The Rosette Nebula is an expansive cloud of dust and gas, home to the star cluster NGC 2244, which formed from the nebula’s internal gas just 500,000 years ago—a cosmic blink of an eye. Spanning 130 light-years in diameter and situated 5,000 light-years from Earth, modest binoculars or a telescope are required to observe and…
2,200 light-years away, the North America Nebula is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus. Rich in Hydrogen-Alpha and Oxygen-3 gases, we’re able to capture its beautiful tones of red/pink (Ha) and Blue/Teal (OIII) with our Triad Filter. With a wider field telescope, you can see the shape of North America and even the Gulf…
I’m proud to highlight IC 1396, the Elephant Trunk Nebula as our “first light” in our new observatory! My mind is completely blown by just how rich, detailed, and clean data is from dark skies. I knew there would be an improvement, but I didn’t know it would be this well. My heart was racing…
We’ll guide you through how to choose the best Camera for Astrophotography and explain to you some of the choices, products, brands, and technologies available. So many choices, options, cameras, and brands to choose from – our guide will focus on a few specific areas to help you make sense of the options and get…
Some people love Light Pollution (LP) filters, others despise them. I’m sure there is a long history of filters that may have made things worse rather than better, but if you ask us, it’s time to change some opinions of LP filters and learn to enjoy them when they’re useful. Our backyard skies are rated…
Over the course of four nights, we managed to capture several hundred frames, allowing us to present Abell 85, an extremely faint supernova remnant. Interestingly, this image was taken from my backyard during the nights leading up to a full moon, showcasing the impressive capabilities of modern equipment and narrowband filters. The OIII region appears…
In the vast, star-sprinkled night sky, there are celestial sights that capture the imagination of astronomers and astrophotographers alike. One such object is SH2-129, more whimsically known as the “Squid Nebula.” Nestled within the constellation of Cepheus (ou4), this faint emission nebula offers a visual feast for those patient enough to tease out its details….
Living under the dome of light pollution, we often forget some of the majestic neighbors that grace our skies. M31 is one such wonder, that most living in light polluted will never see and always take for granted. Under dark skies, the naked eye can make out the smudge, binoculars can see the airy disc…
We’ve been enjoying sharing the joys of imaging comet Neowise right from the comfort and safety of our backyard. Check out our YouTube video below! We did a series of thirty second exposures and tracked the comet until we lost it over the horizon/trees. Once comet said bye for the evening, we did some DSO’s…
What better reminder is there of what is just beyond our vision but a part of our amazing cosmos than the beauty of the Crescent Nebula. Rising in the north western early summer skies of our home observatory in Austin Texas the Crescent Nebula brings a smile to my face every time I see it….