Dave Keep
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astrodave63.bsky.social
Dave Keep
@astrodave63.bsky.social
280 followers 100 following 280 posts
Amateur astronomer and astrophotographer.

Member of the British Astronomical Association.

Also: science, horse racing, music and paranormal.
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astrodave63.bsky.social
@epiphanyappleseed.bsky.social Spotted this in November’s edition of the #skyatnightmagazine 👏
October 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
I've had a go at imaging the Dumbbell Nebula (M27) using my #Seestar S50 smart telescope. This is just 50 minutes integration. I will add more data in due course. Processed with Siril, GraXpert, Starnet++ and Gimp. #astrophotography #PhotoHour #photography
A colourful nebula in a dark sky peppered with stars.
September 26, 2025 at 1:49 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
I shall reach the grand old age of 65 this coming Sunday. I’ve decided I need a new hobby so I’ve bought a #Yamaha #Pacifica #electricguitar 112v. Time to make some noise. 😀🎸 #musicsky #rockmusic #guitar
An electric guitar on a stand in the corner of a room.
September 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Those of you who own a #Seestar may like to know that there is a firmware update available to download. Details below.
#astronomy #astrophotography
September 1, 2025 at 8:29 AM
astrodave63.bsky.social
I’ve been learning how to use Siril, GraXpert, Starnet++ and Gimp to process Astro images. I downloaded free Seestar data from Abdur Astro’s YouTube channel and this is my first attempt at processing the Orion Nebula (M42) using that data. 😊
#astrophotography #PhotoHour 📷
A red-pink gaseous nebula set against a dark sky peppered with white stars.
August 30, 2025 at 11:49 AM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Also reminds me of the Rosette Nebula. (Photo credit: NASA)😀
A red gas cloud in the shape of a rosette set against a black sky filled with stars.
July 6, 2025 at 4:51 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
It’s been a while since I last posted a photo on here. This is today’s Sun in white light. Taken with a 4 inch refractor and ZWO ASI 174MM camera. Software: SharpCap, Autostakkert, ICE, Registax and Gimp. Some nice spots on view. #astrophotography #StormHour #PhotoHour 📷
The yellow disk of the Sun showing a few dark sunspots.
June 19, 2025 at 12:48 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
I’ve received a couple of red alerts from my #aurora app. Not much use during the daytime but if it keeps this up then tonight could be interesting. #astronomy #sun
June 1, 2025 at 8:05 AM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Last night’s Moon. A partially cloudy sky here last night so for quickness I used the #Seestar S50 smart telescope instead of my usual gear.

#astrophotography #PhotoHour #StormHour 📷
The Moon. Light grey in colour with darker grey patches representing the lunar seas. There are numerous craters across the surface.
May 6, 2025 at 12:45 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Last night’s Moon. 4 panel mosaic taken with a 4 inch refractor and ZWO ASI 662MC camera. Software: SharpCap, Autostakkert, ICE, Registax and Gimp. #astrophotography #PhotoHour #StormHour 📷
The Moon. Grey in colour and peppered with numerous craters. The darker areas are the lunar seas.
May 3, 2025 at 10:10 AM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Today’s Sun in white light. AR 4079 is a large active area on its way round, see here. Imaged using a 4” refractor and ZWO ASI 174MM camera. X3 barlow lens for the close-up. SharpCap/Autostakkert/ICE/Registax/Gimp. #astrophotography #StormHour #sunspots #sun 📷
The yellow disk of the sun showing a few dark sunspots. A close up of active region AR 4079. This region shows two dark areas called the umbra surrounded by a lighter coloured penumbra.
April 29, 2025 at 1:12 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
It is when held up towards the light.
A solar continuum filter appearing green when held up to the light through a window.
April 24, 2025 at 1:18 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Just bought a useful addition to my solar imaging: a solar continuum filter which will boost contrast and cut atmospheric turbulence. All I need now is ☀️ #astrophotography
A thumb and forefinger holding a small, circular solar continuum filter. The filter has a highly reflective surface and a black rim.
April 24, 2025 at 12:52 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Todays Sun in white light. 2 panels taken
with a ZWO ASI 174MM camera through a 4” refractor.

Software: SharpCap, Autostakkert, ICE, Registax and Gimp.

A much quieter Sun than recently but some nice spots on view nonetheless. #astrophotography #PhotoHour #StormHour 📷
The yellow Sun showing a few dark sunspots.
April 17, 2025 at 1:47 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
A quick photo of tonight’s 95% Moon, taken with a #Seestar S50 smart telescope and with a little tinkering on my iPhone to create a mineral Moon. #astrophotography #Sciart #PhotoHour 📷 #Moon
A mineral Moon. The Moon here is almost at full phase. The colours are due to minerals in the lunar soil. A bright crater called Tycho can be seen at the bottom of the picture.
April 10, 2025 at 8:56 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Some more lunar images taken last night. As before, the images were taken through a 4 inch refractor but this time I used a ZWO ASI 662 colour camera. Software : SharpCap, Autostakkert, Registax and Gimp. #astrophotography 📷 #PhotoHour
Photo of the lunar surface peppered with numerous craters. The prominent crater on the left is Copernicus. Image of the Moon’s surface peppered with numerous craters. Image of the Moon’s surface peppered with craters. The dark-floored crater towards the top is Plato.
April 8, 2025 at 1:07 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Last night’s 76% Moon. 2 panels stitched. Taken through a 4 inch refractor with a ZWO ASI 174 mono camera. Software: SharpCap, Autostakkert, ICE, Registax and Gimp. #astrophotography 📷 #PhotoHour
The Moon at a waxing gibbous phase. The image shows numerous craters against the light-coloured highlands and the dark lunar lava plains known as maria or seas.
April 8, 2025 at 12:54 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
The Moon looked stunning last night. This is a 4 panel mosaic and was taken through a 4” refractor with a ZWO ASI 662MC camera.

Software: SharpCap, Autostakkert, ICE, Registax and Gimp. #astrophotography 📷 #PhotoHour
The Moon at 46% phase. Numerous craters crossing dark lava plains.
April 5, 2025 at 12:03 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Just a quick photo of tonight’s Moon in a twilight sky. I took this with my Seestar S50. Very quick and easy to do. #astrophotography 📷
The Moon in a twilight sky.
April 2, 2025 at 7:04 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Today’s Sun in white light. Some very nice sunspot groups visible, especially AR 4048 (see bottom left of close-up image).

Taken with a 4” refractor and ZWO ASI 174MM/662MC cameras.

Software: SharpCap, Autostakkert, ICE, Registax & Gimp. #astrophotography #PhotoHour 📷
Full disk of the Sun showing several groups of dark sunspots. A close-up of some dark sunspots against a bright background.
April 1, 2025 at 3:12 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Three more photos of this morning’s partial solar #eclipse. 🌙 Taken with a Canon 700D DSLR through a 4 inch refractor. #astrophotography
The yellow Sun partially eclipsed by the black Moon. The yellow Sun partially eclipsed by the black Moon. The yellow Sun partially eclipsed by the black Moon.
March 29, 2025 at 2:41 PM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Well, that’s pretty much it. The Moon is moving away now. What a wonderful sight . Started off cloudy here but it got better and better! Here’s to the next #eclipse #astrophotography
The Sun, slightly obscured by the dark Moon.
March 29, 2025 at 11:58 AM
astrodave63.bsky.social
This as good as it gets. Maximum #eclipse at 33% here. Taken with a Seestar S50 #astrophotography
A partial solar eclipse, 33% hidden by the New Moon.
March 29, 2025 at 11:17 AM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Very clear here over my location in Lincolnshire. Busy taking photos through my 4 inch refractor #eclipse #astrophotography
A view of the eclipse as seen through a telescope
March 29, 2025 at 10:56 AM
astrodave63.bsky.social
Here comes the Moon. The #eclipse has started. This is through my #Seestar S50 #astrophotography
March 29, 2025 at 10:19 AM