FOV:	136 x 89 arcminutes
Scale:	2.71 arcseconds per pixel
Software:	Nikon Capture 4 Control

Image Processing

Stacking:	none
Combined:	none
Processing:	PhotoShop CS3

Notes

The unusual combination of diffraction spikes was achieved by stopping the lens aperture down to f22 (the small spikes) and then using two pieces of 60lb fishing line across the front of the lens (the large spikes).