Astrophotography
The Wizard Nebula is so named due to the likeness of a robed wizard bedecked with a robe, pointed hat and outstretched hands as if casting a spell. The spell worked because its hard not to be mesmerized by this deep sky beauty bathed in red and blue, lit by the cluster that is the […]
The Dumbbell Nebula (M27) is a planetary nebula, so called due to its round shape and vibrant colors. It is not a planet, but a star that has run out of gas to burn, sluffing off its outer atmosphere and leaving a spinning white dwarf at its center. From two dimensions, it appears as a […]
The Triangulum Galaxy isn’t triangular, it is called such since it resides in the Triangulum constellation. Like the Andromeda Galaxy, it is a large object covering a little more than one degree of sky. Unlike the Andromeda Galaxy, it is much dimmer and more diffuse making it difficult to see with the naked eye. It […]
“For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:19 As a young practicing Catholic, I was obliged to attend Ash Wednesday service, where the phrase “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…” was invoked. I now see the cosmic significance of this sentiment: stars (and us) are created from dust and the ash […]
There’s something mesmerizing about capturing celestial objects that are, quite literally, “on the bubble.” The Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635) is a prime example, a delicate sphere of gas expanding outwards due to the intense stellar wind of a massive, hot star. This image, a product of my own astrophotography endeavors, highlights the ethereal beauty of […]
