Shining down upon us all winter long, Orion is the brightest and grandest of all the constellations.
Dominating our winter evening skies is the Great Hunter or Celestial Warrior the most brilliant of the constellations and visible from every inhabited part of the Earth. This season, Orion can readily be found standing high in the southern sky at nightfall and doesn’t completely set until around 1:30 a.m. Throughout March, the Hunter will begin to move westward. Three bright stars in a diagonal line in the middle of a bright rectangle decorate Orion’s belt which points northward to the bright orange star Aldebaran of Taurus, and southward to the Dog Star, Sirius.
Within Orion we find two immense stars, Rigel and Betelgeuse, apparently at two entirely different periods in a star’s existence. In Rigel (the “Left Leg of the Giant”), we find a star apparently reaching the prime of its life. Betelgeuse (“The Armpit of the Giant”) in contrast, shines with a cool, dull ruddy hue; an irregular pulsating supergiant star, nearing the end of its life and as such it expands and contracts spasmodically.
Read more: Orion Constellation: Facts, location and stars of the hunter
Explore the Orion Nebula via multiple space-based observatories
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Alluring cloud of gas and dust
But undoubtedly one of the most wonderfully beautiful objects in the night sky is the Great Orion Nebula, also known as M42. It appears to surround the middle star of the three stars that lie below the Hunter’s belt between its ‘legs.’
Plainly visible to the naked eye under a dark sky, it can be clearly resolved in good binoculars and small telescopes — even from urban areas — as a bright gray-green mist enveloping the star.
In larger telescopes it appears as a great glowing irregular cloud; there is considerable detail with branches, rifts and rays. A sort of auroral glow is induced in this nebula by fluorescence from the strong ultraviolet radiation of four hot stars called the “Trapezium,” entangled within it. In 1929, amateur astronomer, William T. Olcott wrote: “Words fail utterly to describe its beauty.”
The Great Orion Nebula is a vast cloud of extremely tenuous glowing gas and dust, approximately 1,600 light-years away and about 30 light-years across (or more than 20,000 times the diameter of the entire solar system). Astrophysicists now believe that this nebulous stuff is a stellar incubator; the primeval chaos from which star formation is presently underway.
Painting outdoes photograph
Everyone who has viewed M42 agrees that no photograph they had seen compared in splendor to what appeared in the eyepiece. Its complex, gossamer-like structure is indeed an eyeful, but photographs often “burn-out” the inner region of the nebula and obscure the Trapezium stars. In 1880, using M42 as his subject, Henry Draper (1837-1882), known as a pioneer of astrophotography, was the first person to successfully photograph a nebula.
In 1875, during his stay at Harvard Observatory, French artist and astronomer Étienne Léopold Trouvelot (1827-1895) captured almost to perfection, the remarkable detail of the Great Orion Nebula. Interestingly, he didn’t draw it merely by “eyeballing.” Instead, Trouvelot used a grid of squares in the eyepiece and then meticulously copied the details onto squared paper. In addition, there are many other sky objects which he depicted such as solar eclipses, comets and the Milky Way, which made him known worldwide as one of the finest artists of celestial objects during the late 19th century.
But these beautiful renditions were not the only legacy that Trouvelot brought to our shores.
If you want to check out the Orion nebula for yourself, our guides for the best telescopes and best binoculars are a great place to start. It doesn’t take much to be able to see many of the deep space wonders of the night sky!
And if you’re looking to snap your own gorgeous photos of the night sky, check out our guide on how to photograph the moon, as well as our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.
A scorned legacy
Besides being an astronomer and artist, Trouvelot was also an amateur entomologist. In 1869 he had a wild idea to produce silk more cheaply by crossing the silkworm with the spongy moth.
You might know the latter insect better by its former name, the gypsy moth, but in March 2022, The Entomological Society of America formally adopted the new name, spongy moth. This change was necessary because the word ‘gypsy’ is considered a derogatory term for the Romani people. The moth’s new moniker, is derived from the common name used in France and French-speaking Canada, “spongieuse,” and refers to the moth’s sponge-like egg masses.
So Trouvelot imported some live egg clusters to his home in Medford, Massachusetts for experimentation. He failed, but some of the creatures escaped and after a decade began to proliferate alarmingly; over the next century, spreading throughout New England, the Mid-Atlantic, Greater Ohio Valley, Piedmont and southern Great Lakes, to the point where late-spring infestations periodically cover forests and houses with hairy caterpillars that denude oak tree foliage as they produce their “silk.”
I saw this firsthand several years ago when my own property endured an invasion of spongy moths and as a consequence, I lost several majestic hardwood trees. Today this pest is listed as one of the 100 most destructive invasive species worldwide.
No question about it. Trouvelot should have stuck to astronomy!
Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York’s Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmers’ Almanac and other publications. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
The powerful solar storm that struck Earth earlier this week treated an American astrophotographer to unexpected aurora displays during a shooting trip to California’s Death Valley.
The sighting, documented in this beautiful image that shows the Milky Way arching above a purple glowing horizon, may be the southernmost of the recent aurora spree delivered by the sun storm of Feb. 27 and Feb. 28.
“I was indeed shocked to see this,” Shari Hunt, a medical researcher and part-time astrophotography tutor who took the image, told Space.com in an email. “I was there in Death Valley for night photography and with the storm in California, we had clouds almost every morning blocking the galactic core. This was our last morning to shoot.”
Related: The amazing auroras of February 2023 are a visual feast for stargazers (photos)
Strange blue aurora spotted over Sweden in amazing time-lapse
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Hunt first noticed the strange glow when she directed her camera to the north, after setting up her gear at the popular Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. In fact, the glow was so unexpected that she first thought she must have made a mistake.
“I thought I left my camera on auto white balance or something went wrong,” Hunt recalled. “I had never seen an airglow like that! So, I took another shot and told my friend who was also there to check with her camera.”
The two took repeated shots, all of which revealed the eerie glow that on the right-hand side of the image gradually gave way to light pollution above Las Vegas. The single sharp spot of light on the right is a car that appeared on a local road, Hunt said.
“After looking in post and seeing the changing or dancing, I knew we had captured the aurora,” said Hunt. “We checked the aurora forecast as well, which also helped confirm it!”
Auroras occur when charged particles of solar wind arrive at Earth in high quantities and interact with Earth’s atmosphere. Solar wind consists mostly of electrons and protons released from the sun’s upper atmosphere, the corona. When these particles carry a magnetic field that has the opposite direction than Earth’s magnetic field, the two fields connect and channel the solar wind particles deep into the atmosphere.
Due to the nature of Earth’s magnetic field lines, the particles tend to penetrate the deepest above the polar regions, which is why most auroras remain restricted within the polar circles.
The solar storm that hit Earth on Tuesday (Feb. 28) generated a G3 geomagnetic storm on the five-degree scale of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. leading space weather authority. A G3 storm, according to NOAA, would usually only produce auroras in the northernmost U.S. states. The most severe G5 category, which usually occurs only a couple of times during each 11-year solar cycle, may light up the sky as far south as Florida.
At 36 degrees northern latitude, Death Valley is too far south for aurora displays during G3 storms, as traditionally understood. However, it appears that sensitive photographic equipment is now allowing astrophotographers to detect polar lights from much farther afield, even during milder events.
The same solar storm also boosted the southern polar lights, known as aurora australis, which thrilled skywatchers as far away from the South Pole as Perth in Western Australia. Perth is even farther away from the South Pole than Death Valley is from the North Pole. Still, an astrophotographer who identifies as Shelley on Twitter said the lights in Perth were visible even to the naked eye.
Aside from the beautiful aurora displays that stunned skywatchers all over northern and central Europe and North America, the storm also provided a taste of the darker side of space weather. SpaceX had to postpone the launch of a batch of Starlink satellites due to concerns that turbulent conditions in Earth’s upper atmosphere may interfere with their ability to stay in orbit. Workers deployed on oil rigs in Canada reported that operations had to be temporarily suspended due to the storm’s interference with GPS signals, which are used for precision navigation.
The current solar cycle, the periodic ebb and flow in the generation of sunspots and solar flares, is picking up momentum. The next solar maximum, the period of highest sun activity, is expected to come in 2025, so we are likely to witness more fabulous aurora displays as well as more space weather trouble in our technology-dependent world.
A video of a plane passenger’s unexpected view during a flight from San Francisco to New York City has gone viral on TikTok, where it received 2.1 million views at the time of writing.
The footage shared by TikToker Michael Abramyan (@mikeabr) was posted with a caption that said: “not a normal sight for this route [crying laughing emoji] #northernlights #aurora #astrophotography.”
The clip begins with the camera panning above rows of passenger seats inside a darkened plane cabin.
A message overlaid on the video read: “POV [point of view]: you’re the only one on your flight who noticed what was outside the window,” as the footage revealed a view of a plane wing against a backdrop of what appeared to be a colorful Northern Lights.
The video showed a shade of red, flashing continuously against the wing, with a strip of bright green along a horizon in the distance. A vivid red sky was later seen just above the green strip before the clip ended.
In a later comment, the original poster said the plane was traveling from San Francisco International Airport to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, so it’s “not a common route to see NL [Northern Lights] [smiley face with star-shaped eyes].”
The Northern Lights (also known as Aurora Borealis) are the result of electrons colliding with the upper reaches of Earth’s atmosphere.
“In these collisions, the electrons transfer their energy to the atmosphere thus exciting the atoms and molecules to higher energy states,” according to the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “When they relax back down to lower energy states, they release their energy in the form of light. This is similar to how a neon light works.”
The Northern Lights can often be viewed “somewhere on Earth” just after sunset or just before sunrise. They’re not visible during daylight hours.
They usually form about 80 to 500 kilometers above the Earth’s surface but can be seen from as much as 1,000 kilometers away “when the aurora is bright and if conditions are right,” the NOAA says.
The Space Weather Prediction Center explained that the Earth’s magnetic field “guides the electrons such that the aurora forms two ovals approximately centered at the magnetic poles. During major geomagnetic storms, the ovals expand away from the poles such that aurora can be seen over most of the United States.
“When space weather activity increases and more frequent and larger storms and substorms occur, the aurora extends equatorward. During large events, the aurora can be observed as far south as the U.S., Europe, and Asia,” the center said.
Several users on TikTok were blown away by the spectacular view in the video.
In a comment that got 18,700 likes, user Anshul soni said: “I don’t believe that the pilot didn’t announce it out loud.”
User Mama Casss wrote: “I would have been like “Y’ALL LOOK OUT THE WINDOW IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL,'” in a comment that got 12,600 likes.
User Laila Fallaha said: “i would have screamed [crying laughing emoji],” while user Caleb Verpoort simply said: “Unbelievable…”
Dan_Giff said: “That’s a precious view,” while user aly wrote: “So lucky to see this!!!.”
Newsweek reached out to the original poster for comment. The video has not been independently verified.
Do you have any incredible videos or pictures you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details and your story could appear in Newsweek.
Purple aurora glow seen above the horizon from California’s Death Valley.
Earth recently experienced the most powerful solar storm of the current solar cycle, which caused auroras to spread far away from their usual haunts around the poles. Unexpected sightings were reported as far as California and Western Australia.
Below, you’ll see some of the best shots of the late-February 2023 aurora magic. If you’re looking to snap photos of the night sky, check out our guide on how to photograph auroras, as well as our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.
1. California
Astrophotographer Shari Hunt was surprised to see aurora in her photographs of the Milky Way taken in California’s Death Valley.
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The Nikon D850 DSLR
Want a photograph auroras? We recommend the Nikon D850 as the top pick in our best cameras for astrophography guide.
Auroras occur when charged particles of solar wind arrive at Earth in high quantities and interact with Earth’s atmosphere. Solar wind consists mostly of electrons and protons released from the sun’s upper atmosphere, the corona. When these particles carry a magnetic field that has the opposite direction than Earth’s magnetic field, the two fields connect and channel the solar wind particles deep into the atmosphere.
Due to the nature of Earth’s magnetic field lines, the particles tend to penetrate the deepest above the polar regions, which is why most auroras remain restricted within the polar circles.
The G3 category solar storm that hit Earth on Tuesday (Feb. 28), however, delivered such a powerful solar wind blast that the auroral glow was observable as far south as California.
American astrophotographer Shari Hunt was completely taken by surprise when she spotted the purplish glow in her picture of the Milky Way taken from California’s Death Valley.
“I thought I left my camera on auto white balance or something went wrong,” Hunt told Space.com in an email. “I had never seen an airglow like that! So, I took another shot and told my friend who was also there to check with her camera.”
At 36 degrees northern latitude, Death Valley is too far south for most aurora displays. According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a G3 storm, such the one of Feb. 28, would usually produce auroras in the northernmost U.S. states. The most severe G5 category, which usually occurs only a couple of times during each 11-year solar cycle, may light up the sky as far south as Florida. Thanks to sensitive photographic equipment, however, skywatchers can now detect polar lights from much further afield even during milder events.
Related: Where to see the northern lights: 2023 aurora borealis guide
2. Australia
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The southern polar lights, also known as aurora australis, are usually visible only to researchers at science stations in Antarctica and the neighboring penguin colonies. This time, however, the southern lights spilled over as far north as Perth, Western Australia.
At 32 degrees south latitude, Perth is a little farther to the north than Melbourne, Adelaide or Tasmania, none of which sees many aurora displays.
According to a photographer who identifies as Shelley on Twitter, the glow was bright enough in Perth to be clearly visible to the naked eye.
3. Auroras from space
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NASA astronaut Josh Cassada posted this dazzling aurora photo on Twitter on Feb. 28, 2023 with a simple but appropriate caption:
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An orange-tinted band of aurora borealis spreads across the Atlantic Ocean in an image captured by the NOAA-2 weather forecasting satellite.
Astronauts on the International Space Station enjoy aurora sightings quite regularly, and these views are always spectacular. Orbiting 248 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth’s surface on average, the space station completes a lap around the planet every 90 minutes, thus providing its inhabitants with an aurora tour that none on Earth can experience.
The aurora borealis during the last two days of February was so intense that it was visible even to weather forecasting satellites orbiting twice as high as the International Space Station. The NOAA-20 satellite captured a band of orange glow above the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday (Feb. 26) at 11:01 p.m. ET (0401 GMT on Monday, Feb. 27).
4. Aurora spectacle in the center of Stockholm
People watch aurora borealis, in central Stockholm, on Feb. 27, 2023.
One of Europe’s northernmost countries, Sweden enjoys polar lights regularly. Usually, however, they are not bright enough to light up the skies above the country’s capital Stockholm, which, with a population of nearly one million, suffers from the usual urban ailment of light pollution.
But the polar lights of Feb. 27 and 28 were so intense that they rewarded even those completely lacking adventurous spirit. The green aurora glow was clearly visible right at the city’s center, arching over the city’s landmarks, including its famous city hall.
5. U.K. and France: Stonehenge, Mont-Saint-Michel adorned by auroras
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Virtually the whole of the British Isles enjoyed aurora displays on Feb. 27 and 28, although cloudy weather made the aurora chase in places more complicated.
A photographer based in Wiltshire in the south of England captured an image of the mesmerizing yellow and orange glow above the iconic Stonehenge monument, which was widely shared on Twitter.
France’s iconic medieval abbey Mont-Saint-Michel with a glow of aurora borealis in the background.
France also got one of its greatest historical sights illuminated by the polar lights. Images show the spectacular medieval abbey Mont-Saint-Michel, located on an island in northwestern France’s Normandy region, with a faint purplish glow in the background.
6. Aurora glow lights up Danish and Dutch beaches
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Dutch and Danish beaches provided an amazing viewing spot to experience the Feb. 27 and 28 auroras.
Northern lights (aurora borealis) illuminate the sky as visitors walk along Hornbaek Beach in the northern part of Sealand, Denmark late on February 27, 2023.
The Netherlands is a little too far south for regular aurora displays, but this time, the auroras were visible all over the country.
7. Aurora makes it to London
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Related stories
— Where and how to photograph the aurora
— Earth’s aurora origin mystery solved by ‘surfing’ electrons
— Best equipment for aurora photography
An unexpected aurora sighting was made by an astrophotographer identified on Twitter as @skydevphil, who managed to photograph bands of green and purple glow from the outskirts of the U.K.’s capital London.
“Aurora Borealis not [far] from London. I took this picture just twenty minutes from Amersham tube,” @skydevphil tweeted.
Amersham is a tiny town about one hour’s drive from central London. But with London being Europe’s largest city and the most light-polluted one, the sighting certainly came as a surprise.
Editor’s Note: If you snap an amazing photo of the auroras and would like to share it with Space.com’s readers, send your image(s), comments, and your name and location to [email protected].
A collage of 10 images taken between Feb. 21 and March 2, 2023 showing the movements of Jupiter and Venus as they approach conjunction. (Image credit: Soumyadeep Mukherjee)
Venus and Jupiter have put on quite a show for skywatchers in recent weeks.
The two planets have been shining brightly in the early evening skies for several weeks, and in recent days they’ve been moving closer together in the night sky. On Wednesday (March 1), the pair made their closest approach to one another while also entering into an arrangement known as a conjunction, meaning they shared the same right ascension, the celestial equivalent of longitude.
As Jupiter and Venus began approaching each other over the last few weeks, astrophotographers around the world started capturing the celestial dance the two planets have been engaged in. One stunning image submitted by Soumyadeep Mukherjee of Dhanbad, India, shows what the photographer calls “10 Days of Nearness” between the two planets, spanning from Feb. 21 to March 2, 2023.
Related: Don’t miss Venus and Jupiter shine super close in the night sky. They won’t be closer until 2032!
Mukherjee took the photographs that make up this 10-image collage using a Nikon D5600 camera equipped with a Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art lens. Post-processing was conducted in Adobe Photoshop.
In an email to Space.com, Mukherjee described his process for taking the photographs that make up the collage:
“For the last couple of weeks, Venus and Jupiter have stolen the attention of astrophotographers! They were inching close to one another, slowly but surely. I was lucky enough to capture their relative movement for the last 10 days. Another interesting find for me was the ever-changing hues of the sky after sunset! They do add a lot to the final image.
The aperture was maintained at f/2.8 and ISO was kept 200 for all the images. Shutter speed varied from 1/3 second to 1 second, depending on the lighting condition. All the images were taken at a similar time, between 6:10 p.m. to 6:20 p.m. India Standard Time.”
Mukherjee has been an amateur astrophotographer since 2020 and is part of a group known as Astronomads Bangla that “works towards popularizing astrophotography in India,” the photographer told Space.com.
Be sure to check out more of Soumyadeep Mukherjee’s work on Instagram (opens in new tab).
If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the next close encounter between Venus and Jupiter or any other celestial events, our guides for the best telescopes and best binoculars are a great place to start.
And if you’re looking to snap your own gorgeous photos of the night sky, check out our guide on how to photograph the moon, as well as our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.
Follow us @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab), or on Facebook (opens in new tab) and Instagram (opens in new tab).
Have you thought about capturing the beauty of the night skies, but you are unsure of how to begin? Join local astrophotographer Guru Willard Sharp’s presentation from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge near Prairie City, to learn the basics of astrophotography.
Guru will provide an overview of some of the fundamental settings used for night sky photography as well as share some of the tips and tricks he has learned over the years. To register for this free program email [email protected] or call 515-994-3400.
Visit https://www.fws.gov/refuge/neal-smith or check out the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NealSmithNWR. Specific questions can be directed to Nancy Corona at [email protected] or 515-994-3400
March 2023 is a great time to photograph the solar system, but don’t waste any time. As the month begins the two brightest planets in the night sky – Venus and Jupiter – will appear to pass so close to each other that it will be possible to capture them both with a long lens. What’s more, it’s a post-sunset event that begins relatively high in the sky at dusk before sinking lower in the southwestern sky, as seen from the northern hemisphere. That makes it perfect for framing beside trees, mountains or buildings when they’re close to the horizon.
March is also the last month until September when the nights are longer than the days and when the northern lights can be at their most intense. Add some beautiful views of a crescent moon and the rise of a full ‘Worm Moon’ and March 2023 has much to offer sky-photographers.
Wednesday, March 1: Venus and Jupiter appulse
When two planets appear to pass close to each other from our point of view on Earth, the event is called a conjunction. When it’s super-close, it’s called an appulse. That’s what happens tonight when the ‘Evening Star’ and the gas giant will appear to come to within just half a degree of each other. That’s less than half the full moon’s width and the closest they’ll appear to be for several years. It’s an annual event, but a special one in 2023, though, it’s worth noting that Venus will be shining much brighter than Jupiter. Pick various lenses for different effects and try a few seconds at ISO 200 to 400 with the lens at f/2.8 to f/4.
Tuesday, March 7, 2023: full ‘Worm Moon’ rising in a perfect alignment
There is always something incredible to photograph in the night sky each month. Thanks in part to our natural satellite in space, the moon. Tonight is the night it will rise fully illuminated opposite the sun, showing an orange-looking lunar surface as the moon rises in the eastern sky. Check your local moonrise time and get into position about 10 minutes before. In North America, the moon will rise between 20 and 30 minutes after sunset, while in the UK and northern Europe, moonrise and sunset will occur at almost precisely the same time. To capture the rising full moon’s splendor use a 70-300mm lens, a tripod and a remote shutter release.
Read: How to photograph the full moon
Tuesday, March 14 2023: March’s dark sky window opens
Tonight the moon reaches its last quarter phase, rising after midnight to leave the night sky virtually moonless. That makes the next seven nights through New Moon on Tuesday, March 20 perfect for dark skies and deep-sky astrophotography.
Monday, March 20: spring equinox
Today’s spring equinox marks the moment when the sun is above the equator, meaning night and day are the same lengths across the globe. That’s not something you can photograph per se, but it does give you an excuse to take some interesting wide-field photographs of the sunrise and sunset on the equinox. If you’re on the road then equinox-aligned ancient sites include Stonehenge in England, Newgrange in Ireland, Casa Grande in Arizona and Chichén Itzá in Mexico.
Read: The best cameras for astrophotography
Wednesday, 22 March: capture a slim ‘Ramadan moon’
The first sighting of the crescent moon denotes the beginning of each month in the Islamic lunar calendar. This month is particularly auspicious because it signals the beginning of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. Look to the southwestern sky just after sunset and you may be able to spot an incredibly slim crescent moon. If you can’t, come back tomorrow night at the same time and try again, when the crescent will be slightly bigger, brighter and higher in the sky.
Thursday, March 23 and Friday, March 24: Venus and a crescent moon
As the crescent moon increases in brightness and moves higher into the sky it will appear very close to Venus post-sunset for two successive evenings. On Thursday it will be visible just below Venus and on Friday it will be just above. Don’t forget to play with your ISO and exposure settings to try to bring out ‘Earthshine’ on the dark limb of the moon.
Read: When to photograph the moon
Wide-field shot of the month: the Northern Lights
Though the Northern Lights are active all day and all year long, it’s only between September and March in the Arctic Circle when the nights are long enough and dark enough to make dedicated photography trips worthwhile. So this month is your last good chance to spend time at 66°N – where the auroral oval typically hangs out – in northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, northern Canada, and Alaska.
So far, the 2022/2023 winter season has seen plenty of powerful displays of aurora thanks to the sun waxing towards ‘solar maximum’ in 2024 or 2025. Although it’s not guaranteed, the spring equinox on 20 March sees Earth’s magnetic field lines perfectly in sync with the solar wind, which can sometimes mean more reliable and more intense displays of aurora. The only way to see if that comes to pass is to be in the Arctic Circle and stay as long as you can, mainly to maximize your chance of clear skies. Keep an eye on the forecast on the Space Weather Prediction Center.
Read: Where, when and how to shoot the Northern lights
Read more:
• Astrophotography: How-to guides, tips and videos
• Astrophotography tools: the best camera, lenses and gear • The best lenses for astrophotography
• The best star tracker camera mounts
• Best equatorial mounts
• Best deep-space telescopes
• The best light pollution filters • The best CCD cameras for astrophotography
A weedy sea dragon father carries a strand of ruby-red eggs.
A gorgeous new image shows a common sea dragon dad drifting through a seagrass meadow with his jewel-like egg clutch in tow.
The image took the top spot in the Compact Behavior category of the Underwater Photography Guide’s 2022 Ocean Art contest.
Common sea dragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) typically live at depths of around 13 to 20 feet (4 to 6 meters), though they can dive down to 160 feet (50 m), according to the Georgia Aquarium. They usually begin brooding in late July or early August.
The eggs start out a beautiful shade of deep magenta, which fades to brown as the baby dragons develop. Sometimes green or brown algae grows along the dad’s tail, helping provide further camouflage. “After a few weeks, you start to see eye spots inside each [egg]”, Greg Rouse, a marine biologist at the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography who wasn’t involved with the photo contest, told Live Science. Rouse said that the eggs pictured here are “a pretty fresh brood.”
Unlike most vertebrates, male sea dragon parents are the ones who invest time and energy into caring for unhatched eggs. Closely related groups, including seahorses and pipefishes, also display this unusual brooding strategy. However, seahorses and some pipefish sport a specialized kangaroo-like pouch to hold their eggs, whereas sea dragons simply glue their eggs to the underside of their tails. A clutch of sea dragon eggs typically numbers somewhere between 100 and 180, depending on the size of the female.
Related: Best wildlife photography cameras 2023
All sea dragons are endemic to the waters of coastal Australia. They’re notoriously tricky to breed in captivity: Of the three species of sea dragon, only the common (or weedy) dragon has been successfully captive-bred, and not in large enough numbers to sustain a sizable population. “The sea dragons people see in the aquarium are mostly being caught in the wild,” Rouse said. To help monitor how this impacts sea dragon numbers, Rouse co-founded the citizen science project Seadragon Search, in which diving enthusiasts can record their encounters with these fish.
A mother octopus waits for her eggs to hatch.
Sea dragon dads are far from the only extreme marine parents, and Ocean Art’s other parent of the year is a mother octopus. In a stunningly detailed photo that earned best in show, the octopus mom holds her brood carefully in her eight arms, gently wafting water over them to make sure the developing babies get enough oxygen. The photographer identified her as a Caribbean reef octopus (Octopus briareus) and snapped this photo in the balmy waters off of West Palm Beach, Florida.
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“For warm water [octopus] species, the eggs develop pretty quickly. But for colder species they take a lot longer,” Mike Vecchione, a cephalopod zoologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who wasn’t involved with the photo contest, told Live Science. Researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute discovered a female deep-sea octopus that held onto her eggs for four years — the longest known brood duration for octopuses.
The octopus pictured here won’t have to wait that long for her eggs to hatch. However, keeping them safe will be the last thing she does. Mother octopuses don’t eat or care for themselves while protecting their brood from predators. “They’re in pretty bad condition by the time the eggs hatch,” said Vecchione, “and as far as we know, they all die shortly after that.”
Here we’ve rounded up the best cameras for astrophotography that we believe will help you capture stunning astro images. You can also see the best prices for each camera from reputable retailers.
The bonus of having one of the best cameras for astrophotography is that they are typically versatile cameras that perform exceptionally for daytime shooting too. This negates the need to spend on additional equipment, something we all want to avoid with the ongoing rise in the cost of living.
Still, it’s important to remember, it’s not all about the camera. Lenses are just as (if not more) important. That’s why we’ve laid out the best lenses for astrophotography too. We’ve also put together a guide for the best camera accessories for astrophotography and the best light pollution filters for astrophotography, especially important if you’re shooting in an area prone to skyglow.
DSLRs and mirrorless cameras have long been known for their night sky shooting prowess. Low image noise, high ISO capabilities, and flexibility for regular daytime shooting make them ideal devices for many users. However, there are also astro-specific cameras that traditional photographers often overlook. These specialized devices mount to telescopes for incredibly clear astrophotographs that can easily surpass DSLR or mirrorless cameras, although they are unsuitable for conventional photography.
Astrophotographers must be mindful of the noise-handling abilities of each system, as this is an issue often encountered by night and low-light photographers. Also, be sure to assess the camera’s capacity to block out infrared light since this is necessary to capture cosmic objects. If necessary, the infrared filter can be removed by a professional after purchase. Factors like size and weight should also be taken into account, as they are essential for portability and durability when you are out searching for the perfect dark sky.
Despite the common misconception, expensive doesn’t necessarily mean best (for your purpose). Some cameras cost far less but give superior astro image quality than even the most expensive models. There does always tend to be a trade-off. That might be shooting flexibility or lens mount versatility. Of course, you won’t be able to capture the stars without a sturdy tripod, so check out our guide to the best tripods for astrophotography to prepare yourself with the best possible setup. We’ve also rounded up some of the best headlamps for stargazing and the best power banks for astronomy too, both things that will make your night of skywatching and astrophotography more enjoyable.
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The best cameras for astrophotography in 2023
(Image credit: Jason Parnell-Brookes)
A detail-oriented powerhouse, possibly one of the best cameras for astro full stop
Specifications
Type: DSLR
Sensor: 45.4MP, Full-frame 35mm
Lens mount: F-mount
ISO range: 64-25600 (102400 expandable)
Viewfinder size/resolution: Optical, 0.75x mag
Video capability: 4K UHD 30FPS
Weight: 915g
Size: 146 x 124 x 78.5 mm
Memory card type: 1x SD/SDHC/SDXC and UHS-II, 1x XQD/CF Express
Reasons to buy
+
Huge stills resolution for extra detail
+
Native compatibility with F-mount lens range
+
Reliable and durable weather sealing
Reasons to avoid
–
Bigger and bulkier than mirrorless
–
Low ISO range
–
Optical viewfinder
The Nikon D850 DSLR was released way back in 2017 but still keeps up with the younger models in many photography disciplines, including astro. The 45.7-megapixel image sensor on the D850 produces ultra-detailed stills photos while keeping image noise to a minimum. It even can shoot 4K UHD 30 frames per second video for those who want to make movies of the night sky.
Partly because of its age, It is considerably heavier, bigger and bulkier than astro-specific cameras and mirrorless competition. Still, thanks to its rugged construction and excellent weather sealing, it will last for many years, no matter what environment you choose to shoot in.
Like all DSLRs, it has an optical viewfinder, making it a little more challenging to compose and focus for night sky imaging, but the rear tilting touchscreen remedies this problem. It has two card slots for SD and XQD/CF Express cards to ensure it can record all that incredible detail at speed and for added peace of mind.
As seen on the flagship Nikon D5 (opens in new tab), the D850 utilizes full button illumination, making it simple to operate in the dark without needing a headlamp that may damage your night vision. This was one of the features we enjoyed most during our Nikon D850 review alongside its expandable ISO sensitivity range of 102400 — it practically sees in the dark. Although a very high ISO will drastically reduce image quality (because of increased noise), it can be useful just to help you compose your shot if nothing else.
The Sony A7R IVA (opens in new tab) is ultimately the same as the Sony A7R but with a few minor upgrades. You can see from our Sony A7R review that we think it is an incredible camera that is hard to beat performance and image quality-wise, although it is expensive.
This camera is perfect for astrophotography due to its ability to capture incredible detail in both dark and bright areas. You can use images from the camera at ISO 6400 without any visible noise, however noise will become apparent at higher levels, as to be expected.
The buttons and autofocus joystick are more tactile than previous Sony models, which is excellent news for photographers who shoot at night while wearing gloves.
The 61-megapixel images are enormous, meaning you will have huge file sizes; you need a computer and storage that can keep up with processing and storing this file size. That said, for faster image processing, you can switch to turn the A7R IVA into a 26MP APSC camera with a 1.5x crop factor at the click of a button.
The screen isn’t fully articulating, but it does tilt, so you should still be able to take amazing astro shots comfortably. The battery performance is excellent, so you will have no problem having all the power you need for a lengthy astro shooting session.
(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
Bump up the ISO but maintain sharp image quality with fantastic detail
Specifications
Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: 24.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS
Lens mount: Sony E
ISO range: 100-32,000, expandable to 50-102,400
Viewfinder size/resolution: 2.36 million dots
Video capability: 4K/30p video recording
Weight: 1.11 lb/ 503g
Size: 120 x 67 x 69 mm (4.72 x 2.64 x 2.72″)
Memory card type: SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Reasons to buy
+
Great in low light
+
In-body stabilization
+
Lightweight
Reasons to avoid
–
Similarly priced to full frame cameras
–
Same sensor as it’s predecessor
The A6600 is a camera to consider if you want something as good as a full frame with just as many pixels.
Astrophotographers will love that you can ramp the ISO right up before seeing unwanted noise in your photos, which is crucial when photographing anything in low light situations, especially in astrophotography.
Though lightweight, as mentioned in our Sony A6600 review, this model boasts excellent build quality and feels robust and rugged, more so than Sony’s previous models.
The buttons on the back of the camera are nicely pronounced, making them easier to find in the dark and press while wearing gloves.
While the sensor in this camera is the same as its predecessor (the Sony A6500 (opens in new tab)), it is powered by the high-performance Z-battery, over twice the capacity of the previous FW50 battery, allowing for plenty more those long exposures before needing a spare.
The screen is tilting rather than fully articulated, but this shouldn’t deter astrophotographers who shoot up at the sky.
Aside from the astro-friendly features, it’s worth mentioning that Sony’s real-time tracking is fast and highly accurate, making it a good option for sports and action photography too.
(Image credit: Lauren Scott)
Good performance in low light and a great all-round camera
Video capability: 10-bit 4:2:2 video at 6.2K/30P, 4K/60p webcam mode
Weight: 557g (1.23lb) with battery
Size: 130 x 91 x 64 mm (5.1 x 3.6 x 2.5 in)
Memory card type: 2 x SD/SDHX/SDHC slots
Reasons to buy
+
Ergonomic design
+
Wide range of lenses
+
Great for traditionalists
Reasons to avoid
–
The screen isn’t fully articulating
–
Dials take getting used to in the dark
While the Fujifilm X-T5’s predecessor, the Fujifilm X-T4 is still an excellent option for astrophotography enthusiasts, the XT-5 has several improvements for not that much more money.
The classic look of the camera makes it stylish, but the body-mounted dial controls make it easier to use in the dark, once you are used to which dial does what, which, as we found in our Fujifilm X-T5 review will take a bit of practice. The 40.21MP CMOS sensor gives even better image quality than the 26.1MP predecessor and the processing engine is double the speed of the XT-4.
The Fuji X-T5 uses the NP-W235 battery with a CIPA rating of around 600 shots per charge in everyday performance mode and about 740 shots in economy mode. We found the battery life noticeably impressive when we conducted our full review. When shooting the night sky, the long exposures needed sap the battery more, so expect slightly fewer.
There are two SD memory card slots, and you can shoot JPGs and RAW files simultaneously, or you can use one of them as a backup in case the unthinkable happens to your primary storage.
This camera is also a versatile option for photographers who regularly dabble in other photography styles alongside astro. It has a generous seven stops of in-body image stabilization, excellent low-light performance, and a high-speed processing engine. That makes it ideal for action or sports photography. It is also a top choice when it comes to timelapse photography. Check out our best cameras for timelapse videos for alternative options for this capture style.
(Image credit: Lauren Scott)
A beast in low light — this camera set a precedent as one of the best astro mirrorless cameras
Specifications
Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: 24.2MP, Full-frame 35mm
Lens mount: E-mount
ISO range: 50-51200 (204800 for stills)
Viewfinder size/resolution: 0.5-inch, 2.35 million dots
Video capability: 4K UHD 30fps
Weight: 650g
Size: 126.9mm x 95.6mm x 73.7mm
Memory card type: 1x SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I/II compliant) 1x Multi slot for Memory
: Stick Duo/SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compliant)
Reasons to buy
+
Incredible low light video performance
+
Good battery life
+
93% AF point coverage
Reasons to avoid
–
Certainly a more expensive option
–
Low stills resolution compared to competition
–
New version now available
The Sony A7 III is a favorite among astrophotographers that like to shoot mirrorless and is one of the brightest stars of the astro camera world (pardon the pun). Though its electronic viewfinder isn’t as detailed as others we’ve listed, it still provides a beneficial exposure-ramped view to aid with composing astrophotographs. Low light autofocus detection, while not as sophisticated as some in this list, still performs well by working in -3 EV. In our Sony A7 III review, we were particularly impressed with the high dynamic range, allowing you to recover fantastic detail from the shadows.
Even when ramped up to a massive ISO 51200, this camera handles image noise well and produces excellent image results. For those not too worried about movie shooting (though it can capture 4K UHD at 30FPS), ISO can jump higher, expanding to an insane 204800 for stills photography.
This camera is CIPA-rated, well above average for a mirrorless of this type, and can shoot 710 still shots via the rear LCD monitor. It is a touch more expensive than others in its class, but if you’re after a natural low-light performer that is also versatile enough to excel in other photography styles, the A7 III might be the one for you.
(Image credit: Jacob Little)
Great in low light and can tolerate all weather conditions
Specifications
Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: BSI-CMOS 24.5MP
Lens mount: Z-mount
ISO range: 100-51200 (expanded 50-204800)
Video: 4K 60p
Weight without lens: 1.5lbs/675g
Memory card slots: 1x CFexpress/XQD, 1x UHS-II SD
Reasons to buy
+
Great for low-light shooting
+
Excellent weather sealing
Reasons to avoid
–
Not worth upgrading from the Z6
–
Lots of competition at a similar or lower price
Since you’ll also find the Nikon Z6 in this guide, it makes sense to talk about its successor, the Nikon Z6 II. As we discussed in our hands-on Nikon Z6 II review, there aren’t enough upgrades to warrant upgrading from one model to the other, and it’s not worth the extra cost if you’re only going to be shooting astro with it.
That said, suppose you’re upgrading from a beginner model, capturing video, and shooting other photography styles alongside astro. In that case, the Z6 II is worth considering if you can spare the extra dollars, as it the update makes it a little more refined.
Take note of everything the Z6 has, but add a second memory card slot for extra storage and peace of mind, a faster burst rate and autofocus, quicker image processing, and 60FPS at 4K video shooting.
Astrophotographers will love the better range of shutter speeds, allowing more control over those long exposure shots. The shutter speed limit is now 900 seconds (15 minutes).
(Image credit: Andy Hartup)
Realistic but exceptionally clear images of the night sky, and a better option for astro than the Z7
Specifications
Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: 24.5MP, Full-frame 35mm
Lens mount: Z-mount
ISO range: 100-51200 (204800 expandable)
Viewfinder size/resolution: : 0.5-inch, 3.69 million dots
Video capability: 4K UHD 30fps
Weight: 705g
Size: 134 x 100.5 x 69.5 mm
Memory card type: 1x SD/SDHC/SDXC and UHS-II, 1x XQD/CF Express
Reasons to buy
+
Low image noise
+
Superb electronic viewfinder
+
Great low light Autofocus
Reasons to avoid
–
Stills resolution not the highest
–
Limited lens range
–
Superseded by Z6 II
Though superseded a while back by the superior Nikon Z6 II, the Z6 (one-half of the first two mirrorless cameras Nikon ever produced), is still one heck of a camera and excels in low light. For our money, we think the Z6 is better for astrophotographers than its big brother, the Z7, due to the lower resolution. A lower resolution on the same full-frame image sensor means less image noise detracting from the final shot. Whats more, the Z6 is also much cheaper than the Z7.
The Electronic Viewfinder has excellent detail, with a million more dots than the aforementioned Sony A7 III, and gives a realistic, clear image. Though the Z-mount lens range is expanding, but it’s still not as established as other models in this guide. Saying this, with an FTZ adapter, you can use any of Nikon’s F-mount lenses from the past several decades, so this isn’t a problem.
Our Nikon Z6 review found that shooting even up as high as ISO 12,800 adds very little noise or softness to the image, making it perfect for low-light situations like astro and night-time photography. This is especially true if you’re trying to pick out unlit objects or scenery to give the night sky some context. The image quality only degrades a little on the maximum and expanded settings.
(Image credit: Tantse Walter)
A pleasure to compose your shot even in the darkest skies as well as a handy timelapse function
Specifications
Type: DSLR
Sensor: 26.2MP, Full-frame 35mm
Lens mount: EF-mount
ISO range: 100-40000 (102400 expandable)
Viewfinder size/resolution: Optical, 0.71x mag
Video capability: 1920 x 1080, 60fps
Weight: 765g
Size: 144.0 x 110.5 x 74.8 mm
Memory card type: SD, SDHC or SDXC (UHS-I) card
Reasons to buy
+
4K timelapse feature
+
Handy vari-angle touchscreen display
+
A lot of camera for the money
Reasons to avoid
–
No 4K video recording
–
Only one SD memory card slot
–
Low dynamic range a shame
The Canon EOS 6D Mk 2 is an affordable DSLR for those wanting to dip their toes into astrophotography without breaking the bank. It does lack some modern features, but this is a brilliant full-frame option for its price point.
Its handy vari-angle touchscreen display makes it simple to compose the scene even if the camera is pointing skyward. For astro-shooters that like a moving image, the EOS 6D Mk 2 can shoot 4K time-lapses (in timelapse mode), making it perfect for detailed videos of the night sky, especially when paired with a slider or a star tracker. We found in our Canon EOS 6D Mk 2 review that it’s best to avoid this model if you’re planning on shooting fast action in low light, but that’s not a problem for astrophotography.
While it only captures regular video footage at full-HD 1080p, it records this at 60FPS for smooth results. Its dynamic range also leaves something to be desired, but if combined with plenty of calibration frames, this shouldn’t make much difference after image processing.
A single SD card slot might have nervous shooters biting their nails during longer sessions, but with 102400 expandable ISO and 26.2MP stills capture, you can relax knowing results will be clear and crisp every time.
(Image credit: Amazon)
A dedicated color astro camera producing beautiful high resolution stills with an enormous frame rate
Specifications
Type: Color CMOS astronomy camera
Sensor: 20.1MP, 1-inch
Lens mount: Scope mounted
ISO range: N/A
Video capability: 5496 x 3672, 19 FPS
Weight: 140g
Size: 62mm diameter
Memory card type: N/A
Reasons to buy
+
Electronic shutter minimises camera movement
+
19FPS perfect for solar/lunar photography
+
USB 3.0 output
Reasons to avoid
–
Scope mounted only
–
Requires dedicated software to run
–
Images at 12 bit depth maximum
This is a compact full-color camera with its own onboard cooling system to minimize noise whilst shooting long exposures. It is one of the best-dedicated astrophotography cameras out there, the ZWO Optical ASI183MC Pro is the color version of the ZWO Optical ASI183.
In our ZWO Optical ASI183MC Pro review, we found it to represent a great choice for astrophotographers looking for a dedicated astro-imaging camera. You won’t need to bring a stack of RGB filters when heading out to shoot. It’s also much smaller and lighter than other astro cams. Still, at 1.6e read noise, it’s a serious camera.
It’s one of the more efficient camera models for astrophotography and provides a whopping 84% Quantum Efficiency peak. For a dedicated astro camera, it also has a high pixel count, at approximately 20.48MP.
It shoots an all-out frame rate of 19FPS at full resolution, which makes the ZWO Optical ASI183MC ideal for solar or lunar imaging. However, if users drop the resolution down, there’s the potential to shoot hundreds of frames a second if wanted!One downside, as with all dedicated astro cams, is that you’ll need to plug it into a computer with dedicated software to run it. A fast USB 3.0 port means a healthy data transfer for the higher frame rate captures.
This camera’s design and build is specifically geared towards clean astro shooting, as complemented by its zero amp glow
Specifications
Type: Color CMOS astronomy camera
Sensor: 9MP, 1-inch
Lens mount: Scope mounted
ISO range: N/A
Viewfinder size/resolution: N/A
Video capability: 3008 x 3008, 20FPS
Weight: 800g
Size: 78mm
Memory card type: N/A
Reasons to buy
+
Zero amp glow
+
80% quantum efficiency
+
High 20FPS frame rate
Reasons to avoid
–
No mono version
–
Square CMOS sensor unusual for some
The ZWO Optical ASI 533 Pro’s most attractive feature is likely that it has zero amp glow. Although you can typically remove this in editing software, this additional processing time can stack up and reduce productivity, especially when considering that you could opt for an astro camera like this and avoid it altogether. By removing the need for extra processing, you’re also keeping a cleaner, more efficient resulting image.
This camera only comes in a color version, so monochromatic enthusiasts should leave their RGB filters at home. It has a good 80% Quantum Efficiency and a quick 20FPS frame rate for those needing to shoot fast. As with almost all dedicated astro cameras, the ZWO Optical ASI 533 Pro needs an external power supply to work. A 9MP square sensor might seem a little unusual to some photographers, but it has 1.0e read noise and a 14-bit ADC for good dynamic range.
In our ZWO Optical ASI 533 Pro review, we concluded that it is a great choice for those looking for a simple-to-use, dedicated astro-imaging camera at an affordable price.
(Image credit: Andy Hartup)
Now five years old, but still a solid and reasonably priced choice for astrophotographers
Specifications
Type: Full-frame mirrorless
Sensor: 30 megapixels
Lens mount: RF (EF and EF-S with adapter)
ISO range: 100-40000
Viewfinder size/resolution: 0.5-inch OLED EVF
Video capability: 4K and 10-bit
Weight: 580g
Size: 135.8 x 98.3 x 84.4mm
Memory card type:
Reasons to buy
+
30MP sensor
+
Good value for money
+
Excellent autofocus
Reasons to avoid
–
Button layout could be better
–
Not as rugged as it’s rivals
Though four years old, Canon’s first-ever full-frame mirrorless RF system camera still holds its own against the more recent releases.
As we discussed in our Canon EOS R review, it’s neither the sleekest nor best-built body, so you’d have to be a little gentler with it than you would some of the more robust models — like the Nikon Z6 — and the layout of the buttons could be more intuitive. None of these would be reasons not to buy this model, but they could take some getting used to.
Body and build quality aside, the performance of the Canon EOS R is above average when shooting in low light. It performs especially when using long exposures, which is perfect for traditional astro shooting, including long exposures and time-lapse shooting (don’t forget your tripod). It also processes the shots very quickly with little noticeable buffer lag.
The screen is large and clear, with impressive touch functionality. Like a smartphone, you can drag and set the focus with your finger. The vari-angle touch screen also makes taking low-angle shots much more comfortable.
How we test the best cameras for astrophotography
To guarantee you’re getting honest, up-to-date recommendations on the best cameras to buy here at Space.com we make sure to put every camera through a rigorous review to fully test each product. Each camera is reviewed based on many aspects, from its construction and design, to how well it functions as an optical instrument and its performance in the field.
Each camera is carefully tested by either our expert staff or knowledgeable freelance contributors who know their subject areas in depth. This ensures fair reviewing is backed by personal, hands-on experience with each camera and is judged based on its price point, class and destined use. For example, comparing a 60MP full-frame mirrorless camera to a sleek little crop-sensor DSLR wouldn’t be appropriate, though each camera might be the best-performing product in its own class.
We look at how easy each camera is to operate, whether it contains the latest up-to-date imaging technology, whether the cameras can shoot high-quality stills photos and high-resolution video and also make suggestions if a particular camera would benefit from any additional kit to give you the best viewing experience possible.
With complete editorial independence, Space.com are here to ensure you get the best buying advice on cameras, whether you should purchase an instrument or not, making our buying guides and reviews reliable and transparent.
Best cameras for astrophotography: What to look for
It can be difficult to know what to look for in the best cameras for astrophotography, but there are some crucial factors to consider to help you decide. Budget is significant, with new users who want to dabble perhaps setting aside a little less than more seasoned photographers that will only settle for the very best images. However, image clarity is critical, and you’ll find that larger sensors with fewer pixels can capture astro shots with minimal image noise. By negating the effects of image noise, we’re able to process imagery more efficiently with better-detailed results.
While not particularly useful for astrophotography, autofocus may still be helpful for those who want to combine night-time shooting with near-twilight landscapes that show the brightest stars, planets, and satellites hanging above a beautiful foreground. A low EV rating on the autofocus ability is crucial for sharp shots in the dark.
Fiddling around with one of the best headlamps can be helpful, but for those with inferior headlamps, a dim-lit red light to set up your shot can be frustrating, so consider whether you need backlit illuminated buttons to help guide camera setup in the dark.
Specialist astrophotography cameras have a predisposition to heat up during long exposure shots. Suppose you’re interested in getting an astro camera that has built-in cooling to keep the performance of the image capture high; it will likely be larger and heavier and a little noisier as the fans whir while operating.
Photographers must consider lens choice when choosing a camera for astrophotography. While most major manufacturers have excellent ranges of top-quality glass, not all camera models can accept the full range of lenses due to differences in mount types. Ideally, fast lenses with wide apertures and excellent optical sharpness and clarity are what to look for when shooting astrophotography, take a look at our guide to the best lenses in astrophotography. Pair this with a camera body that handles high ISO and image noise well, and you should be ready to go.
The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content.
Feb 21, 2023 (The Expresswire) — New “Astrophotography Cameras Market” Report 2023 by Manufacturers and Forecast to 2029:
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Browse Detailed TOC, Tables and Figures with Charts which is spread across 102 Pages that provides exclusive data, information, vital statistics, trends, and competitive landscape details in this niche sector.
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The report also offers a thorough analysis of the competitive landscape, with profiles of the top key players in the market. Research reports provide valuable insights and analysis on a specific industry or market. They often include information on market size, trends, key drivers, and competitive landscape analysis of Top manufacturers.
This report profiles key players in the global Astrophotography Cameras market based on the following parameters – company overview, production, value, price, gross margin, product portfolio, geographical presence, and key developments. This report also provides key insights about market drivers, restraints, opportunities, new product launches or approvals, COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War Influence.
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Market Segmentation:
Astrophotography Cameras market is split by Type and by Application. For the period 2018-2029, the growth among segments provides accurate calculations and forecasts for consumption value by Type, and by Application in terms of volume and value. This analysis can help you expand your business by targeting qualified niche markets.
Market Segment by Type:
● Requires Connected Device or Specific Software ● No Connected Devices or Specific Software Required
Market Segment by Application:
● Individual ● Commercial
The Primary Objectives in This Report Are:
● To determine the size of the total market opportunity of global and key countries ● To assess the growth potential for Astrophotography Cameras ● To forecast future growth in each product and end-use market ● To assess competitive factors affecting the marketplace
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Market segment by region, regional analysis covers
● North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) ● Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, and Rest of Europe) ● Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia) ● South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Rest of South America) ● Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, South Africa, and Rest of Middle East and Africa)
Some Questions Answered in the Astrophotography Cameras Market Report:
● What will the Astrophotography Cameras market size and the growth rate be in 2029? ● What are the key factors driving the global Astrophotography Cameras industry? ● What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Astrophotography Cameras market? ● What are the Astrophotography Cameras market challenges to market growth? ● What are the Astrophotography Cameras market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global Astrophotography Cameras market? ● What are the upstream raw materials and manufacturing equipment of Astrophotography Cameras What being the manufacturing process of Astrophotography Cameras? ● What are the types and applications of Astrophotography Cameras What being the market share of each type and application?
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The content of the study subjects, includes a total of 15 chapters:
Chapter 1, to describe Astrophotography Cameras product scope, market overview, market estimation caveats and base year.
Chapter 2, to profile the top manufacturers of Astrophotography Cameras, with price, sales, revenue and global market share of Astrophotography Cameras from 2018 to 2023.
Chapter 3, the Astrophotography Cameras competitive situation, sales quantity, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers are analyzed emphatically by landscape contrast.
Chapter 4, the Astrophotography Cameras breakdown data are shown at the regional level, to show the sales quantity, consumption value and growth by regions, from 2018 to 2029.
Chapter 5 and 6, to segment the sales by Type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2018 to 2029.
Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to break the sales data at the country level, with sales quantity, consumption value and market share for key countries in the world, from 2017 to 2022.and Astrophotography Cameras market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2024 to 2029.
Chapter 12, market dynamics, drivers, restraints, trends, Porters Five Forces analysis, and Influence of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War.
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Main Points from Table of Contents:
1 Market Overview
1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Astrophotography Cameras
1.2 Market Estimation Caveats and Base Year
1.3 Market Analysis by Type
1.4 Market Analysis by Application
1.5 Global Astrophotography Cameras Market Size and Forecast
2 Manufacturers Profiles
3 Competitive Environment: Astrophotography Cameras by Manufacturer
3.1 Global Astrophotography Cameras Sales Quantity by Manufacturer (2018-2023)
3.2 Global Astrophotography Cameras Revenue by Manufacturer (2018-2023)
3.3 Global Astrophotography Cameras Average Price by Manufacturer (2018-2023)
3.4 Market Share Analysis (2022)
3.5 Astrophotography Cameras Market: Overall Company Footprint Analysis
3.6 New Market Entrants and Barriers to Market Entry
3.7 Mergers, Acquisition, Agreements, and Collaborations
4 Consumption Analysis by Region
4.1 Global Astrophotography Cameras Market Size by Region
4.2 North America Astrophotography Cameras Consumption Value (2018-2029)
4.3 Europe Astrophotography Cameras Consumption Value (2018-2029)
4.4 Asia-Pacific Astrophotography Cameras Consumption Value (2018-2029)
4.5 South America Astrophotography Cameras Consumption Value (2018-2029)
4.6 Middle East and Africa Astrophotography Cameras Consumption Value (2018-2029)
5 Market Segment by Type
5.1 Global Astrophotography Cameras Sales Quantity by Type (2018-2029)
5.2 Global Astrophotography Cameras Consumption Value by Type (2018-2029)
5.3 Global Astrophotography Cameras Average Price by Type (2018-2029)
6 Market Segment by Application
6.1 Global Astrophotography Cameras Sales Quantity by Application (2018-2029)
6.2 Global Astrophotography Cameras Consumption Value by Application (2018-2029)
6.3 Global Astrophotography Cameras Average Price by Application (2018-2029)
7 North America
8 Europe
9 Asia-Pacific
10 South America
11 Middle East and Africa
12 Market Dynamics
12.1 Astrophotography Cameras Market Drivers
12.2 Astrophotography Cameras Market Restraints
12.3 Astrophotography Cameras Trends Analysis
12.4 Porters Five Forces Analysis
12.5 Influence of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine War
13 Raw Material and Industry Chain
13.1 Raw Material of Astrophotography Cameras and Key Manufacturers
13.2 Manufacturing Costs Percentage of Astrophotography Cameras
13.3 Astrophotography Cameras Production Process
13.4 Astrophotography Cameras Industrial Chain
And More…
For Detailed TOC – https://industryresearch.co/TOC/22488098
To view the original version on The Express Wire visit Ashtray Sand Market 2023: Growth by 2029 Top Players with Opportunities
COMTEX_424931059/2598/2023-02-21T02:08:34
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