The Ghost Nebula (Sh2-136) is a reflection nebula located in the constellation Cepheus. This object lies very close to the star cluster known as NGC 7023, and the Iris Nebula. The Ghost Nebula spans roughly 2 light-years across and appears as a yellowish-brown color in photographs. Its appearance is indeed ‘ghostly’ which is the origin…
The Perseid meteor shower, also known as the Perseids, is considered the most spectacular and most reliable meteor shower of the year with 50 to 100 meteors per hour. In 2023, the Perseid Meteor Shower coincides with the New Moon phase. This means that it will be possible to see even more meteors in the…
Have you ever wondered what the same deep-space object would look like using two very different telescopes? I thought this was a great concept for a video (see below) and a real eye-opener for those looking into upgrading their telescope for astrophotography. For this experiment, we used two high-quality refractor telescopes that were very different…
If you are interested in the hobby of astronomy, you know the key role many U.S. observatories play in advancing the space sciences and understanding our universe. From ground-breaking discoveries to monitoring near-Earth asteroids, the research being done by astronomical observatories is essential. In addition to their scientific importance, observatories make great tourist destinations, offering…
The Cherry Springs Star Party has become an increasingly popular destination for stargazers along the east coast, for good reason. Now that the word is out about the pristine skies of Cherry Springs, the event sells out quicker every year. It is held at a state park between Coudersport and Galeton in Potter County, Pennsylvania…
The Texas Star Party is held annually at Prude Ranch in the Davis Mountains during the new moon in May. The 3,500-acre ranch sits at 5,000 feet elevation and is located six miles northwest of Fort Davis, and only 12 miles (19 km) from the McDonald Observatory. It started in 1979 as a weekend event…
You have completed the research and purchased your first telescope and now you’re wondering how to use this new piece of astronomy equipment. You’re ready to look at the moon and planets up close for the first time, and can’t wait to show your friends and family the Rings of Saturn. As a beginner, you…
In this beginner-friendly image processing tutorial, we will use Adobe Photoshop to take an astrophotography image from its raw state to a finished master file for sharing. The post-processing stage of astrophotography is an exciting experience because it is when you finally get to enjoy the deep-sky object you have captured, up-close. This is a…
As an amateur astrophotographer or astronomer, there is a good chance you first started exploring the night sky in your backyard. The backyard is where I spend the most time under the stars, and my first experiences exploring the night sky with a telescope happened there. Your backyard may not be the ideal place for…
The Blue Horsehead Nebula (IC 4592) is a photogenic reflection nebula in the constellation Scorpius. In the northern hemisphere, it is a summer astrophotography target that lies close to the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex. After many years of admiring gorgeous images of this deep-sky target, I finally photographed the Blue Horsehead Nebula myself in the…
You’ve taken your first 5-minute long exposure with your new astrophotography camera. You open it in Photoshop to see what you captured and you see a black image with a few dots. Does this sound familiar? This article is for the beginners out there, who are severely underwhelmed when that first sub-exposure of a galaxy…
The Lyrids meteor shower, which peaks in late April, is one of the oldest known meteor showers. According to NASA, the Lyrids have been observed for 2,700 years, with the first recorded sighting as far back as 687 BC. What is a Meteor Shower? Meteor showers, such as the Lyrids, are leftover particles (debris and…