Meade LPI Imager
Along with my beginner telescope, I've recently attached a digital imager that has proven a perfect introduction to the world of astrophotography: the Meade Lunar-Planetary Imager (LPI).
A steal at about $100, this low-resolution imager is just enough to show me the ropes as I begin to try my hand at taking pictures of the solar system and eventually deep-space objects.
As a reporter for five years, I've taken thousands of photos, but taking them through a telescope (with an imager that works a bit differently than a digital SLR camera) has been challenging.
I look forward to continuing to figure it all out -- encouraged along the way with photos that actually begin to look like what they're capturing!
Galleries
Moon
Always a treat, the Earth's moon sports a lifetime of crater-exploring, not the mention its ever-changing appearance as we move from month to month -- from a dim crescent to a blindingly bright orb.
Venus
The second planet from the sun, the surface of Venus is cloaked by a layer of clouds. Since the planet is closer to the Sun than us, we see it move through phases -- like the moon -- from crescent to full.
Jupiter
Our solar systems largest planet, it boasts dozens of moons -- four of which were discovered by Galileo and can be seen in binoculars if you have a steady hand and dark skies.
Saturn
One planet out from Jupiter, this ringed beauty is one of the most exciting things to zero in on with a telescope. Its dull color immediately sets it apart from the surrounding stars, as do its rings.