Astronomy and night sky photography are fascinating hobbies that allow us to explore the beauty and wonder of the universe around us. One important tool for any astronomer or night sky photographer is an astronomical calendar.
An astronomical calendar is a tool that helps you plan and schedule your night sky photography sessions by providing information on astronomical events such as the phases of the moon, the rising and setting times of celestial bodies, and the visibility of different celestial objects. This information can be used to plan your photography sessions around the best times to capture the night sky and its various features, such as stars, galaxies, and the Milky Way.
One of the most important pieces of information provided by an astronomical calendar is the phase of the moon. The moon's light can be very disruptive to night sky photography, so it is best to plan your sessions around the new moon, when the moon is not visible in the sky. Additionally, some astronomical calendars also provide information on the brightness of the moon, so you can plan your sessions around times when the moon is not too bright and won't wash out the other celestial objects in your photos.
Another important piece of information provided by an astronomical calendar is the rising and setting times of celestial bodies. This can be used to plan your sessions around the best times to capture the night sky and its various features. I've linked two astronomical calendars below - one from Photo Pills, an ios app I use a lot to plan shots, and a calendar from the NYTimes that you can subscribe to so you know what's coming up. I hope they are helpful in 2023!
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