Deep Space Dan Pushed Mobile Stargazing Photography to New Heights
Deep Sky Dan, a renowned astrophotographer based in Nagano City, Japan, has made a name for himself by capturing stunning deep-sky images using nothing more than a smartphone and a telescope. His innovative approach to astrophotography has garnered attention from publications such as Amateur Astrophotography, Forbes, the Guardian, DIY Photography, PetaPixel, and Digital Camera World.
Dan Conover's journey began when he couldn't find anyone else doing deep sky astrophotography with a smartphone. In response, he started his own YouTube channel to share his findings and inspire others. His workflow centres around integrating his smartphone with a telescope, using manual camera controls on the phone, and employing practical astrophotography techniques suitable for beginners.
For his smartphone astrophotography setup, Dan uses the DeepSkyCamera PRO app on a Samsung Galaxy S10. He secures his phone to the telescope eyepiece using a smartphone adapter or mount, and uses the telescope as a long focal length lens to zoom in on deep-sky objects like galaxies. To optimise image capture, he manually controls exposure time, ISO, and focus.
In some cases, Dan uses star tracking equipment like the iOptron SkyGuider Pro to allow longer exposure times without star trails. However, the exact details of his setup are sparse.
Dan's process is designed to be accessible to beginners, demonstrating how smartphone cameras combined with telescopes can open up deep sky astrophotography to those who don't have dedicated astrophotography cameras. This approach contrasts with traditional setups that require specialized DSLR or mirrorless cameras and complex mounts.
When it comes to post-processing, Dan uses software such as Deep Sky Stacker, Sequator, and Astro Pixel Processor. He also plans to use PixInsight in the future. For planetary astrophotography, he uses PIPP, Autostakert, and AstroSurface.
In the realm of cooled camera astrophotography, Dan uses the Player One Poseidon-C Pro, ZWO Asi290mm mini or Player One SEDNA guide camera, and data acquisition software like NINA, ASCOM, and EQMOD. He uses PHD2 for guiding and an HP ENVY 17'' laptop along with a JACKERY portable battery.
Despite the impressive quality of his smartphone astrophotography, Dan recently bought a cooled camera from Player One, which he finds to have superior quality.
To achieve quality smartphone astrophotography, Dan recommends getting a good polar alignment, using quality eyepieces, getting focused with a bahtinov mask, using a good adapter to hold the phone to the eyepiece, and ensuring all necessary parts are in order.
Dan's current telescope setup for galaxies includes a Celeston EdgeHD 8'' SCT, and for nebulae and widefield, he uses a SVBony SV555 quintuplet astrograph. For image processing, he uses Adobe Photoshop and RC-ASTRO tools.
Dan's proudest achievements in astrophotography include breaking the ceiling of what's possible with a smartphone camera and telescope. His work serves as a testament to the power of innovation and the democratization of astrophotography.
In addition to his astrophotography work, Dan can be found on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Patreon, where he continues to share his passion for deep sky photography and inspire others to take up the hobby. Anthony Robinson, the founder and owner of Skies & Scopes, a publication and community focused on amateur astronomy and astrophotography, is one such individual who has been inspired by Dan's work.
- Dan Conover's innovative approach to astrophotography, using smartphones and telescopes, has earned him attention from various publications, including Amateur Astrophotography, Forbes, and Digital Camera World.
- For his smartphone astrophotography setup, Dan utilizes the DeepSkyCamera PRO app on a Samsung Galaxy S10, securing his phone to the telescope eyepiece with a smartphone adapter or mount.
- Dan's workflow in deep sky astrophotography involves integrating his smartphone with a telescope, using manual camera controls on the phone, and employing practical techniques suitable for beginners.
- In his setup, Dan sometimes employs star tracking equipment like the iOptron SkyGuider Pro to allow longer exposure times without star trails.
- After capturing images, Dan processes them using software such as Deep Sky Stacker, Sequator, and Astro Pixel Processor, and plans to incorporate PixInsight in the future for planetary astrophotography.
- Recently, Dan purchased a cooled camera from Player One, which he finds to have superior quality compared to smartphone cameras.
- To achieve quality smartphone astrophotography, Dan recommends a good polar alignment, using quality eyepieces, getting focused with a bahtinov mask, using a good adapter to hold the phone to the eyepiece, and ensuring all necessary parts are in order.
