Cameras
Dedicated astrophotography cameras are capable of capturing the phenomenal detail and color of faint objects in the night sky such as galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. These cameras are typically referred to as CMOS or CCD cameras. Long exposures, typically consisting of several minutes, are taken with these cameras. The shutter is left open while the light from the object collects within the pixel wells of the camera sensor. Many of these exposures are taken and stacked together via stacking software which helps increase the signal-to-noise ratio of these photos! CMOS and CCD cameras can be attached to the back of a dedicated imaging telescope or astrograph with the goal of collecting as much light as possible. If deep space astrophotography is something that interests you, please take a look at our article on How to Choose the Best Deep Sky Camera.