Gallery:

"If a little kid ever asks you just why the sky is blue, you look [them] right in the eye and say, 'It's because of quantum effects involving Rayleigh scattering combined with a lack of violet photon receptors in our retinae.'"

—Phil Plait

For those who missed the memo, what follows is gallery of astrophotos taken by yours truly. They are sorted by type, with each type sorted roughly in reverse chronological order. Each photo is accompanied by a date, the subject's ID, and the instruments/processes used in each, at least in those instances where I had the presence of mind to record them.

Planetary Images:

Jupiter, September 12th, 2020. Shot with QHY 5L-IIM in video, LRGB filtered; shot through Orion 6" f/8 Newtonian w/ Celestron 2x Barlow; Meade LX-85 mount; processed in PIPP, AutoStakkert! 2, Registax 6, Topaz AI Denoise, and GIMP.

Mars, July 30th, 2020. Shot with QHY 5L-IIM in video, LRGB filtered; shot through Orion 6" f/8 Newtonian w/ Celestron 2x Barlow; Meade LX-85 mount; processed in PIPP, AutoStakkert! 2, Registax 6, Topaz AI Denoise, and GIMP.

Saturn, July 1st, 2020. Taken with QHY 5L-IIM in video, LRGB filtered; shot through Orion 6" f/8 Newtonian w/ Celestron 2x Barlow; Meade LX-85 mount; processed in PIPP, AutoStakkert! 2, Registax 6, Topaz AI Denoise, and GIMP.

Jupiter, July 6th, 2020. Saturn, July 1st, 2020. Taken with QHY 5L-IIM in video, LRGB filtered; shot through Orion 6" f/8 Newtonian w/ Celestron 2x Barlow; Meade LX-85 mount; processed in PIPP, AutoStakkert! 2, Registax 6, Topaz AI Denoise, and GIMP.

Jupiter, Io, and Europa, June 13th, 2020

Saturn and moons (descending order of mass) Titan, Rhea, Dione, Tethys, June 13th, 2020. Taken with QHY 5L-IIM in video, LRGB filtered; shot through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian w/ Celestron 2x Barlow; processed in PIPP, AutoStakkert! 2, Registax 6, Topaz AI Denoise, and GIMP.

Jupiter, Io, and Europa (the moons occupy the same spot; one casts the shadow, right side, which could be mistaken for the 'eye'), June 13th, 2020. Taken with QHY 5L-IIM in video, LRGB filtered; shot through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian w/ Celestron 2x Barlow; processed in PIPP, AutoStakkert! 2, Registax 6, Topaz AI Denoise, and GIMP.

Jupiter and Galilean moons, June 8th, 2020. Taken with QHY 5L-IIM in video, LRGB filtered; shot through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian w/ Celestron 2x Barlow; processed in PIPP, AutoStakkert! 2, Registax 6, Topaz AI Denoise, and GIMP.

Jupiter and Galilean moons, May 19th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i in video, ISO 800, Daylight WB; shot through Orion 6" f/8 Dobsonian w/ Celestron 2x Barlow; processed in PIPP, AutoStakkert! 2, Registax 6, Topaz AI Denoise, and GIMP.

Venus, April 26th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i in video, settings unrecorded; shot through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian at prime focus; Meade LX85 mount; processed in PIPP, AutoStakkert 2, and GIMP.

Saturn, November 1st, 2019. Taken with a Nikon D90 in video, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian with Celestron variable zoom eyepiece at 16mm in VariMax Pro-Series 1.25″ adaptor; processed in PIPP, AutoStakkert 2, Registax 6, Topaz Denoise AI,and GIMP.

Jupiter and Galilean moons, Nov. 1st, 2019. Taken with a Nikon D90 in video, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian with Celestron variable zoom eyepiece at 16mm in VariMax Pro-Series 1.25″ adaptor; processed in PIPP, AutoStakkert 2, Registax 6, and GIMP.

Jupiter, October 22nd, 2019. Taken with a Canon Rebel XT, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian with w/ 25mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece/Celestron 2X Barlow lens in VariMax Pro-Series 1.25″ adaptor; processed in Registax 6 and GIMP.

Saturn, October 22nd, 2019. Taken with a Canon Rebel XT, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian with w/ 25mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece/Celestron 2X Barlow lens in VariMax Pro-Series 1.25″ adaptor; (aggressively) processed in Registax 6 and GIMP.

Jupiter, October 14th, 2019. Taken with a Canon Rebel XT, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian with w/ 25mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece/Celestron 2X Barlow lens in VariMax Pro-Series 1.25″ adaptor; processed in Registax 6 and GIMP.

Saturn, October 14th, 2019. Taken with a Canon Rebel XT, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian with w/ 25mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece/Celestron 2X Barlow lens in VariMax Pro-Series 1.25″ adaptor; processed in Registax 6 and GIMP (accidentally applied Grayscale color space).

Jupiter and Ganymede, September 28th, 2019. Taken with a Canon Rebel XT, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian with w/ 25mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece/Celestron 2X Barlow lens in VariMax Pro-Series 1.25″ adaptor; processed in Registax 6 and GIMP.

Jupiter Io, and Ganymede, September 20th, 2019. Taken with a Canon Rebel XT, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian with w/ 25mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece/Celestron 2X Barlow lens in VariMax Pro-Series 1.25″ adaptor; processed in Registax 6 and GIMP.

Saturn, September 19th, 2019. Taken with a Canon Rebel XT, noted as a nonstacked single exposure; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian with w/ 25mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece/Celestron 2X Barlow lens in VariMax Pro-Series 1.25″ adaptor; processed in GIMP.

Jupiter and all Galilean moons, September 19th, 2019

Jupiter, September 19th, 2019. Taken with a Canon Rebel XT; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian with w/ 25mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece/Celestron 2X Barlow lens in VariMax Pro-Series 1.25″ adaptor; processed in Registax 6 and GIMP.

Jupiter and three Galilean moons, late Summer, 2019. Taken with a Canon Rebel XT, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian, oculars unknown; processed in Registax 6 and GIMP.

Saturn, mid Summer, 2019. Taken with a remarkably effective $15 eyepiece-webcam and a Macbook, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian at prime focus; processed in GIMP.

Jupiter with Europa, Io, and Ganymede, mid Summer, 2019. Taken with a remarkably effective $15 eyepiece-webcam and a Macbook, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian at prime focus; processed in GIMP.

Jupiter and the Galilean moons, early Summer, 2019. This was my humble beginning: the first astrophoto I ever took. Taken by holding an Android phone camera up to the 25mm eyepiece of the Orion XT6 Dob. No processing done.

Lunar Images:

Nota Bene: This category is a special case. Given the relative ease of Lunar photography, I would take many of these at a time and didn't value them enough to date or catalogue them. Some have been graphically labelled in GIMP, but in my naivete of last Summer these just felt like dime-a-dozen consolation prizes for when turbulent seeing, cloud cover, or the time of night prevented planetary work (I had not yet begun deep-sky AP). As such, they haven't been given captions like the rest. All were taken through the Orion XT6 Dobsonian, and through each of the aforementioned cameras except the Canon T6i (for now).

Deep-Sky Images:

For the uninitiated, "Deep-Sky" Objects (DSOs for short) entail any celestial bodies and structures beyond our solar system, up to and including stars, star-clusters, galaxies, nebulae, and the like.

"IC 5070, 'The Pelican Nebula', June 28th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~01:28:00 minutes total integration, 44x00:02:00m subframes; Offset-15 ; Gain-2000 ; Calibration-11 dark/77 flat/60 dark-flat frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian/Optolong UHC filter; on Meade LX-85 mount w/ QHY 5LII-M Autoguider thru ZWO 130mm f/4; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

"NGC 6914, June 25th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~01:08:00 minutes total integration, 34x00:02:00m subframes; Offset-15 ; Gain-2000 ; Calibration-6 dark/52 flat/50 dark-flat frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian/Optolong UHC filter; on Meade LX-85 mount w/ QHY 5LII-M Autoguider thru ZWO 130mm f/4; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

"NGC 7380, 'The Wizard Nebula', June 24th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~01:12:00 minutes total integration, 36x00:02:00m subframes; Offset-15 ; Gain-2000 ; Calibration-7 dark/60 flat/60 dark-flat frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian/Optolong UHC filter; on Meade LX-85 mount w/ QHY 5LII-M Autoguider thru ZWO 130mm f/4; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

"NGC 7023, 'The Iris Nebula', June 24th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~00:26:00 minutes total integration, 13x00:02:00m subframes; Offset-15 ; Gain-2000 ; Calibration-7 dark/60 flat/60 dark-flat frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian/Optolong UHC filter; on Meade LX-85 mount w/ QHY 5LII-M Autoguider thru ZWO 130mm f/4; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

"NGC 6888, 'The Crescent Nebula', June 18th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~00:56:00 minutes total integration, 28x00:02:00m subframes; Offset-15 ; Gain-2000 ; Calibration-8 dark/55 flat/61 dark-flat frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian/Optolong UHC filter, on Meade LX-85 mount w/ QHY 5LII-M Autoguider thru ZWO 130mm f/4; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

"NGC 7000, 'The Cygnus Wall', June 16th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~00:42:00 minutes total integration, 21x00:02:00m subframes; Offset-15 ; Gain-2000 ; Calibration-6 dark/61 flat/51 dark-flat frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian/Optolong UHC filter; on Meade LX-85 mount w/ QHY 5LII-M Autoguider thru ZWO 130mm f/4; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

"Messier 16, 'The Eagle Nebula', June 16th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~00:20:00 minutes total integration, 10x00:02:00m subframes; Offset-15 ; Gain-2000 ; Calibration-6 dark/61 flat/51 dark-flat frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian/Optolong UHC filter; on Meade LX-85 mount w/ QHY 5LII-M Autoguider thru ZWO 130mm f/4; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

"The Milky Way, June 6th, 2021. Taken in CR2/RAW with Canon T6i @ ~00:40:00 minutes total integration, 20x00:02:00m subframes; settings unrecorded; through Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens on Omegon LX2 Tracker; processed in DeepSkyStacker, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

"Messier 101, 'The Pinwheel Galaxy', June 6th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~00:38:00 minutes total integration, 19x00:02:00m subframes; Offset-15 ; Gain-2000 ; Calibration-12 dark/76 flat/69 dark-flat frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Meade LX-85 mount w/ QHY 5LII-M Autoguider thru ZWO 130mm f/4; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

"IC 5067, 'The Pelican Nebula', June 5th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~00:46:00 minutes total integration, 23x00:02:00m subframes; Offset-15 ; Gain-2000 ; Calibration-12 dark/76 flat/69 dark-flat frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Meade LX-85 mount w/ QHY 5LII-M Autoguider thru ZWO 130mm f/4; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

"IC 1318 A, June 5th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~00:36:00 minutes total integration, 18x00:02:00m subframes; Offset-15 ; Gain-2000 ; Calibration-12 dark/76 flat/69 dark-flat frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Meade LX-85 mount w/ QHY 5LII-M Autoguider thru ZWO 130mm f/4; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

"IC 1396 A, 'The Elephant's Trunk', June 5th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~00:40:00 minutes total integration, 20x00:02:00m subframes; Offset-15 ; Gain-2000 ; Calibration-12 dark/76 flat/69 dark-flat frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Meade LX-85 mount w/ QHY 5LII-M Autoguider thru ZWO 130mm f/4; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

"IC 1318 B, 'The Inchworm', June 4th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~00:44:00 minutes total integration, 22x00:02:00m subframes; Offset-15 ; Gain-2000 ; Calibration-6 dark/60 flat/60 dark-flat frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Meade LX-85 mount w/ QHY 5LII-M Autoguider thru ZWO 130mm f/4; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

"Messier 13, 'The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, June 1st, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~01:30:00 minutes total integration, 45x00:02:00m subframes; Offset-06 ; Gain-1700 ; Calibration-6 dark/100 flat/80 dark-flat frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Meade LX-85 mount w/ QHY 5LII-M Autoguider thru ZWO 130mm f/4; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

"Messier 51 'The Whirlpool Galaxy', May 20th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~01:08:00 minutes total integration, 34x00:02:00m subframes; Offset-24 ; Gain-2400 ; Calibration-6 dark/96 flat/80 dark-flat frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Meade LX-85 mount w/ QHY 5LII-M Autoguider thru ZWO 130mm f/4; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

NGC 5907, The Splinter Galaxy, May 19th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~01:16:00 minutes total integration, 38x00:02:00m subframes; Offset: 24; Gain:2400; cooled to -15ºC/ Calibration- 9 dark, 139 flat, 101 dark-flat; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP

NGC 4239, May 17th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c; settings unrecorded; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

Unlabeled galaxy, May 16th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c; settings unrecorded; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

Messier 90, May 15th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~60:00 minutes total exposure, 20x00:03:00m: Offset: 24; Gain:2400; cooled to -15ºC; 8 dark/108 flat/134 dark-flat calibration frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

NGC 4631 and NGC 4656 'The Whale and Hockey Stick', May 13th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~01:06:00 minutes total exposure, 33x00:02:00m; Offset: 24; Gain:2100; cooled to -15ºC; 8 dark/100 flat/124 dark-flat; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

Galaxies in Coma Berenices, May 8th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~01:04:00 minutes total exposure: 32x00:02:00m; Offset: 24; Gain: 2300; cooled to -15ºC; 5 dark/60 flat/74 dark-flat; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

NGC 7023, 'The Iris Nebula' January 11th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~52:00 minutes total exposure: 26x02:00m; Bias: 24; Gain:2400; cooled to -20ºC; 12 dark/85 flat/34 dark-flat calibration frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

Messier 63, 'The Sunflower Galaxy' April 22nd, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~01:12:00 minutes total exposure: 36x02:00m; Bias: 24; Gain:2300; cooled to -20ºC; 10 dark/102 flat/150 dark-flat calibration frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

A field in the Virgo Cluster, April 20th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~01:08:00 minutes total exposure: 34x02:00m; Bias: 24; Gain:2400; cooled to -20ºC; 5 dark/96 flat/93 dark-flat calibration frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

Messier 101, 'The Pinwheel Galaxy', April 16th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~00:30:00 minutes total exposure: 15x02:00m; Bias: 24; Gain:2400; cooled to -15ºC; 8 dark/86 flat/120 dark-flat calibration frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

Messier 108, 'the Surfboard Galaxy', April 14th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~00:56:00 minutes total exposure: 28x00:02:00m; Bias: 24; Gain:2400; cooled to -15ºC; 8 dark/120 flat/120 dark-flat calibration frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

Messier 90 galaxy, April 8th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~00:42:00 minutes total exposure: 21x00:02:00m; Bias: 24; Gain:2500; cooled to -15ºC; 12 dark/150 flat/150 bias calibration frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

NGC 2841, March 29th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c, settings unrecorded; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

Messier 94, March 27th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c, settings unrecorded; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

NGC 4216, 4222, and 4206, March 22nd, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c, settings unrecorded; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

Messier 105 and other galaxies, March 20th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c, settings unrecorded; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

Messier 64 'The Black Eye' AKA 'The Sleeping Beauty' AKA 'The Evil Eye' Galaxy, March 10th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c, settings unrecorded; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

Messier 81, 'Bode's Galaxy', March 3rd, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c@ ~00:22:00 minutes total exposure: 11x00:02:00m; Bias: 24; Gain:2600; cooled to -15ºC; 12 dark/150 flat/150 dark-flat/150 bias calibration frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

Messier 97, 'The Owl Nebula', March 2nd, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c@ ~00:40:00 minutes total exposure: 20 x 00:02:00m; Bias: 24; Gain:2600; cooled to -15ºC; 12 dark/150 flat/150 dark-flat/150 bias calibration frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian w/ 2" Optolong UHC filter, on Meade LX-85 mount; QHY 5L-IIM thru ZWO 130mm x f/4 guidescope; captured w/ SharpCap Pro, APT, PHD2, and ASCOM Device Hub; processed w/ DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

IC 405 'The Flaming Star nebula', February 25th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~00:26:00 minutes total integration, 13x00:02:00m subframes; Offset: 24; Gain:2600; Binning 1x1; 12 dark/52 flat/150 bias frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian w/ 2" Optolong UHC filter, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

Messier 96 and Messier 95, February 16th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~19:00 minutes total integration, 19x00:01:00m subframes; Offset: 24; Gain:2600; Binning 1x1; 11 dark/150 flat/54 dark-flat/150 bias frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

NGC 2419 'The Intergalactic Wanderer', February 7th, 2021.. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~44:00 minutes total integration, 22x00:02:00m subframes; Offset: 24; Gain:2500; Binning 1x1; 6 dark/150 flat/150 dark-flat/150 bias frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

NGC 2683 'The UFO Galaxy', February 5th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~46:00 minutes total exposure, 23x00:02:00m: Offset: 24; Gain:3000; Binning 1x1; 12 dark/150 flat/150 dark-flat/150 bias frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

IC 417 "The Spider", January 30th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~38:00 minutes total exposure, 16x00:02:00m; Offset: 24; Gain:3000; Binning 1x1; 6 dark/150 flat/80 bias frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian and Optolong UHC filter, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

IC 410 "The Tadpoles", January 16th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~48:00 minutes total exposure: 24x02:00m; Bias: 24; Gain:1600; Binning 1x1; 5 dark/15 flat/25 bias frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian and Optolong UHC filter, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

NGC 2903, January 11th, 2021. Taken in FITS with QHY 294c @ ~8:00 minutes total exposure: 4x02:00m; Bias: 24; Gain:1600; Binning 1x1; 10 dark/20 flat/25 bias frames; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Raw Therapee, and GIMP.

M45, 'The Pleiades', December 8th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~32:00 minutes total exposure: 16x02:00m, ISO 800, 25 dark/200 flat/250 bias frames; Daylight WB; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian with Optolong UHC filter, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, and GIMP.

M42, 'The Great Orion Nebula', August 26th, 2020.

M42, 'The Great Orion Nebula', December 7th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~20:00 minutes total exposure: 40x00:30s, ISO 800, 25 dark/200 flat/250 bias frames; Daylight WB; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian with Optolong UHC filter, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, and GIMP.

M31 'The Andromeda Galaxy', September 22nd, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~0:40:00 minutes integrated: 20x02:00m, ISO 400, 20 dark/216 flat/245 bias frames; Daylight WB; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, and GIMP.

'Stephan's Quintet' and NGC 7331, September 20th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~1:00:00 minutes integrated: 30x02:00m, ISO 400, 24 dark/205 flat/230 bias frames; Daylight WB; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, and GIMP.

NGC 7380 'The Wizard Nebula', September 19th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~1:00:00 minutes integrated: 30x02:00m, ISO 400, 26 dark/232 flat/228 bias frames; Daylight WB; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian with Optolong UHC filter, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, and GIMP.

NGC 7635 'The Bubble Nebula', September 19th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~1:00:00 minutes integrated: 30x02:00m, ISO 400, 25 dark/220 flat/250 bias frames; Dayligt WB; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian with Optolong UHC filter, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, and GIMP.

NGC 6995 'The Eastern Veil Nebula', August 10th, 2020.

NGC 6995 'The Eastern Veil Nebula', September 7th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~1:00:00 minutes integrated: 30x02:00m, ISO 400, 25 dark/195 flat/250 bias frames; Daylight WB; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian with Optolong UHC filter, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, and GIMP.

NGC 6888 'The Crescent Nebula', August 30th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~1:02:00 minutes integrated: 31x02:00m, ISO 400, 27 dark/210 flat/227 bias frames; Daylight WB; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, and GIMP.

Star field in Cygnus, August 26th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~56:00 minutes total exposure: 26x02:00m, ISO 800, 25 dark/200 flat/250 bias frames; Daylight WB; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian with Optolong UHC filter, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, and GIMP.

NGC 6939 and NGC 6946 'The Fireworks Galaxy', August 12th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~50:00 minutes total exposure: 25x02:00m, ISO 800, 25 dark/200 flat/250 bias frames; Daylight WB; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, and GIMP.

NGC 6960 'The Veil Nebula', August 10th, 2020.

NGC 6960 'The Veil Nebula' (Monochrome), August 10th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~56:00 minutes total exposure: 26x02:00m, ISO 800, 25 dark/196 flat/250 bias frames; Auto WB; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian with Optolong UHC filter, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, and GIMP.

Messier 27 'The Dumbbell Nebula', July 27th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~38:00 minutes total exposure: 19x2:00m, ISO 800, 25 dark/215 flat/289 bias frames; Daylight WB; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian with Optolong UHC filter, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI Denoise, and GIMP.

Messier 17 'The Swan Nebula', July 19th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~38:00 minutes total exposure: 19x2:00m, ISO 800, 25 dark/215 flat/250 bias frames; Daylight WB; prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian with Optolong UHC filter, on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI Denoise, and GIMP.

Messier 16, 'The Eagle Nebula', July 15th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~1:02:00 hour of total exposure: 31x2:00mxISO 800, Daylight WB; shot @ prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI Denoise, and GIMP.

NGC 6823, July 12th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~30:00 minutes total exposure: 30x1:00mxISO 800, Daylight WB; shot @ prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI Denoise, and GIMP.

Messier 20, 'the Trifid Nebula', June 27th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i @ ~46:00 minutes total exposure: 34x1:00mxISO 800, 4x1:30mxISO 400, 8x45sxISO 800, Daylight WB; shot @ prime focus through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Meade LX-85 mount; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, Topaz AI Denoise, and GIMP.

M102 'The Spindle Galaxy, June 8th 2020. Taken w/ Canon T6i @ ~56:25 min. integration 75x45sec @800ISO, Sunlight WB; 26 Dark, 174 Flat, 227 Bias; Apertura 6" f/5 Newt @ prime focus, Meade LX-85 mount; QHY5L-II-M autoguider with ZWO 120x30mm guidescope; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, GIMP, and Topaz AI.

The Draco Group/Trio and other galaxies, May 13th-14th, 2020. Taken w/ Canon T6i @ ~48:50 min. integration 1x30sec @1600ISO, 1x80sec @400ISO, 13x60sec @400ISO, 20x90sec @200ISO, 2x120sec @100ISO, Sunlight WB; 26 Dark, 139 Flat, 215 Bias; Apertura 6" f/5 Newt @ prime focus, Meade LX-85 mount; QHY5L-II-M autoguider with ZWO 120x30mm guidescope; processed in DeepSkyStacker, PixInsight, GIMP, and Topaz AI.

Messier 104/'The Sombrero Galaxy', April 12th, 2020. Taken with a Canon T6i @ ~45 sec integration time, single exposure, no calibration frames, ISO 1600, Sunlight WB; shot through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian OTA @ prime focus, Meade LX-85 mount; post-processed in GIMP and Topaz Denoise AI.

Messier 101/'The Pinwheel Galaxy', April 2nd, 2020. Taken with a Canon T6i @ ~15:45 minutes integration time, 21x45s exposures, ISO 1600, Sunlight WB; shot through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian OTA @ prime focus, Meade LX-85 mount; post-processed in DeepSkyStacker, GIMP, and PixInsight.

NGC 2905, March 29th, 2020. Taken with a Canon T6i @ ~32:30 minutes integration time, 61x32sec exposures + 142 bias frames, 23 dark frames, 91 flat frames, ISO 1600, Sunlight WB; shot through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian OTA @ prime focus, Meade LX-85 mount; post-processed in DeepSkyStacker, GIMP, and PixInsight.

Messier 106, March 16th, 2020. Taken with a Canon T6i @ single exposure, unrecorded time/settings, Sunlight WB; shot through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian OTA @ prime focus, Meade LX-85 mount; post-processed in DeepSkyStacker, GIMP, PixInsight, and Topaz Denoise AI.

The Leo Triplet: Messier 65/Messier 66, NGC 3628, March 29th, 2020. Taken with a Canon T6i @ ~single 35 second exposure, ISO 1600, Sunlight WB; shot through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian OTA @ prime focus, Meade LX-85 mount; post-processed in GIMP, and PixInsight, and Topaz Denoise AI.

Bode's Galaxy/M81 and the Cigar Galaxy/M82, February 23rd, 2020. Taken with a Canon T6i, integration time unrecorded, ISO 1600, Sunlight WB; shot through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian OTA @ prime focus, Meade LX-85 mount; post-processed in GIMP, PixInsight, and Topaz Denoise AI.

The Crab Nebula/M1, December 12th, 2019. Taken with a Canon T6i @ ~12:00 minutes total integration time, 24 30sec exposures, 25 dark frames, 45 flat frames, 155 bias frames, ISO 1600, Sunlight WB; shot through Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian OTA @ prime focus, Meade LX-85 mount; post-processed in GIMP, PixInsight, and Topaz Denoise AI.

Core of the Great Orion Nebula/M42, November 12th, 2019. Taken with a Canon T6i, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion 6" f/8 Newtonian OTA @ prime focus w/ Celestron 2x Barlow, Meade LX-85 mount; post-processed in DeepSkyStacker, GIMP, PixInsight, and Topaz Denoise AI.

Pleiades/M45. Taken with a Canon T6i, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion 6" f/8 Newtonian OTA @ prime focus w/ Celestron 2x Barlow, Meade LX-85 mount; post-processed in DeepSkyStacker, GIMP, PixInsight, and Topaz Denoise AI.

Orion Nebula/M42 and Running Man Nebula/NGC 1975, October 25th, 2019. Taken with a Nikon D90 @ ~45 min total integration time, no other settings recorded; shot through Nikkor AF 70-300mm telephoto lens, Omegon LX2 mount; post-processed in DeepSkyStacker, GIMP, and Topaz Denoise AI.

A small collage of my earliest deep-sky photos. Taken with a Canon Rebel XT and a Nikon D90, and either untracked or tracked using the simple, mechanical Omegon LX2. Processed in DeepSkyStacker and GIMP.

Other Solar System Object Images:

This section only includes a handful of photos of the International Space Station for now, but is intended to eventually include other Earth satellites, comets, asteroids, the sun, and space-related weather.

Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE, July 12th, 2020. Taken with Canon T6i, single exposure, settings unrecorded.

The International Space Station, April 4th, 2020

Images of the I.S.S. during a transit, April 4th, 2020. Taken with a Canon T6i in video, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian with w/ 25mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece/Celestron 2X Barlow lens in VariMax Pro-Series 1.25″ adaptor; processed in PIPP and GIMP.

The International Space Station, September 22nd, 2019

Images of the I.S.S. during a transit, September 22nd, 2019. Taken with a Canon Rebel XT, settings unrecorded; shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian with w/ 25mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece/Celestron 2X Barlow lens in VariMax Pro-Series 1.25″ adaptor; processed in RawTherapee and GIMP.

The International Space Station, mid-September, 2019.

I.S.S. mid-September. Taken with a Canon Rebel XT, settings unrecorded (overlong exposure); shot through Orion Skyquest XT6 6” f/8 Dobsonian with w/ 25mm Sirius Plössl eyepiece/Celestron 2X Barlow lens in VariMax Pro-Series 1.25″ adaptor; processed in RawTherapee and GIMP.