Tony Hallas’ Cosmic Imaging: The fine art of dithering

February 2011: Moving your images around offers distinct advantages.

Contributed by Tony Hallas

Published: December 27, 2010

A wide swath of the Milky Way in the constellations Serpens and Sagittarius shows the effect after the author dithered, aligned, and combined 12 wide-angle shots from a digital single-lens reflex camera on a mount he moved slightly between each exposure.

Photo by Tony Hallas

Within the context of astroimaging, dithering our images means moving them around slightly between each exposure. And a good reason exists for us to do this.

Check out what our readers are saying!

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SONNY SCHUG from ARIZONA said:

I've decided to go with a Canon 50D rather than a CCD camera. A DSLR, in my mind, is much simpler to use, easier to focus with a lot less wires tangled up in the dark!
Tony's comments simplify a lot of the unnecessarily complicated
explanations of other digital imaging photographers and authors.
I live by the "KISS" principle: Keep it simple stupid!

STEVEN C SCHMIDT from said:

I am now a proud owner of an 8" astrograph,Ritchey-Cretian telescope.I then had to have a Canon 50D.I have spent 3 solid months of reading and studying operating technics. Still doing a lot of experimenting, but having fun in the processes.I am anxious to share my pics as soon as I gain confidence in the quality. I really enjoy the pics in the last few pages in "Astronomy" and "Sky&Telescope", which inspires me.I consider myself a "backyard astronomer" because I've been studying,reading and applying what I have learned since 2004.I am now retired and this is my hobby, Enjoy and keep looking up!

STEPHEN BECHDOLT from MONTANA said:

Thanks for the explanation. I will set this up in maxim next time out and give it a try.

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