12
MAR
2015
flaming star nebula

Flaming Star nebula

After giving up on it a couple of weeks ago, I decided to have another try at the Flaming Star nebula, this time under better conditions… Heading a few miles out of town to darker skies makes a huge difference for such a faint subject. The darker background not only make...
23
FEB
2015

Orion nebula revisited

The plan was to capture the flaming star nebula in Auriga last night, with it being overhead. I set the tracker up, took a few shots and immediately realised just how faint it was!.. As an antidote to this disappointment, I aimed the camera at the brightest nebula in the sky, the...
15
FEB
2015
Nikon 180mm f2.8 D810a

Evolution of comet Lovejoy

Despite being chilled to the bone on more than one occasion, tracking comet Lovejoy over the past month has been a great experience. It was, and still is, a stunning comet. Shooting Lovejoy on a total of 10 occasions over the last month with varying levels of success, I’ve...
10
FEB
2015
Astrophotography with nikon 35mm f1.8 G lens

Auriga

Imaging full constellations is something I’ve been itching to do since trying the new softon filter. So last night I set off in search of some darker skies armed with a borrowed Nikon 35mm f/1.8G lens. The constellation of Auriga was the target as it’s perfectly...
18
JAN
2015

A colourful conjunction

Comet Lovejoy continues to impress as it swiftly passes through the winter sky. A conjunction with the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters in Taurus set up a beautiful wide-angle photo opportunity last night for which I was lucky enough to have clear skies. The intensely green...
14
JAN
2015
Comet Lovejoy C/2014 Q2 2015 star tracker nikon d7000 180mm f2.8

Comet Lovejoy – C/2014 Q2

Ever since hearing about newly discovered comet Lovejoy C/2014 Q2 in the Autumn of last year, I’ve been eagerly anticipating its arrival. Even splashing out on a new lens for the occasion. Unfortunately the weather has scuppered any plans I had to capture the comet in early...
15
NOV
2014
The Pleiades

The Pleiades

The open cluster of the Pleiades is a captivating sight in the winter sky, with nebulosity visible even to the the naked eye. Longer exposures reveal the electric colour of the blue hot stars at the cluster’s heart. These bright stars make it tricky to capture the fainter...