Dave
@photonphanatic.bsky.social
I shoot astrophotographs for fun. Retired/recovering engineer. Husband, dad, stepdad, granddad, bird dad, snowbird.
Another recent shot--this time the Orion Nebula, shot in LRGB using my SW Esprit 80ED refractor on my Wave 150i mount. Shot with an ASI2600MM Pro camera. 3.4 hours total integration. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/lvm6s9
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
January 25, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Another recent shot--this time the Orion Nebula, shot in LRGB using my SW Esprit 80ED refractor on my Wave 150i mount. Shot with an ASI2600MM Pro camera. 3.4 hours total integration. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/lvm6s9
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
Wide field shot of M81, M82, and companions. Note the wispy integrated flux nebula throughout. 26 hours of exposures in LRGB + Ha through my SW Esprit 80ED f/5 refractor. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/9qkpit
#Astrophotography
#Astrophotography
January 23, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Wide field shot of M81, M82, and companions. Note the wispy integrated flux nebula throughout. 26 hours of exposures in LRGB + Ha through my SW Esprit 80ED f/5 refractor. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/9qkpit
#Astrophotography
#Astrophotography
NGC 7822, an emission nebula in Cepheus. Shot in narrowband (plus RGB for stars) with my SW Esprit 80ED reduced to 260 mm FL using a Starizona Apex ED-S reducer. 11 hours total integration. Hubble palette. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/jwte1m
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
December 29, 2025 at 4:09 AM
NGC 7822, an emission nebula in Cepheus. Shot in narrowband (plus RGB for stars) with my SW Esprit 80ED reduced to 260 mm FL using a Starizona Apex ED-S reducer. 11 hours total integration. Hubble palette. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/jwte1m
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
The Christmas Tree Cluster, shot in narrowband using my Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED refractor. I initially processed this in HOO, and then blended in SII data as a shade of green, yielding the gold color you see.
More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/fqwgeh
#astrophotography
More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/fqwgeh
#astrophotography
December 25, 2025 at 3:09 AM
The Christmas Tree Cluster, shot in narrowband using my Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED refractor. I initially processed this in HOO, and then blended in SII data as a shade of green, yielding the gold color you see.
More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/fqwgeh
#astrophotography
More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/fqwgeh
#astrophotography
Dark nebula LDN 1452. 18 hours of data. Shot in LRGB with my SW Esprit 80ED refractor, ASI2600MM Pro camera, SW Wave 150i mount. I tried out the new Veralux Hypermetric Stretch tool on this image, and it did quite well on the nebulosity. More on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/f0ln5e
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
December 23, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Dark nebula LDN 1452. 18 hours of data. Shot in LRGB with my SW Esprit 80ED refractor, ASI2600MM Pro camera, SW Wave 150i mount. I tried out the new Veralux Hypermetric Stretch tool on this image, and it did quite well on the nebulosity. More on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/f0ln5e
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
This is a quick-and-dirty version of a dark nebula image I shot over the past week. This is about 18 hours of data, processed in true color. Veralux Hypermetric Stretch kept popping up on my radar, so I tried that with this image. Space is a dusty and dirty place.
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
December 22, 2025 at 8:54 PM
This is a quick-and-dirty version of a dark nebula image I shot over the past week. This is about 18 hours of data, processed in true color. Veralux Hypermetric Stretch kept popping up on my radar, so I tried that with this image. Space is a dusty and dirty place.
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
The California Nebula (NGC 1499), shot in narrowband (RGB for the stars) and processed in the Hubble pallette. About 13 hours of data shot over two evenings. Shot with my 80-mm f/5 refractor. More details on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/fbhw1e
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
December 12, 2025 at 11:16 PM
The California Nebula (NGC 1499), shot in narrowband (RGB for the stars) and processed in the Hubble pallette. About 13 hours of data shot over two evenings. Shot with my 80-mm f/5 refractor. More details on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/fbhw1e
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
A couple hours on the Perseus Double Cluster in LRGB last night, using my 80-mm f/5 refractor and ASI2600MM Pro camera. Not the most spectacular target, but worth a couple hours. Details on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/bf4f1r
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
December 11, 2025 at 5:27 PM
A couple hours on the Perseus Double Cluster in LRGB last night, using my 80-mm f/5 refractor and ASI2600MM Pro camera. Not the most spectacular target, but worth a couple hours. Details on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/bf4f1r
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
Shooting astro from the middle of an RV resort around Christmas presents some extra challenges. At least we're past full moon. Trying out a Pegasus Falcon V2 rotator this evening. Shooting the Double Cluster in Perseus for a couple hours, then moving onto the California Nebula.
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
December 11, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Shooting astro from the middle of an RV resort around Christmas presents some extra challenges. At least we're past full moon. Trying out a Pegasus Falcon V2 rotator this evening. Shooting the Double Cluster in Perseus for a couple hours, then moving onto the California Nebula.
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
The Seagull Nebula (IC 2177), shot at 260 mm FL in narrowband using my Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED f/5 refractor with a Starizona Apex ED-S 0.65x reducer, riding on a Sky-Watcher Wave 150i strain wave mount. More equipment and exposure details on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/xtfoe5
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
December 8, 2025 at 4:23 AM
The Seagull Nebula (IC 2177), shot at 260 mm FL in narrowband using my Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED f/5 refractor with a Starizona Apex ED-S 0.65x reducer, riding on a Sky-Watcher Wave 150i strain wave mount. More equipment and exposure details on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/xtfoe5
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
Another couple of clear nights gave me a chance to collect about 12 hours of photons on M33. Shot in LRGB + H-alpha with my SW Esprit 80ED 80-mm f/5 refractor and ASI2600MM Pro camera. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/4tmgil
#Astrophotography
#Astrophotography
November 28, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Another couple of clear nights gave me a chance to collect about 12 hours of photons on M33. Shot in LRGB + H-alpha with my SW Esprit 80ED 80-mm f/5 refractor and ASI2600MM Pro camera. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/4tmgil
#Astrophotography
#Astrophotography
Managed 5 hours on the Andromeda Galaxy last Friday (Nov 14). Shot with my 80mm f/5 refractor. LRGB + Ha. Seems I shoot this one every year. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/95kz13
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
November 19, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Managed 5 hours on the Andromeda Galaxy last Friday (Nov 14). Shot with my 80mm f/5 refractor. LRGB + Ha. Seems I shoot this one every year. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/95kz13
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
A redo of my Heart and Soul Nebulae image from a few days ago. I think the color and contrast in this one is a bit better.
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
November 17, 2025 at 9:16 PM
A redo of my Heart and Soul Nebulae image from a few days ago. I think the color and contrast in this one is a bit better.
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
Redo of my North American Nebula data from a few days ago. This time I used the approach that Adam Block recently published for narrowband processing. Started with SOO and then blended Ha in across mostly the R and G channels. Maybe SH-OH-O? Definitely still false color.
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
November 17, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Redo of my North American Nebula data from a few days ago. This time I used the approach that Adam Block recently published for narrowband processing. Started with SOO and then blended Ha in across mostly the R and G channels. Maybe SH-OH-O? Definitely still false color.
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
The Heart and Soul Nebulae, shot over four nights using my Esprit 80ED refractor shortened to 260mm FL using a Starizona Apex ED-S reducer. SHO with RGB stars. More info on equipment and exposures is on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/t38a7c
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
November 14, 2025 at 2:36 AM
The Heart and Soul Nebulae, shot over four nights using my Esprit 80ED refractor shortened to 260mm FL using a Starizona Apex ED-S reducer. SHO with RGB stars. More info on equipment and exposures is on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/t38a7c
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
The North American Nebula (NGC 7000) and the Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) captured in a wide field image, shot at 260mm FL with a SW Esprit 80ED f/5 refractor reduced to f/3.25 with a Starizona Apex ED-S reducer. Hubble palette with RGB stars. About 10 hours of integration total.
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
November 12, 2025 at 3:46 AM
The North American Nebula (NGC 7000) and the Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) captured in a wide field image, shot at 260mm FL with a SW Esprit 80ED f/5 refractor reduced to f/3.25 with a Starizona Apex ED-S reducer. Hubble palette with RGB stars. About 10 hours of integration total.
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
My ASI2600 has been a joy. Previously shot with the ASI533MM Pro, which has a much smaller sensor. Glad your 2600 got fixed.
November 10, 2025 at 3:47 AM
My ASI2600 has been a joy. Previously shot with the ASI533MM Pro, which has a much smaller sensor. Glad your 2600 got fixed.
(4/4) Even shooting at 260mm FL, guiding (using PHD2) has been consistently in the 0.5" - 0.6" range, sometimes as low as under 0.4". This is the first year that I haven't had to debug my travel rig.
FWIW, my software stack for image capture is N.I.N.A., PHD2, and Green Swamp Server.
FWIW, my software stack for image capture is N.I.N.A., PHD2, and Green Swamp Server.
November 10, 2025 at 2:32 AM
(4/4) Even shooting at 260mm FL, guiding (using PHD2) has been consistently in the 0.5" - 0.6" range, sometimes as low as under 0.4". This is the first year that I haven't had to debug my travel rig.
FWIW, my software stack for image capture is N.I.N.A., PHD2, and Green Swamp Server.
FWIW, my software stack for image capture is N.I.N.A., PHD2, and Green Swamp Server.
(3/4) Pegasus FocusCube 3 Universal
Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Advanced
Sky-Watcher Wave 150i strain wave mount
iOptron LiteRoc tripod (originally shipped with the GEM45 mount)
iOptron Mini Pier (mates the mount and the tripod)
This stack has given great results over my first three nights of imaging.
Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Advanced
Sky-Watcher Wave 150i strain wave mount
iOptron LiteRoc tripod (originally shipped with the GEM45 mount)
iOptron Mini Pier (mates the mount and the tripod)
This stack has given great results over my first three nights of imaging.
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 AM
(3/4) Pegasus FocusCube 3 Universal
Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Advanced
Sky-Watcher Wave 150i strain wave mount
iOptron LiteRoc tripod (originally shipped with the GEM45 mount)
iOptron Mini Pier (mates the mount and the tripod)
This stack has given great results over my first three nights of imaging.
Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Advanced
Sky-Watcher Wave 150i strain wave mount
iOptron LiteRoc tripod (originally shipped with the GEM45 mount)
iOptron Mini Pier (mates the mount and the tripod)
This stack has given great results over my first three nights of imaging.
(2/4) Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED f/5 apo refractor (with flattener)
Starizona Apex ED-S 0.65x reducer/corrector
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro camera
ZWO ASI2900MM mini guide camera
ZWO off-axis guider
ZWO 7-positon 36mm filter wheel
#astrophotography
Starizona Apex ED-S 0.65x reducer/corrector
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro camera
ZWO ASI2900MM mini guide camera
ZWO off-axis guider
ZWO 7-positon 36mm filter wheel
#astrophotography
November 10, 2025 at 2:29 AM
(2/4) Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED f/5 apo refractor (with flattener)
Starizona Apex ED-S 0.65x reducer/corrector
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro camera
ZWO ASI2900MM mini guide camera
ZWO off-axis guider
ZWO 7-positon 36mm filter wheel
#astrophotography
Starizona Apex ED-S 0.65x reducer/corrector
ZWO ASI2600MM Pro camera
ZWO ASI2900MM mini guide camera
ZWO off-axis guider
ZWO 7-positon 36mm filter wheel
#astrophotography
The last few years we've been wintering in our 5th wheel in AZ, and I always drag along some travel-friendly imaging gear. In previous years the gear I've brought along as not met expectations. Not so this year. This hardware has exceeded my expectations (1/4):
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
November 10, 2025 at 2:28 AM
The last few years we've been wintering in our 5th wheel in AZ, and I always drag along some travel-friendly imaging gear. In previous years the gear I've brought along as not met expectations. Not so this year. This hardware has exceeded my expectations (1/4):
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
You just described my entire career. Funny thing, when you become "good enough" you appear elite to those who aren't.
June 14, 2025 at 2:38 AM
You just described my entire career. Funny thing, when you become "good enough" you appear elite to those who aren't.
This is what I get almost immediately when I follow back indiscriminately on Bluesky. All bots, no doubt. (Yes, I knew they were bots when I followed them back.)
May 30, 2025 at 6:21 PM
This is what I get almost immediately when I follow back indiscriminately on Bluesky. All bots, no doubt. (Yes, I knew they were bots when I followed them back.)
Another image I processed using Telescope Live's data. This is M66, a galaxy about 31Mly distant, shot with a 27.5" scope. I processed this using PixInsight and Affinity Photo. More on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/076cr4
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
April 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Another image I processed using Telescope Live's data. This is M66, a galaxy about 31Mly distant, shot with a 27.5" scope. I processed this using PixInsight and Affinity Photo. More on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/076cr4
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
@debf56.bsky.social thanks! Very kind of you to say.
April 19, 2025 at 10:00 PM
@debf56.bsky.social thanks! Very kind of you to say.