Ian Doktor
@iandoktor.bsky.social
Science educator and doctoral candidate.
We are all searching in the dark. Be the light for others and help everyone find their way.
We are all searching in the dark. Be the light for others and help everyone find their way.
The summer has been pretty lousy for stargazing but the last few days has been exceptionally clear. I finally got a chance to test out a new Hyperstar Lens for my telescope.
This is a 30 minute image of part of NGC 7000 (also know as the North America Nebula).
This is a 30 minute image of part of NGC 7000 (also know as the North America Nebula).
July 31, 2025 at 6:24 AM
The summer has been pretty lousy for stargazing but the last few days has been exceptionally clear. I finally got a chance to test out a new Hyperstar Lens for my telescope.
This is a 30 minute image of part of NGC 7000 (also know as the North America Nebula).
This is a 30 minute image of part of NGC 7000 (also know as the North America Nebula).
I'm excited to share that I'll be presenting at the AstroEdu Conference in Melbourne in a few weeks!
July 14, 2025 at 3:33 AM
I'm excited to share that I'll be presenting at the AstroEdu Conference in Melbourne in a few weeks!
There is a massive prominence on the limb of the Sun today.
July 11, 2025 at 8:42 PM
There is a massive prominence on the limb of the Sun today.
Yesterday evening I took this photo of noctilucent clouds above the Prince of Wales hotel in Waterton. These clouds are formed by tiny ice crystals at the very edge of space reflecting light from the Sun after it has dropped below the horizon.
June 30, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Yesterday evening I took this photo of noctilucent clouds above the Prince of Wales hotel in Waterton. These clouds are formed by tiny ice crystals at the very edge of space reflecting light from the Sun after it has dropped below the horizon.
This reaffirms my decision to buy Canadian and avoid the USA at all cost.
June 27, 2025 at 6:52 PM
This reaffirms my decision to buy Canadian and avoid the USA at all cost.
Pretty sure the breakeven price for new oil sands mines is higher than $50/barrel (even before considering WCS differentials).
May 3, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Pretty sure the breakeven price for new oil sands mines is higher than $50/barrel (even before considering WCS differentials).
While the rest of Edmonton was watching the Oilers (win in OT!) I was outside taking pictures of Mars.
Don't worry, I was listening to the game on the radio.
Don't worry, I was listening to the game on the radio.
April 28, 2025 at 5:36 AM
While the rest of Edmonton was watching the Oilers (win in OT!) I was outside taking pictures of Mars.
Don't worry, I was listening to the game on the radio.
Don't worry, I was listening to the game on the radio.
I still have some old floppy discs kicking around. It's amazing how far computer technology has come in 30 years.
Now, rocket scientists, where is my jet pack?
Now, rocket scientists, where is my jet pack?
April 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I still have some old floppy discs kicking around. It's amazing how far computer technology has come in 30 years.
Now, rocket scientists, where is my jet pack?
Now, rocket scientists, where is my jet pack?
This should be a HUUUUGE story right across Canada. From one conservative to another, Smith is telling the US the Poilievre is more in line with America's new direction.
Do you want Canada headed he way the US is going?
Do you want Canada headed he way the US is going?
March 23, 2025 at 1:41 AM
This should be a HUUUUGE story right across Canada. From one conservative to another, Smith is telling the US the Poilievre is more in line with America's new direction.
Do you want Canada headed he way the US is going?
Do you want Canada headed he way the US is going?
While ransacking USAID Musk had no need for empathy. Now that he's on the receiving end he's lamenting the lack of empathy in society.
You can't make this up. What a whiny loser.
You can't make this up. What a whiny loser.
March 19, 2025 at 2:53 AM
While ransacking USAID Musk had no need for empathy. Now that he's on the receiving end he's lamenting the lack of empathy in society.
You can't make this up. What a whiny loser.
You can't make this up. What a whiny loser.
Gunter is wrong. If the Liberals win the federal election, while Trump would be a major factor, the fault will lie with the CPC cozying up to Trump.
They made their bed, now they get to lie in it.
They made their bed, now they get to lie in it.
March 16, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Gunter is wrong. If the Liberals win the federal election, while Trump would be a major factor, the fault will lie with the CPC cozying up to Trump.
They made their bed, now they get to lie in it.
They made their bed, now they get to lie in it.
The implications of that red line are pretty striking.
March 15, 2025 at 3:21 AM
The implications of that red line are pretty striking.
Today five student from Jasper Place are competing in the Edmonton Regional Science Fair! Super proud of these amazing young scientists!
March 9, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Today five student from Jasper Place are competing in the Edmonton Regional Science Fair! Super proud of these amazing young scientists!
Here are a few images I took of Venus and the moon before the clouds rolled in.
March 2, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Here are a few images I took of Venus and the moon before the clouds rolled in.
And another one through my telescope showing Earthshine! Sunlight strikes the Earth, reflects to the moon and then bounces off the otherwise shadow-y side of the moon.
March 2, 2025 at 2:11 AM
And another one through my telescope showing Earthshine! Sunlight strikes the Earth, reflects to the moon and then bounces off the otherwise shadow-y side of the moon.
The moon and Venus as seen from my backyard.
March 2, 2025 at 2:07 AM
The moon and Venus as seen from my backyard.
Here is my final version of the Flame and Horsehead Nebula in Orion. This is 15 x 500s HA, 8 x 500s in SII.
February 22, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Here is my final version of the Flame and Horsehead Nebula in Orion. This is 15 x 500s HA, 8 x 500s in SII.
This is what an LCD monitor looks like when the liquid in it freezes (LCD= Liquid Crystal Display). Courtesy of Canadian winter.
February 19, 2025 at 3:51 AM
This is what an LCD monitor looks like when the liquid in it freezes (LCD= Liquid Crystal Display). Courtesy of Canadian winter.
Stay the hell out of my country.
February 18, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Stay the hell out of my country.
Turns out the cold weather is good for something.
It's currently close to -30 here in Edmonton. But it's clear and the stars are brilliant. The added benefit (for those who will brave the cold) is that the cold reduces noise from my camera giving my stunning images like this!
It's currently close to -30 here in Edmonton. But it's clear and the stars are brilliant. The added benefit (for those who will brave the cold) is that the cold reduces noise from my camera giving my stunning images like this!
February 17, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Turns out the cold weather is good for something.
It's currently close to -30 here in Edmonton. But it's clear and the stars are brilliant. The added benefit (for those who will brave the cold) is that the cold reduces noise from my camera giving my stunning images like this!
It's currently close to -30 here in Edmonton. But it's clear and the stars are brilliant. The added benefit (for those who will brave the cold) is that the cold reduces noise from my camera giving my stunning images like this!
February 16, 2025 at 3:53 PM