Showerthought: My backyard shots of Orion never look as sharp as online pics.

I've been working on photographing the Orion Nebula from my backyard for a while now. My pictures always end up blurry, even with a good telescope setup. I suspect the street lights in my area are ruining the shots. I've tried stacking multiple images, but the results are still not great. Can anyone suggest ways to reduce light pollution effects? Maybe there are specific filters or software tricks I should know. I'd appreciate any advice to improve my astro photos.

4 comments

4 Comments

robert4441mo ago

Ever thought about just driving out to a darker spot for your shots? I had the same blurry prob with my milky way pics until I hauled my stuff to this empty field outside town. The light pollution drop was huge, and my stacked images finally had that pop without fancy filters. Kinda annoying to travel, but it made my cheap lens look pro.

ramirez.vera1mo ago

Okay but "just driving out" is a huge ask for some people. I live in an apartment with no car, so that empty field might as well be on the moon. Plus, going alone to a dark, remote spot at night isn't exactly safe for everyone. It's easy to say pack up and go, but real life gets in the way. Getting good results from home might take more work, but at least it's actually possible for folks who can't just leave.

the_henry1mo ago

My downtown balcony catches the Milky Way just fine with enough stacking.

felixmoore1mo ago

Disagree with you here, @robert444. Driving out helps, but it's not the only fix for blurry shots. I've managed clear Milky Way pics from my own driveway in the suburbs, just by stacking more frames and dialing in my camera settings. The travel tip works, but it turns a quick hobby into a whole production. With enough practice, you can fight light pollution without leaving home. Your field idea is solid, but it's not a must-do for everyone.