Chasing Shadows: Imaging LDN 1622 — The Boogeyman Nebula (and a surprise asteroid photobomb!)

I’ve been pushing myself this season to explore targets well outside my comfort zone, so when the Singularity app suggested I point my Vespera at something challenging, I went for it — a manual target of LDN 1622, also known as the Boogeyman Nebula. Unlike bright emission nebulae that glow with vivid color, dark nebulae […]

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Exploring Bode’s Galaxy and Cosmic Neighbors

Introduction Over several nights, I set out to revisit two old friends—Bode’s Galaxy (M81) and the Cigar Galaxy (M82). I’ve imaged them before, but this time I wanted to do something different. Instead of framing them alone, I expanded the mosaic field of view to include NGC 2976, NGC 2959, and NGC 2961—smaller, fainter galaxies […]

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When the Stars Align: A Cosmic Coincidence—or Something Deeper?

Last night, I photographed Napoleon’s Hat asterism and Arcturus using my Vespera telescope. The next Morning there was an old article about Arcturus in my news feed, which felt oddly connected. It’s all about noticing those cosmic coincidences, whether they’re real or just our minds seeing patterns.

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The Alien and the Saucer: M108 and M97

Sometimes, when I capture deep-sky objects, I can’t help but imagine what they might look like to someone who has never seen them before. Recently, I photographed two fascinating targets: M108 and M97. To me, they looked more like an alien and a saucer than their traditional names—the Surfboard Galaxy and the Owl Nebula. So, […]

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Navigating the Unknown: Health, Risk, and the Hidden Galaxy

I express gratitude for support during a health scare related to prostate cancer. After negative MRI results, he reflects on the journey of uncertainty, emphasizing the importance of monitoring health and trusting loved ones. Key lessons include the need for perspective, proactive health management, and maintaining a balanced mindset amid fear and anxiety.

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Staring Into The Abyss

I share my personal journey through a cancer scare, likening the MRI experience to the Rosette Nebula. Grappling with fear, they employ cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, visualization, and meditation to navigate uncertainty. By envisioning future moments with loved ones, they find grounding and hope amid anxiety. Ultimately, they emphasize the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of balancing fear with curiosity.

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Pushing the Limits: A Multi-Night Capture of NGC 147 and NGC 185

Recently, I embarked on a multi-night capture of NGC 147 and NGC 185 with my Vaonis Vespera 1 telescope. This project spanned several weeks and amounted to 24 hours of total acquisition time, with 8,760 subs (individual photos) captured over 17 nights from November to December 2024, each 10 seconds long. After reading a recent […]

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The Mystery of the Shadow on Neptune… Solved

Bret recounts a personal journey in astrophotography after mistakenly believing they captured an eclipse on Neptune with their telescope. Through initial excitement and subsequent reality checks, they learned the importance of understanding equipment limits, data analysis, and community engagement, ultimately finding value in the learning process and shared experiences.

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Exploring Neptune: A Journey Through Cloudy Skies

On December 1st, I celebrated 20 years with my wife, Stephanie, by capturing the night sky. Despite broken clouds, I experimented with imaging Neptune. I recorded over 1,000 images, revealing a potential shadow transit of one of Neptune’s moons. This experience taught me to embrace challenges and seize opportunities.

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Finding Joy in Camping: Astrophotography Adventures

Let me be honest: I’m not a fan of camping. I know some of you are probably shaking your heads, imagining the crackling campfires, the fresh air, and the freedom of the great outdoors. But for me, camping has always meant uncomfortable nights on a barely inflated air mattress, dealing with ticks, mosquitoes, and the […]

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