How to shoot a MILKY WAY PANORAMA with a STAR TRACKER - tips and techniques in the field

In this video I explain how to shoot a Milky Way panorama with a star tracker. It's a part 1 of 2 where I focus about tips and techniques in the field to get the correct individual photos to work with in post production. I share how I used my Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer to photograph a high quality panorama and how to fit the entire Milky Way on a photo to get a stunning night sky image!

GET THE PRODUCTS HERE:

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Intro
0:45 - Part 1 of 2 - in the field
1:20 - How a regular panorama is shot
2:47 - Panorama with a star tracker
5:34 - Influence the Milky Way season
6:50 - Recommended lens focal length
8:33 - Why shooting in mode portrait is handy
9:42 - How to see more the back of the camera
10:48 - Checking how much to rotate
11:42 - Dealing with tracking rotation
13:02 - Taking shots of the ground
13:51 - Including a subject (e.g. a person)
14:30 - Outro

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[basilbcf]

I have a iOptron Start Guider and this is exactly what I needed.

[astropear]

Such an under rated channel, I've learned a vast majority regarding star trackers due to you, thanks Kamil 👍

[astronomynotebook]

Thank you...keep up the videos on Skytracker...❤️🌹🔭

[raphglc]

Yes Kamil, it looks pretty awesome ;) thanks for this video !

[LukeMackie]

This is really cool, definitely something I'll be incorporating.

[bushcraftandastronomer.]

This video is total class and I've learned something new which I'm going to try out myself. Haven't seen this kind of video on YouTube. The centre of our milky way galaxy is barely visible here in scotland and I've got to travel further south to see it. So many deep sky objects that is on my target list. I should also try this with a smartphone too. Knowing what's in the milky way before photographing gives you greater knowledge of these objects and knowing what they are and putting them in shots. Mars has been bright lately and one day we may find life there as we are getting closer to finding it. Thanks for sharing this video and I'm looking forward to next video. Our solar system could have many life types and Europa this moon could be teaming with life in that oceon or how about the clouds covering Venus as a gas has been found there so who knows. Titan will one day warm up when our sun becomes alot brighter and hotter when the sun is about a thousand times brighter and titan will warm up and life will start there. Most scientists believe Comets could have hit earth and carried life onto earth. Comets has so many clues to the formation of the solar system and they come from the Oort cloud which is about 2 light years away. Comets are the building blocks of life and the early formation of our solar system when our sun was still forming into a star! Life will find a way!!!

[grafix]

Another informative video- thanks alot -lovn ur videos

[aryan]

Came here from reddit . Awesome work man 🔥 subbed :)

[MohibKhan]

Very nice video. Great work man. I only have one question. Since we are tracking, and the tracker will rotate, let’s say each exposure is 2 minutes. That will throw the balance level out completely. Do we level the camera after every exposure or just do one single sweep?

[SuperSafari]

Awesome video! Kamil when you overlap your pano shots for 50% plus. Does aberration coma and astigmatism go away?

[doubledark]

great work Kamil! Have you tried doing several photo's at at each position, stacking them to reduce noise and then stitching them together. What issues could arise? Cheers

[neild]

Nice clear explanation. One question: how long an exposure can you get away with, assuming that if the core is close to the horizon and setting, that you start at the right side where the core is. Below someone mentions 2 minutes as a hypothetical time and you seemed to be OK with that. Do you typically do much more or less than that? Thanks. I just got an MSM tracker and will be using it a lot starting end of Feb.

[flyer]

Aloha Kamil. Mahalo for your great videos - learn something everytime I watch. I just purchased the Sky Watcher Star Adventurer 2i and was disappointed that it did not come with the snap cable or shutter release cable - probably because there as so many camera options. I happen to shoot with an EOS R and would like to find out where can I locate and purchase the correct cable? Sky Watcher support was no help and they only offer the cable for the Canon 5D, and could not verify if that cable works with the EOS R. Since you shoot with the EOS R, can you direct me where to buy this cable? Thanks and take care. Mahalo and Aloha!

[basilbcf]

I am planning a weekend camping rip to a remote location specifically to shoot the Milkyway pano with my iOptron tracker. I had been wondering about whether to re-level the ball head base at the start of each section of the pano, but if I understand you correctly, you're saying I can just do the pano and allow the plane of the ball head mount to rotate as the tracker rotates? I have a couple questions (which might be answered in the second video but I'll ask just in case):
1. Would it hurt (or would it help) to re-level the ball head at the start of each section of the pano if the relabeling can be done quickly?

2. Assuming the Milky Way core is to the south and arches across the sky, setting in the north, should I start the pan aiming north, then work towards the right to the south (where the core will be rising) or should I start at the south, where the core is and pan to the left, and end shooting to the north?

[vinikrish]

Thanks a lot for this tutorial... one part wasn't clear though - when you use tracker for the pano, do you reset the tracker to initial position after each exposure?

[stevenrobinsonpictures]

Great channel. I watched your video on correct wb and LP removal. Roger Clark right? I was nodding all the way through it. I get alot of why is it so orange questions ha ha.

[lizards]

I love your tutorials man, another banger! I personally use a RRS pano head for tracked Milky Way panos since it makes for easier balance *(for me personally) and corrects for parallax, but I really enjoy this alternative too.

[mohammad_yazbek]

Great video, Kamil! I just have one question: How can I avoid the parallax effect when tracking the MW with 50mm and 135mm lenses? Thank you very much!

[TheAstrocast]

Excellent video!!! I’m taking a trip in June to bortle 2 for Milky Way photography and have been looking for a video like this and you nailed it!!! How does it affect your balancing when you set your rig up with two ball heads? Are you using a counter weight? Subscribed!

[AussieDrifters]

Thx Kamil, once again excellent and I love your work. I’m guessing it not necessary but I can’t recall you mentioning polar alignment using this technique is polar alignment required? Cheers 🍺