[edit August 5, 2011]
Pict 8d in 2nd post below just made it onto NASA APOD!!!
My 15 minutes of fame....From techniques I learned here, thx Canon POTN gang.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110805.html
I originally posted this Jan-04-2010 in the photo forum portion, which was "wrong" place for discussion/planning.
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=805493
Asked to have it moved here but not moved, so I'm here now.
From that thread
This would be for people with DSLR, tripod, at least a lens up to 200mm, etc, but without telescope.
(I don't have one, and no $$$$'s for one this year)
Just for ref my gear: T1i, kit lens 18-55 & 55-250, 50 1.4, tripod, remote.
Purpose is general neat/cool shots of the moon and cosmos, and to learn about the moon/cosmos AND photography techniques (image stacking, PP, etc).
I'd like to involve my 3 kids to whatever extent I can to encourage their appetite for space.
Therefore I've consolidated the responses from that thread into below
(thx members Bernoulli, chris.bailey, siriusdogstar, Celestron, Adrena1in, SteveInNZ, troypiggo, xs5875, CalPiker, Jeff, 67champ ).
You've help make my 2010 assignment list, thx people.
I'll continue talk about success/failures/learning/technique here, post photos in the photo forum.
Top 10 in 2010 to shoot (Astronomy, non telescope); underline links to the posts in the photo sharing section.
Green = done, Orange = expected, Red = missed.
1. Full Moon; zoom lens; T1i + 55-250 kit @ 250mmMoon shots: 70-200 f2.8 L mkII + 1.4x + 2.0x TC's stacked
560 via 70-200 + 2x + 1.4x TC

2. Moon at various Phases; put 7-9 images into photo collage
3. Lunar X; zoom lens; images here
3a Lunar "X" challenge thread , 3b Lunar "X" on the wanning??
3c "X" 11/13 16:13 EST, 21:13 UTC IMAGE LINK: https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=11278280#post11278280
4. Moon illuminated by Earthshine ; zoom lens Moon by earthshineIMAGE LINK: https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=11264359#post11264359
5. Creative moon shots; Moonrise over lake /clouds; wide lens
...5a "spider web" around the moon....IMAGE LINK: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=843095
5b moonrise over the tree line , 5c Moon reflection window & ISS + STS-131 streaking
5d Full moon in clouds IMAGE LINK: https://photography-on-the.net …?p=10079997&postcount=169
5e Full Moon a rising over the lake..Oct 22, 2010IMAGE LINK: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=949159
6. total lunar eclipse Dec 20/21 http://en.wikipedia.org …cember_2010_lunar_eclipse

7. ISS, Space Shuttle, Iridium Flares ;wide lens, long exposures; try zoom on ISS (my 250mm lens not enough reach); images here
7a ISS + STS 131 tomorrow morning..(4/9 6am EDT)
7b July-4-2010 ISS captured (six 20 sec exposures)
7c Oct 20, 2010 Iridium 56 -6mag IMAGE LINK: https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=11130729#post11130729
7d ISS taken 10-26-2010 (4) 25 sec exposures @ 15mmIMAGE LINK: https://photography-on-the.net …p?p=11214883#post11214883
[edit: topics 8-11 moved to post #2]
Studies done:
a) Exposure time to see where image movement becomes visible for 50mm and 85mm lens (considering cropping the image); my conclusion 50mm good for 8 sec and 85mm good for 5 sec, some CA study done also
b) Tip on are clouds present in atmosphere for moon shots https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=12614828#post12614828
Resources used:
Baz's To help you with star trails and stacking
Troy's Get your astro software here
Tip on focus camera with live view:
I've had luck with live view, 10x, then manual focus until the brightest star you can find gets small/sharp as possible.
Sometimes that takes a back/forth on the focus ring until you find that center spot of focus.
Even if you have to crank up the ISO just to focus to show the star brightest, then move it down for the actual shot.
Infinity marking on lens is a good start, but that varies on temp and zoom.
This will be a year long thread......
[edit 7/26/10] Now 7 months into 2010, I've got shots for 1, 2, 3 (Dec-09 actually), 5, 7, 8, and 9. [edit 8/27/10] added #11, got shots for #10 2 weeks ago as well
[edit 10/6/10] added #9d M31 [edit 10/22/10] added 7c Iridium flare, 9e/9f Orion/M42 , 10b Perseid meteor's
[edit 07/12/11] moved items 8-11 to post#2 below with 144pix sized images