The latest 3.2 version of Affinity now has new Autostretch filters for astrophotography. A very quick play doesn't seem to give as much flexibility or better results than Tone Mapping, but further experiments might produce better results.

We've just got back from a relaxing holiday in Hurghada. I took a day trip out to Luxor to see some amazing ancient sites I've wanted to see since I was a child. I could even whisper into King Tut's ear. www.flickr.com/photos/eagle...

It's been an amazing couple of weeks for me. We sent people back around the Moon. How cool is that? This is my favourite image they took, which I reprocessed. Want to see more?
www.flickr.com/photos/eagle...

Congratulations to the Artemis II crew on their safe return from their amazing and successful mission. You and everyone else involved has made this 64 year old feel like an excited 7 year kid again. I'll be admiring these amazing images for hours. Onwards and upwards... 🚀 🧑‍🚀

No words from me from now on...

I'll ignore all the Rubbish AI slop currently appearing online and concentrate on the real images being released. My appropriate soundtrack for tonight will be The Song of Distant Earth. It also brings back happy memories of my first visit imaging at COAA many years ago.

Now that's what we're waiting for. 🤩

Aren't orbital mechanics beautiful? This is the path the Orion Capsule will follow when it and the Moon reach their rendezvous point.

They are approaching one another fast now. I've waited a long time for us to revisit the Moon, and it happens later today. 😍

On the left is my best image of Mare Orientale, just on the Moon's western limb. I am so in awe of the view the Orion Crew will have of this huge impact feature later today. It is a huge bullseye-shaped lunar sea as shown in the simulation on the right. Go, go Artemis II.

I've seen lots of people commenting how the colours on Earth weren't looking very strong in the Aretmeis' crews image. Upper image is unstretched, showing a very thin crescent illuminated by the Sun. Lower is the brightened image.

Another tweaked Orion Capsule image showing more of the dark interior. If you'd like to see more, showing before and after my tweaks, visit me on Flickr:
www.flickr.com/photos/eagle...

I'm just loving tweaking some of the images the Artemis crew has taken so far. If only that were me at that window. Sigh!!!

I was in the process of trying to make an Orion Tracking Web page, but finding this has saved me the trouble. 😃
bendemulder.com/oits_v1
Looks accurate.

Orion capsule. Trials and tribulations. Mind the gap!
www.star-gazing.co.uk/WebPage/the-...

That was very frustrating. Once the Orion capsule cleared the house, I managed to capture 4 subs before the sky brightened. I thought it was a dead loss, then spotted this moving on the left-hand side of my images. 😃

I'm on the prowel! The top star in the claws of Scorpius is just visible above one of the neighbours' houses, and the Orion Capsule should be towards the bottom of the claws, as shown on this map. Clouds keep coming and going, but I'll persevere.

My mount is now set up strategically in the garden to hopefully get a chance to capture the Orion capsule as it passes through this gap between the neighbours houses in the early hours. 😬 Ever the optimist. 😂

Sadly, now Artemis II is in its lunar insertion orbit, it's a lot lower down in Scorpius. It'll be tough to capture, but I've updated everything to show the latest calculated positions.
www.star-gazing.co.uk/WebPage/trac...

I've just added a script to my blog that you can download that will add the calculated Artemis II positions into Stellarium:
www.star-gazing.co.uk/WebPage/trac...

I've now added a tentative map of Artemis' path across the sky to my blog entry. If this is correct, it passes south of the bright first magnitude star Spica in Virgo 2nd - 3rd of April.
www.star-gazing.co.uk/WebPage/trac...

Artemis II will be fairly low down from the UK for spotting it, especially later in the mission. I have just added some potential sky positions, which show it'll be passing through Virgo, Libra, Scorpius and Sagittarius:
www.star-gazing.co.uk/WebPage/trac...

Are you as excited as me about the Artemis II Launch?
Did you know it may be possible to capture it from Earth during the mission?
I've gathered some information about the circumstances on my blog:
www.star-gazing.co.uk/WebPage/trac...
If it does launch and you have a go, very good luck.

Thanks Martin.

A couple of images taken last night.
If you would like to see more of my images, please visit my Flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/eagle...

Try Tone Mapping to bring out the proms, without blowing out the Chromosphere.

Close-up view of the Trapezium area in Messier 42, the Great Orion Nebula. Image taken 2nd March 2026.

As the nights get shorter and spring approaches, I have created a discount code for my books.
Please use the code "Spring" to apply a £2:50 discount on any order from my secure online store.
www.star-gazing.co.uk/shop
This will be active until BST starts on the 29th of March.