Astronomy Adventures

17/08/2023

New Mexico Magazine published a feature this month on our night sky sharing about locations statewide and the connections people have to this incredible natural and cultural resource. Here is a bit they wrote about me.

The self-taught astronomer connects people with the heavens.

05/01/2023

A quick 3.5 hours with RGB filters on NGC 7331 and companions. Collectively known as the Deer Lick Group, NGC 7331 is the larger, nearer galaxy approximately 40 million light years distant. The other fuzzy glows above center are galaxies nearly 300-350 million light years away. Captured in the August sky toward constellation Pegasus through a 10" Ritchey-Cretien reflector telescope with a QHY 294M pro CMOs camera at f/8 for a focal length of 2000mm.

31/12/2022

I originally considered this to be a 'throw away' data set - lacking detail and resolution to my picky eye. But the colors convinced me otherwise. Six hours on Sh2-101, the Tulip nebula. Approximately 6,000 light years distant toward the direction of constellation Cygnus and near the same patch of our galaxy where Cygnus X-1 lurks. Luminance, Red, Green, and Blue filters on a QHY 294m Pro CMOS camera through an AG Optical 12.5" imaging Dall Kirkham reflector telescope at f/6.7 for a focal length of 2031mm

08/12/2022

2023 Astronomy Adventures calendar available to order

https://www.mixbook.com/photo-calendars/all/astronomy-adventures-large-28985328?vk=dasjCvafJRIdZdqOL6F2

04/12/2022

An image from February this year while testing out a new camera. Sh2-208, the Dolphin Head nebula. About 5,000 light years distant toward the direction of constellation Canis Major. I used narrowband filters to catch the faint signal of this object. Six hours total exposure. QHY 294M-Pro CMOS camera through a Takahashi FSQ 106-EDX4 refractor telescope at 530mm for f/5

06/11/2022

OK this one was a beast to process. 5.75 hours capture on IC 63, aka The Ghost of Cassiopeia. A reflection nebula located 550 light years distant in the direction of Cassiopeia, this gaseous region is blasted by stellar winds and radiation from star Gamma Cassiopeiae just off frame to the upper right. The stream of energy shapes the gas cloud into this spooky silhouette. The red glow is from the star's ultraviolet radiation and the blue color reflects the star's light. AG Optical 12.5 IDK reflector with a QHY 294 Mono Pro camera and LRGB filters 2132mm focal length for f/6.8

05/11/2022

3 hours on the Eagle Nebula captured with narrow band Hubble palette filters. Made famous in images from the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes, the pillar-like structures and other features are sculpted by the stellar winds from stars forming in this stellar nursery. Approximately 6000 light years distant toward the direction of constellation Serpens. QHY 294m CMOS chip w/SHO filters at 2032mm focal length through a 10" Ritchey-Chretien reflecting telescope for f/8.

05/11/2022

8.5 hours on the Crab Nebula. All that remains of a supernova event visible to Earth almost 1k years ago. So bright it could be seen in the daytime sky for 3 weeks. Approximately 6500 light years distant in the direction of constellation Cancer. AG Optical 12.5 IDK reflector with a QHY 294 Mono Pro camera and LRGB filters 2132mm focal length for f/6.8

05/11/2022

6 hours capture on the Bubble Nebula using narrow band Hubble palette filters. The bubble is formed by stellar winds from a star within pushing against the gas cloud. Denser pockets of gas contain the expansion sculpting the shape we see. Approximately 11000 light years distant in the direction of constellation Cassiopeia. QHY 294m CMOS chip w/SHO filters at 2032mm focal length through a 10" Ritchey-Chretien reflecting telescope for f/8.

19/10/2022

I feel fortunate to be attending NASA Earth to Sky Academy this week at Goddard Space Flight Center.

10/10/2022

Dear friends and lovers of the night sky, after 22 years of exploring the starry deeps, we are shifting away from weekly tours and moving ahead with a different business model. I am immensely grateful and honored to have worked with the thousands of people who have joined me. If one of those people was you – Thank you! It has been a great run.

The regular booking calendar has been discontinued as I transition Astronomy Adventures to its new form. Assuming I can be available, I now offer exclusive, custom bookings for private parties, school and corporate groups. I do not offer 'join up' spots anymore. Rates begin at $400 per night plus applicable tax. Groups with more than 12 people, parties wanting more one telescope and astronomer, and locations away from my regular viewing site will have higher rates depending upon specific needs.

06/01/2022

Hi all, I have some 2022 astrophoto calendars for sale if you are interested. Below is a small sample of the images included. These are large size calendars. Dates include moon phase with traditional names for full moon, equinox and solstice, best viewing for major planets, and peak dates for meteor showers. If you have enjoyed seeing images I post, consider a calendar. They are $35.00 each shipped for continental US. DM your order and I will get one out PRONTO!

27/08/2021

Last year my pandemic project was building an observatory shed in my backyard - Starlit BYO. This year I upgraded it to be automated open and close, monitor weather for safe conditions, and perform image acquisition. Here is my first fully remote capture taken while I was 1350 miles from Santa Fe. NGC 6888, the Crescent nebula over 5000 light years distant in the direction of constellation Cygnus. 16 hours with narrowband filters Hydrogen alpha and Oxygen 3. I used a TEC 140mm refractor telescope with 20 minute subframes at 700mm for f/5

24/06/2021

Towering high over Gotham city, (well anywhere on Earth, really) a recognizable beacon calls out for the caped crusader...this portion of NGC 6995 is called the Bat Nebula. Two and a half hours capture through a Hydrogen Alpha filter on a TEC 140 refractor at f/7 for 980mm focal length.

15/06/2021

OK, back to messing with the Hydrogen Alpha narrowband filter on this object. IC 5070 about 1800 light years distant toward the direction of constellation Cygnus. 14 hours through a TEC 140 refractor at 980mm for a focal ratio of f/7

20/05/2021

Haven't posted an astroimage for a while. So, here is my most massive data set, globular cluster M3. About 33,000 light years distant in the direction of the constellation Canes Venatici. The cluster has a population of ~500,000 stars. Total of 27 hours and 20 minutes using Luminance, Red, Green, and Blue filters at 980mm through a TEC 140 refractor at f/7

27/01/2021

NGC 2359 - Thor's Helmet in Hubble palette using narrowband filters - Hydrogen Alpha, Sulfur II, and Oxygen III. This object is approximately 12,000 light years distant in the direction of constellation Canis Major. An energetic star known as a Wolf-Rayet star sculpts and ionizes surrounding molecular gas clouds. Stellar winds from the star create a bow shock causing the helmet's domed appearance as the energy pushes into the molecular gas. Ionizing radiation from the star paints different colors across the molecular clouds as elements within emit light in a variety of wavelengths. 15 hours total exposure through a 10" Ritchey-Chretien reflector telescope at f/5.75 for a focal length of 1360mm.

19/01/2021

IC443 - The Jellyfish Nebula, Hubble palette. Located approximately 5,000 light years distant in the direction of constellation Gemini, the nebula is a supernova remnant formed from a star that exploded ~30,000 years ago. Twelve hours total exposure with a TEC 140 refractor at f/7 for 980 mm focal length.

26/11/2020

IC 410 - the Tadpole nebula. Approximately 10,000 light years distant toward the direction of constellation Auriga, this area of cosmic gas and dust surrounds star cluster NGC 1893. Cluster stars formed ~4 million years ago. Sculpted by the stellar winds streaming from the cluster stars, the tadpoles are about 10 light years long. Narrowband filters were used to make this Hubble palette image with 7.5 hours total exposure. Hydrogen Alpha, Sulfur II, and Oxygen III 2.5 hours each. Imaged at 1360mm focal length through a 10" Ritchey-Chretien reflector for focal ratio f/5.35

19/11/2020

NGC 891 - Edge on to our line of sight, this galaxy ~28 million light years distant towards the direction of constellation Andromeda. Some studies indicate that size and luminosity of NGC 891 seems similar to our home galaxy, the Milky Way. Two hours each red, green, blue filters and 2.5 hours luminance at 1360mm through a 10" Ritchey-Chretien reflector for a focal ratio of f/5.35

19/11/2020

Still chasing unicorns with a capture on this object, the Cone Nebula. Approximately 2,700 light years distant in the direction of constellation Monoceros, this dark nebula is near star cluster NGC 2264. Nine hours total, 3 each through red, green, and blue filters at 1360mm through a 10" Ritchey-Chretien reflector for a focal ratio of f/5.35

11/11/2020

Star cluster NGC 2244 forms a rectangular pattern at the center of the Rosette Nebula. Approximately 5,000 light years distant toward constellation Monoceros - the unicorn, it lies at the heart of the Rosette Nebula. Stars in this cluster are ~ 5 millions years old. Hubble palette with Sulfur II mapped to red, Hydrogen alpha mapped to green, and Oxygen III mapped to blue. 90 minutes total capture through a 10" Ritchey-Chretien reflector at 1360mm focal length for f/5.35 (see if you can find the panther)

07/11/2020

Another October target - NGC 7380, the Wizard Nebula in Hubble Palette. Approximately 8,500 light years distant toward constellation Cepheus, it is a star-forming region. 7380 is technically the star cluster while the Wizard is the surrounding emission nebula. I mapped Sulfur II to red, Hydrogen Alpha to green, and Oxygen III to blue. 18 hours total capture through at 10" Ritchey-Chretien reflector at f/5.35 for 1360 mm focal length.

02/11/2020

With two full moons, October challenged my imaging skill under a bright sky. Here is one result: NGC 884 half of the famous Double Cluster. Approximately 7,500 light years distant in the direction of constellation Perseus. Peppered by red and blue supergiants, the cluster stars are about 12.8 million years old. By contrast, our Sun is over 5 billion years old. 10" Ritchey-Chretien reflector at 1360mm focal length. 1 hour each R, G, B filters for 3 hours total.

21/09/2020

Debut image from Starlit BYO - IC 5146, the Cocoon Nebula. About 2500 light years distant in the direction of constellation Cygnus. The reflection/emission nebula is a star-forming region. Misty dust can be seen in some areas as a gray/blue haze around the central feature. Thick dust reddens starlight behind it. About 9 hours total exposure on a 10" Ritchey-Chretien reflector f/8 for 2000 mm focal length.

19/09/2020

My August pandemic project - Starlit BYO (back yard observatory)

21/07/2020

Big battle with southwest monsoon for images of C/2020 F3 NEOWISE. But on Saturday, I got a brief break. Golden clouds to right from Santa Fe sky glow. Canon 60Da with custom white balance, 50mm lens at f/1.8, stacked in Sequator. Multiple ISO and exposure times.

11/07/2020

Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE in the sky near Santa Fe, NM July 9th, 2020 4:37am. 6 sec. at ISO 1600 f/6.3 Faint streak running down from top center is a meteor photobomb! Rocky bits vs. icy bits - solar system shootout!

29/05/2020

May's imaging project - M 51, The Whirlpool Galaxy. Approximately 32 million light years distant in the direction of constellation Canes Venatici. ~14 hours at 2000mm through a 10" Ritchey-Chretien telescope. LRGB with 10 minute subframes.

28/04/2020

Don't mean to be a buzzkill but, all that Moon 'smiley face' biz May 16th - check it with an online version of the free planetarium program Sellarium. Set the date in the lower right corner and see what will actually be near the Moon.

Stellarium Web is a planetarium running in your web browser. It shows a realistic star map, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.