The Dharma Project Observatory has been inundated with thick smoke this summer from the wildfires encircling the Methow Valley. I have spent many clear, moonless nights sitting on my hands waiting for relief, but the haze continues to linger. Such is the life of the astrophotographer: if it isn’t clouds or moonlight, it is always […]
As galaxy season gives way to Milky Way season for astrophotographers in the Northern Hemisphere, I wanted to share a series of images captured using a new camera with a smaller sensor and smaller pixels (Sony IMX585), giving me a much higher pixel scale. Paired with my 740mm focal length refractor, it creates a fantastic […]
The Great Hercules Cluster (M13) is a heroic sight even through binoculars or a modest telescope. In the pristine dark skies of the Methow Valley, you can even spot it with the naked eye—provided you know exactly where to look. I remember the first time I saw this object in a telescope and it looked […]
Galaxy season continues with a look at a trio of galaxies known as the Leo Triplet. A long integration and the dark skies of the Methow Valley allowed me to capture the subtle interactions of this galactic dance. From the “hamburger” galaxy (NGC 3628) you are able to see a stream of stars and gas […]
Spring is Galaxy Season for astrophotographers. As the equinox turns, our night sky faces away from the crowded disk of the Milky Way, peering through a clear ‘galactic window’ into the deep void. While our own galaxy is a tapestry of nebulae and dust, looking ‘up’ out of the plane reveals a riotous family portrait […]
