Is Astrophotography Without Tracking Possible?

Summary

Astrophotography without tracking is absolutely possible and can produce stunning results with the right techniques. By choosing bright and stationary targets like the Milky Way, using a sturdy tripod, and applying methods like the 500 Rule, you can capture breathtaking night sky photos without the need for expensive tracking equipment. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to master astrophotography without tracking, even as a beginner.You can do astrophotography without a star tracker by attaching a DSLR camera to a sturdy tripod1. This will limit the length of your exposures to 15-20 seconds. With a lens of 17–24mm, stacking hundreds of photos will create a good image of the Milky Way. Deep Sky targets need bigger lenses and shorter subs.If you want to take amazing photos of the night sky without tracking, you need an astrophotography DSLR camera with a wide-angle lens. Check out this Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera with 18-55mm Lens (shop now at Amazon) and see the difference.We do need to look into this question much deeper because there are many variables that can make astrophotography harder without a star tracker mount. There is a lot more to answering this entirely, so stick with me. This page is filled not only with what you need to know but also with what I have learned through my own experience and research into this question of tracking.Why Might We Use Tracking?The reason we need a star tracker mount is that astronomical objects in the sky are moving, generally from east to west, depending on where in the sky the object or star is within our solar system. This movement occurs because our planet is rotating. In the Northern Hemisphere, where I live, stars and other objects in the sky seem to rotate around a point near Polaris, the North Star which we can also call the Polar Axis.In order to counteract the rotation of the stars, we need to use a star tracker mount that follows the movement of the stars and moves in the opposite dire...