Preparation and setup for an Astrophotography imaging session is an essential element of the process. Without a good setup, stable and level mount, good tracking, correct auto guiding calibration, proper configuration of your camera settings, you will not get good images.

The first step is to ensure your mount is level and polar aligned. I utilize the three point polar alignment function of NINA to get polar aligned quickly and easily without a view of Polaris. I find it works very well for me.

In this video I take you through the setup process, everything you need to do in order to get started, from leveling the mount, polar alignment, finding your target, setting up the camera and calibrating auto guiding with PHD2.

We are imaging the Horsehead Nebula in this session, and later that night I captured Pleiades and the Great Orion Nebula.