Welcome to my world, here you will find a little of everything, live camera, video content, pictures and maybe random ramblings from me. A lot of images and videos I post may not be totally accurate with names and spellings so if you see a mistake I always am grateful for the help. Always glad to hear from people who stop by. I hope you enjoy the visit.
I am going to house all of astrophotography images here. I am going to bulk upload them for now and as new ones are added I will put in details for them all. The gallery below we will call 2024 and once the new year begins I will start creating them by month. I hope you enjoy.
Videos
I have decided to move all the videos regardless of how I took them. So from the Geekpro the GoPro, software, my phone, or whatever I happen to use, they will be on Youtube.
With much fanfare (sing it with me doot tah dah doo!!”
2025 Images (these even have descriptions)
February
Behold, the magnificent M81! ✨
This image is the culmination of 8 hours and 7 minutes of total exposure, painstakingly captured in 30-second intervals. Despite some challenges with inscope stacking due to my telescope's movement, I managed to process the data with Siril and Pixinsight to reveal the intricate details of this grand spiral galaxy.
The vibrant colors and delicate dust lanes showcase the beauty and complexity of M81, a testament to the wonders of our universe. 🌌
Behold the Iconic Horsehead Nebula!
Captured from my backyard in Bolivar, Missouri, this image brings to light the breathtaking Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) in remarkable detail, all thanks to the capabilities of my Dwarf 3 smart telescope.
Resembling a dark silhouette of a knight's chess piece, the Horsehead Nebula is a dark nebula, a fascinating cloud of cosmic dust that obscures the radiant light from stars situated behind it. It resides within the vast Orion Molecular Cloud complex, at a distance of approximately 1,500 light-years in the constellation Orion. The beautiful reddish glow that illuminates the area around the Horsehead originates from ionized hydrogen gas, part of the emission nebula known as IC 434. This gas is energized by the intense radiation from the nearby bright star, Sigma Orionis.
These nebulae are known as stellar nurseries, regions in space where new stars are actively being born. Dark dust clouds like the Horsehead are dense concentrations of gas and dust that, under the force of gravity, collapse and give rise to new stars.
It's truly awe-inspiring to realize that this stunning cosmic vista, unfolding thousands of light-years away, has been captured with a compact smart telescope right from my backyard. Wishing you clear skies and happy observing!
Behold, the majestic Snow Moon! 🌕 Captured its serene beauty through my @Seestar S50. Known as the Snow Moon because February's full moon often coincides with heavy snowfall, it truly lives up to its name. Those crisp craters and lunar details are simply breathtaking.
Serene Majesty: Unveiling the Moon's Delicate Glow
Tonight, I had the pleasure of capturing this serene image of the moon using my Seestar S50 telescope. The subtle textures and gentle glow always leave me in awe. To bring out the finer details and correct the colors, I used PixInsight for post-processing.
It's remarkable how much detail you can capture with the right equipment and a little patience. The Seestar S50 continues to impress me with its capabilities, and PixInsight is an indispensable tool for bringing these celestial captures to life.
I hope you enjoy this glimpse of our moon's quiet majesty as much as I enjoyed capturing it.
Pleiades (m42)
This image showcases the Pleiades star cluster, a prominent open cluster located in the constellation Taurus. The cluster is dominated by hot, blue B-type stars, which are responsible for the distinctive blue color of the surrounding nebulosity. This nebulosity is a reflection nebula, meaning that it is caused by starlight scattering off dust grains in the interstellar medium. The Pleiades cluster is approximately 444 light-years away from Earth and spans around 13 light-years in diameter. It is a popular target for both amateur and professional astronomers due to its striking beauty and relative brightness.
January
The Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405) burning bright in the constellation Auriga! 🔥 Captured with my Dwarf 3 telescope and a dual-band filter for 2 hours of exposure. A bit of Google Photos magic to bring out the colors.
A vibrant image of the Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405), an emission nebula located about 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Auriga. The nebula's intricate structure is revealed, showcasing the glowing gas and dust clouds illuminated by the energetic star AE Aurigae. The reddish hues from the ionized hydrogen gas are prominent, creating the "flaming" appearance.
Additional Information:
Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405): This emission nebula is a mix of glowing gas and dark dust clouds. The star AE Aurigae, a runaway star that likely originated from the Orion Nebula, is responsible for energizing the nebula and causing it to emit light.
Dual Band Filter: Using a dual-band filter allowed you to isolate specific wavelengths of light emitted by the nebula, enhancing the contrast and details in the image.
Telescope: You captured this image with your Dwarf 3 telescope, demonstrating its capability for capturing deep-sky objects like emission nebulae.
Processing: This image is a result of 2 hours of total exposure time. You used Google Photos to adjust the levels and enhance the colors, bringing out the nebula's beauty.
A cosmic dance! Bode's Galaxy (M81) and the Cigar Galaxy (M82) putting on a show in the constellation Ursa Major. This is a stack of 3 hours of exposure, captured with my Dwarf 3 telescope and processed in-scope. Used Google Photos to add some extra pop!
A stunning image of Bode's Galaxy (M81), a grand design spiral galaxy located about 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. Its spiral arms are clearly visible, sprinkled with bright star-forming regions. Just above Bode's Galaxy, we can spot the more elongated shape of the Cigar Galaxy (M82), known for its intense starburst activity.
Additional Information:
Bode's Galaxy (M81): This galaxy is a classic example of a spiral galaxy, with well-defined arms and a bright central bulge. It's slightly larger than our own Milky Way galaxy.
Cigar Galaxy (M82): This irregular galaxy is undergoing a period of intense star formation, likely triggered by a close encounter with M81. It's known for its chaotic appearance and the reddish plumes of gas extending from its central region.
Telescope: You captured this image using your Dwarf 3 telescope, showcasing its ability to reveal details in these relatively bright galaxies.
Processing: This image is a stack of 3 hours of exposure, processed in-scope. Further enhancements were done using Google Photos to increase saturation and reduce background noise.
Did you know the first full moon of the year is called the Wolf Moon? Named for the wolves that would howl in hunger during the cold winter months. 🐺 Captured this one with my Dwarf 3 in Bolivar
Moon taken on the Dwarf 3. No editing other than cropping
Sun
First light for the Dwarf 3! This telescope's debut image captures the Sun's fiery beauty and showcases intriguing sunspot activity. Taken on January 11, 2025.
M42, Orion Nebula
A cosmic masterpiece! This breathtaking image of the Orion Nebula (M42) was captured with a Dwarf 3 telescope. Over 25 minutes of light, gathered in 100 individual exposures, unveil the swirling clouds of gas and dust where stars are born.
Sun January 2025
As the new year of 2025 begins, our Sun continues its dynamic cycle of activity, showcasing fascinating features like sunspots and their surrounding bright areas. This image, captured with the Seestar S50, provides a glimpse into these solar phenomena.
Sunspots: Cool Patches on a Fiery Star
Those dark blemishes on the Sun's surface are sunspots, regions of intense magnetic activity that are cooler than their surroundings. Despite being cooler, they are still incredibly hot, with temperatures reaching around 6,500 degrees Fahrenheit!
Faculae: Bright Companions to Sunspots
Surrounding the sunspots are brighter areas known as faculae. These regions are hotter and denser than the surrounding solar surface, and they are often associated with increased magnetic activity.
The Sun's Dynamic Nature
The Sun is a constantly changing star, and its activity varies over an 11-year cycle. During periods of high activity, more sunspots and faculae appear, and the Sun emits more energy. This can lead to increased auroral displays on Earth and even disruptions to our technology.
Observing the Sun Safely
Remember, never look directly at the Sun without proper eye protection. Specialized solar telescopes or filters are essential for safe solar viewing.
Image Details:
Taken with: Seestar S50
Processing: Contrast and highlights adjusted with Google Photo
IC 1848
Cosmic Soul Captured ✨
Behold the ethereal beauty of the Soul Nebula (IC 1848)! This vast stellar nursery, located 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia, spans a staggering 100 light-years across. Its vibrant glow is powered by the intense radiation of young, hot stars nestled within, ionizing the surrounding hydrogen gas and causing it to emit this mesmerizing light.
This image, captured with my Seestar S50 over 81 minutes of exposure, reveals intricate details of the nebula's structure—delicate wisps of gas and dust illuminated by the newborn stars. A testament to the wonders hidden within our universe, waiting to be discovered and admired.
The images below are from the last few years. They don’t (yet) have descriptions but as time permits they will be updated.
M 81
M 33
M 27
M 81
AE Aurigae
M 94
NGC 1499
IC 1795
M 33
M 16
IC 405
M 16
NGC 7635
NGC 891
NGC 281
M 42
NGC 6995
M 31
NGC 1499
M 42
IC 434
SH2-142
NGC 891
NGC 7023
NGC 7293
M 31
M 13
M 17
NGC 6888
Unknown
Sun
M 42
NGC 6995
M 33
This is a forecast from clear outside (I hope)
