pentax astrotracer Archives - Luke O'Brien Photography

pentax astrotracer

Comet ZTF and Mars

February 14, 2023

On February 11, 2023 Comet ZTF made a very close encounter with the red planet Mars. Luckily enough, it was a clear night here in Hobart so I popped out onto the deck with my 150-450mm and took a look. Mars was easy to spot so I pointed the camera in that general direction and...Read More

Aurora and bioluminescence

September 30, 2022

I have been keen to photograph an aurora and bioluminescence in the same shot for quite a while now and a couple of nights ago I finally landed it! The day was basically completely cloudy and there wasn’t even a great deal of expectation of an aurora but late in the afternoon I noticed...Read More

Comet Leonard

December 29, 2021

Last night I took advantage of the clear skies and lack of moonlight to get out and see if I could capture Comet Leonard. I decided on kunanyi/Mt Wellington as I hadn’t been up there in ages, and given the comets location in the western sky I thought the other side of Hobart’s city lights...Read More

astor photography tasmania milky way pentax astrotracer

Under the Milky Way

July 22, 2021

Under the Milky Way tonight… Well not tonight, as tonight hasn’t happened yet obviously. Unless you are reading this at midnight or thereabouts. And if you are indeed reading this after midnight I hope my ramblings are either keeping you entertained or perhaps even helping you fall sleep. I do what I can. But I...Read More

Pentax Astrotracer Post-processing Technique

June 1, 2020

The Pentax Astrotracer is a great feature that allows some star tracking which means no star trails, instead you can capture fainter light more clearly by extending shutter speed, and not bumping ISO right up high. The tricky bit is when you incorporate landscape elements in the image, as the Astrotracer will hold the stars...Read More

Jupiter Rising

June 17, 2019

There has been a stunning sight of Jupiter rising in the east these past few weeks. Just on dark, and rising right along with the core of the Milky Way, has been an incredibly bright “star” just below the scorpion, and beside Sagittarius. Just below Sagittarius is the ringed planet, Saturn. These shots were taken...Read More

Comet 46P Wirtanen December 2018

December 27, 2018

Comet 46P Wirtanen appeared in the skies over Tasmania during the early weeks of December, and I decided to make the effort to get out and see/shoot it one incredibly fine evening (back on Dec 11 to be precise). I decided to head up Mt Wellington – aiming to do a few city light shots...Read More

Comet Lovejoy C/2014 Q2

January 19, 2015

Comet Lovejoy is in a wonderful part of the night sky for viewing and photographing right now. It is currently passing very close to the Pleiades (Seven Sisters) which is the famous star cluster near Taurus and Orion and quite easy to spot on a dark night. The comet itself is visible as a diffuse...Read More

Night Sky Photography Tasmania: October 21-22 2014

October 22, 2014

For anyone into night sky photography Tasmania is a joy. As well as regular displays of the southern aurora, the dark skies of Tasmania mean many distant objects can be sought out relatively easily. The Orionids Meteor Shower My main aim heading out last night was to witness the Orionids meteor display. I have never...Read More

The Milky Way & Pentax Astrotracer

September 21, 2014

The Milky Way is always a mesmerising subject to view and to photograph and the dark skies of Tasmania are an ideal location to view not just the Milky Way but the neighboring “dwarf” galaxies the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. On a recent clear night (July 3, 2014 to be precise) I ventured out...Read More

Andromeda Galaxy – Lake St Clair, Tasmania

November 7, 2013

I have just come back from a whirlwind visit to the Lake St Clair and Wild Rivers National Park area of central Tasmania, and the first photo I’d like to share with you is this one… The Andromeda Galaxy is a fairly common sight for those in the northern hemisphere, but at the relatively far...Read More

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Luke O'Brien Photography