The Sunflower Galaxy
My latest picture from the backyard is the ancient light from the Sunflower Galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici.
I used my 6-inch refractor telescope without a filter. I collected exactly 5 hours of this object in natural light to reveal the structure.
The DWARF mini is an incredible smart telescope for the money.
The app is smooth and intuitive, and the images it takes are seriously impressive considering its size:
astrobackyard.com/dwarf-mini/
The Medusa Nebula
Here is my latest picture of 'The Medusa Nebula', a large planetary nebula in the constellation Gemini. 🔭
#astrophotography
Galaxy Season is underway!
These are my top astrophotography targets for March-May, with example photos and tips for each one!
astrobackyard.com/8-deep-sky-t...
See those 4 tiny stars right in the middle?
That's the 'Trapezium Cluster' at the heart of the Orion Nebula.
I used several short exposures (5-seconds) to preserve Orion’s luminous core.
I thought it would be cool to capture a shot like this as a nice 'send off' to Orion for another year. 👋
The Shrimp Nebula
The 'Shrimp Nebula' 🍤
Here is a neat little planetary nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia that you can try this year.
This object is catalogued as Sharpless 188 (Sh2-188), and is relatively small compared to other nebulae in Cassiopeia!
(13 Hours Total Exposure)
#astrophotography
The Tadpoles of IC 410
Here is my latest picture from the backyard using a portable deep-sky telescope setup: The Tadpoles of IC 410!
This is a great winter astrophotography target you can capture this month, as Auriga is still nice and high in the sky.
100 x 4-minutes (6.5 Hours Total) #astrophotography
The Cocoon Nebula
My latest photo from the backyard is the dynamic Cocoon Nebula in the constellation Cygnus.
This was taken back in the fall, when the skies were clear - but I finally processed the data today!
#astrophotography
The Witch Head Nebula
The Witch Head Nebula! 🌌
This is my latest photo of the haunting Witch Head Nebula, captured through a small telescope under dark skies.
It's a reflection nebula that glows primarily by reflecting the light of the nearby bright star Rigel in Orion (you can't miss it!)
#astrophotography
The Seagull Nebula 🌌
Here is a spectacular astrophotography target to try with your wide-field refractor this winter.
I took this one using a super portable (quickly set up and run back inside) on a freezing cold night in February.
#astrophotography
Here is my first attempt using a stock DSLR camera back in 2024! 😊
Thanks! The unit runs warm (even in the cold) - I haven't had any issues with dew yet!
The Rosette Nebula
The Rosette Nebula 🌌
Here's an astrophotography target that delivers the 'Wow Factor' every time - the dynamic 'Rosette Nebula' in the constellation Monoceros.
Unlike some of the dimmer nebulae, this one is bright enough to capture with almost ANY camera 😊
#astrophotography
2 months of deep-sky imaging with the DWARF mini smart telescope!
To capture images of this quality with a telescope/camera of this size is truly remarkable
youtu.be/MmlSS48Ywpg?...
#astrophotography
The Boogeyman Nebula
The Boogeyman Nebula 🌌
Here's a fun astrophotography target to try with your telescope this season - but be warned, this one takes TIME!
LDN 1622 is a dark nebula in the constellation Orion that resembles 'a dark figure with a head and arms' (I kinda see it!)
This is 10 hours!
#astrophotography
The Orion Nebula 😳
I took this picture using my biggest refractor telescope, revealing the intricate details within the 'stellar nursery' known as M42.
For everything you need to know about Orion and why it's so special, check out my latest guide: astrobackyard.com/orions-belt/
Triangulum Galaxy
The Triangulum Galaxy 🌌
I took over 500 images of M33 using the Seestar S50 under dark skies to create this image.
After reviewing many smart telescopes, I still consider the S50 the standard that new models are measured against.
See my full review: astrobackyard.com/seestar-s50-...
astronomy and stargazing apps
My Must-Have Astronomy Apps 🧐
I have about 15 stargazing apps on my phone (seriously), but I only use about 3 of them daily.
I bet you'll find a good one you don't have yet: astrobackyard.com/astronomy-ap...
#astronomy
Thank you, Michael! Clear skies
broadband vs. dual-narrowband
Do You Use Dual-Narrowband Filters? 🤔
If you use a color camera in the city like I do, you know how valuable the right filter is for your astrophotography.
Everything You Need to Know: astrobackyard.com/dual-narrowb...
#astrophotography
The Horsehead and Flame Nebulas
The Horsehead and Flame Nebulas 🔥
I tracked this dramatic area in 'Orion's Belt' for nearly 8 hours to capture the light for this photo.
For a deep-dive on the telescopes I use for photos like this (including this one), check out my updated guide: astrobackyard.com/best-astroph...
Have you captured the Andromeda Galaxy yet? 🤔
Here is a complete breakdown of how I took my best-ever photo of this spiral galaxy, including the location, gear used, and my image-processing steps.
astrobackyard.com/best-androme...
The Andromeda Galaxy
The Andromeda Galaxy 💫
Last week, I captured the awe-inspiring galaxy M31 with my travel telescope under dark skies.
At 2.5 million light-years away, Andromeda is the most distant object visible without a telescope.
This is 7.5 hours of total exposure!
Comet Lemmon
I drove 2 hours to capture Comet Lemmon under dark skies! It was worth it!
#comet
#cometlemmon
astrobackyard.com/telescope-au...
Who knew that the easiest upgrade to my telescope would make the biggest difference? I see the light now! 😆
Installation notes, key automation improvements, and what a v-curve is actually showing:
The Wizard Nebula
The Wizard Nebula 📸
My latest picture from the backyard is the dynamic Wizard Nebula in Cepheus. This is definitely one of my favorite images to date!
This project includes 18 hours of total exposure time using a reflector telescope with a large 8-inch aperture.
#astrophotography
The Andromeda Galaxy
The Andromeda Galaxy 📸
This is how the Andromeda Galaxy looked 2.5 million years ago... I wonder what it looks like now?
I took this image from our campsite in the Summer of 2022. My telescope tracked the galaxy for 2 nights straight, and I combined all of the images into this:
Dumbbell Nebula
This is one of the easiest nebulae to see and photograph in the night sky. It can easily be seen with a modest telescope or even binoculars.
My latest picture of the Dumbbell Nebula was taken using a Newtonian reflector telescope that pairs well with the cameras I use for astrophotography.
Telescope Review by AstroBackyard
My latest video reviews the Apertura CarbonStar 200 Newtonian Reflector - an astrophotography-first telescope that delivers the goods!
Watch: youtu.be/2VhBkrHeRVA
Thank you!