About

I began my astrophotography journey after retiring in 2020. I had always had an interest in photography (snapping travel moments) and astronomy: I owned a box-store telescope, mostly for viewing Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon. I had a vague idea that I could see nebulae in that scope, but I didn’t really know what that meant. So I decided to try to find one. Just one. And I did think if I could find one, it would be especially great to take a picture of it. And so it began.

I started this quest with a NexStar 8SE (a retirement present to myself), thinking I could use it for visual but just maybe do some imaging (I know, I know… maybe not the best decision, but I do love that scope). I dusted off my Canon Rebel, watched YouTube videos (the first of hundreds), and bought a camera adapter for my 8SE. At the same time, I joined an astronomy club. It was the best decision I could have made. I am sure I would not have this gallery without the club members generously sharing their knowledge of the universe, and of astrophotography in particular.

I took my first ever photo of the Dumbbell Nebula with that NexStar and Canon DSLR in early summer 2022. In retrospect, it was not the greatest image. But to me, it was like discovering a gem in the sky. I was hooked. In July 2022, I attended an Adirondack astronomy retreat with club members and imaged the Ring. I was permanently hooked. As every amateur astronomer likes to say, I had crossed over to the dark side. I became an astrophotographer. Which of course means that I began an endless quest for the perfect telescopes, cameras, processing software and imaging techniques, in search of the pixel-perfect star.

I often stay up all night imaging, accompanied by the strange sounds of nocturnal wildlife, including the call of a great horned owl that nests nearby. Old Light Owl: I’m a night owl, capturing old light traveling through the universe to my lens. I spend my days processing, and tinkering with broken cables and equipment. And it is worth every minute. I am finding gems in the night sky.