A beginner’s guide to PLANETARY IMAGING

Planetary imaging is a compelling side to astrophotography. If you’re considering capturing the other worlds of the Solar System for the first time, or perhaps have already dipped your toes into the subject and been disappointed with the results, this article will help you understand what it’s all about and why it requires special consideration. Although an extensive subject, it is still possible to get decent results with basic equipment.

In astrophotography, planets are often lumped in with the Sun and Moon under the generic heading of Solar System imaging. Although the Sun and Moon present discs that are larger than the planets, the goal is still to image tiny surface detail. Earth’s atmosphere is a big problem here; variations in air temperature and density cause incoming light to deviate