Ann
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stellarpics.net
Ann
@stellarpics.net
1.5K followers 510 following 230 posts
Retired computer engineer. Now an enthusiastic photography hobbyist that enjoys imaging wildlife, birding, astrophotography and travel. All photographs are my own unless reposted. No DMs
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Ann @stellarpics.net · Jan 24
This is a timelapse I created at our annual astronomy club's star stare in 2023. #astrophotography, #milkyway, #colorado
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Little Malachite Kingfisher seen in #Amboseli National Park in #Kenya. #birds #nikon #safari #Africa
Small kingfisher perched on a branch. Back is to the camera showing its bright blue upperparts, rufous underparts, and long orange bill. Small Malachite Kingfisher turned on branch facing the camera. Shows the bright orange chest, and a short blue/green crest on its head. Malachite Kingfisher leaning forward on a branch as it prepares to dive. Image shows the bright orange chest, and a short blue/green crest on its head.
November 18, 2025 at 8:55 PM
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Heart Nebula in SHO. I have been playing with the new L-Synergy filter from #Optlong for creating SHO palette images with a color camera when combined with L-eXtreme data. Still figuring out the workflow but like the detail. Total exposure is 16 hrs. #astrophotography #colorado #nikon
The Heart Nebula (IC 1805), a star-forming emission nebula located in the constellation Cassiopeia. Image shows the nebula in a false color palette of burnt oranges, green, and blue. Image was captured using a Nikon D750 astro modified camera. 8.8 hrs of data captured using L-Synergy filter combines with 7.7 hrs of L-eXtreme data.
November 17, 2025 at 10:01 PM
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Two more images one with a meteor that decided to get in on the action. #astrophotography #aurora #meteor #nikon
Bands of green, red and purple light cover the starry sky with a meteor shooting through the center of the image Swirling clouds of green merging into red.
November 12, 2025 at 9:34 PM
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Some #Aurora shots from last night. These were taken with a #Nikon #z8 and 14mm lens at f/4, 8 secs, ISO 3200. So bright we were able to see and watch the movement with our eyes. #astrophotograpy #colorado
Bright red streaks of aurora borealis covering a starry sky Bright red streaks with green glow from of aurora borealis Red and green swirls and bright yellow pillars of light in the sky Swirling green waves of color under darker red colors
November 12, 2025 at 9:25 PM
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Still going strong here in Colorado with amazing activity and movement that you can see with your eyes. #astrophotography #aurora, #colorado
November 12, 2025 at 5:11 AM
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Aurora from southern Colorado. Been active now for about 2 hrs and still going. #astrophotography #aurora #colorado
November 12, 2025 at 3:49 AM
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Some still images of #lions mating. #Serengeti #Safari #Tanzania #wildlife #nikon #z8
November 7, 2025 at 5:14 PM
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Video is not the best. Taken with a GoPro so very wide angle. I have zoomed in 200% so it breaks apart. But the video is more about the audio which captured the lion vocalizing after mating. #Serengeti #Africa #Safari #wildlife #lion
November 7, 2025 at 5:09 PM
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On Safari in #Tanzania we came across a pride of lions abandoning a kill to a pack of hyenas. In the video you see 4 adults herding the cubs away while two lionesses stand guard to make sure the hyenas do not follow. Love the little bouncing one. #Africa #wildlife #nikon
November 7, 2025 at 12:14 AM
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Our greeting party as we entered #Serengeti National Park in #Tanzania. Note the movement under the tree where others have gathered. I was not prepared for how emotional seeing these animals would be. #Elephants #Africa #Safari #wildlife
October 31, 2025 at 6:09 PM
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LBN 437 Gecko Nebula located in the constellation Lacerta. I had imaged this area as widefield two years ago but decided I wanted to try and isolate this molecular cloud and reflection nebula on its own. Total integration time 21 hrs. #astrophotography #colorado #nikon
Reflection nebula in the shape of a gecko shown with the lizard "head" facing down on the left and the "tail" turning up on the right. The gecko's body is a yellow-brown molecular cloud, illuminated from within by newly formed, bright stars. The nebula overlaps with the larger, red Sh2-126 emission nebula which it seems to wrap around.
October 25, 2025 at 8:11 PM
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Some birds I hoped to see on safari, and then some birds were a big surprise. This is a Saddle-billed Stork named for the yellow saddle shaped patch on the bill. Up to 5ft (1.5m) tall. This male stork is standing in a wetland in #Amboseli National Park. #birds #Kenya #Africa #wildlife #nikon
A saddle-billed stork wading through a wetland towards the camera with water streaming off the bill. Its long black legs and red "knees" are visible as it lifts one leg out of the water. The bird has iridescent black plumage on its head, neck, and wings, and a white body. Its unique striking feature is its red and black bill with a bright yellow saddle-shaped patch at the top of the bill. Side view of a Saddle-billed stork wading through a wetland with water dripping from the bill. One red knee is visible above the water. The bird has iridescent black plumage on its head, neck, and wings, and a white body. The side view shows the black and red bill and the edge of the yellow patch at the top. The black eye identifies the bird as a male of the species.
October 24, 2025 at 5:55 PM
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Starting to see nice separation of the dust and ion tails now. This is C/2025 A6 Lemmon from Oct 21. 60 minutes of data. Much better than where I started this week at 11 minutes. Captured with #Nikon D5300a and William Optics z73 430mm scope. #astrophotography #comet #nightsky
Comet A6 Lemmon showing bright green coma and separation in the dust tail and a large ion tail which moves off the screen. Captured at dusk on Oct. 21. Total of 1 hour of data at 30 second exposures.
October 22, 2025 at 10:11 PM
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Another night on comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon. I found a different location that avoided setting behind trees too quickly. This is 48 minutes of data. It is has developed a very nice tail. Equipment details in alt text. One more night and then its clouds for days. #astrophotography #comet #nightsky #nikon
Comet against a field of stars. Its glowing emerald green coma is in lower left of the frame. The trailing tail of gas is visible moving up to the right of the frame. Captured with Nikon D5300a using William Optics z73: ISO 800, 30 sec, f/5.9, 430mm (equivalent 645mm).
October 21, 2025 at 10:03 PM
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Rare clear night and comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon. Unfortunately I don't have a very good view since it sets behind trees quickly. This is only 11 minutes of data. Plan is to capture a little bit every night and build from there. It is developing a very nice tail. #astrophotography #comet #nightsky
Comet against a field of stars. Its glowing emerald green coma is in lower left of the frame. The trailing tail of gas is visible moving up to the right of the frame.
October 19, 2025 at 9:18 PM
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What's in a name. #Secretarybird named in the 1800 after male secretaries that wore gray tailcoats, dark knee-length pants and carried goose-quill pens behind their ears. Sorry for the video shake. Happens when you are in a jeep with a bunch of excited birders. #birds #Kenya #Africa #wildlife #Nikon
October 17, 2025 at 6:06 PM
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#Secretarybird -- This bird is on the endangered list so really excited we were able to find and image. This is tall crane-like terrestrial raptor. It hunts for reptiles and small mammals which it stomps with its powerful legs. #birds #Tanzania #Africa #wildlife #Nikon
Secretarybird is shown walking with long strides. It has a hooked, gray beak, red face, and dark, quill-like feathers in a crest on its neck. Its tail has two long central feathers that trail behind its gray and black body. Secretarybird captured spotting possible prey. Black crest of feathers on neck are flared out. Secretarybird bent over looking for possible prey. Image shows red face and dark, quill-like feathers that form the crest on the back of the neck. Body of the bird is mostly gray and black.
October 17, 2025 at 5:52 PM
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Little Bee-eater for today. Another 'I hope I see...' bird. This is the smallest of all Bee-eater species in Africa. #birds #Kenya #Tanzania #Africa #Nikon
A close-up of a Little Bee-eater showing its vibrant green back and wing feathers, brilliant yellow throat and belly, and a striking blue/black eye stripe and collar. The bird is perched on a small branch and has a dragonfly clutched in its beak. Captured in Amboseli National Park, Kenya Little Bee-eater Iin flight hunting for insects. Image shows the bird's brilliant green back and bright orange and black wing feathers.
October 15, 2025 at 9:11 PM
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Working through 1000s of images from East Africa, and overwhelmed with what to share. Decided to start with #birds; specifically the "I hope I see..." list of birds. So starting one a day, first up Gray Crowned-Crane. I was hoping to see a few-- ended up seeing flocks of 100s. #Kenya #Tanzania
Gray Crowned-Crane with a slate-gray body and rufous and white tail feathers standing in a wetland. It has a striking crown of stiff, golden-yellow feathers, white cheeks, a small red patch above the cheeks, and a scarlet throat wattle. A close-up shot of a Gray Crowned-Crane. Its head is topped with a spiky, golden-yellow crest, contrasting with its black forehead and the distinct red and white skin on its face with blue eyes. A Gray Crowned-Crane, with its unique golden crown of feathers showing the range of feather colors including light gray, slate gray, white, and rufous. The crane is walking through a field and the leg is lifted to show a very large foot.
October 14, 2025 at 10:02 PM
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Just returned from an amazing safari trip to East Africa; #Kenya and #Tanzania. Lots of images to sort. Meanwhile, a video that I took in Ngorongoro Crater. It's a bit shaky since it was hand held telephoto and a lot of heat waves but still pretty cool. #nikon #wildlife #Lion
September 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
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M27 Dumbbell Nebula. Taken in bortle 2 conditions. Skies were so dark and clear and the target so bright it did its own post processing. Astro modified Nikon D5300, RC6 (1370mm at f/9), ISO 1600, 5 min exps. Total stack 3.5 hrs. #Colorado #astrophotography
A vibrant image of the Dumbbell Nebula (M27), a colorful planetary nebula formed of glowing red hydrogen and blue oxygen. Two bright lobes resembling a dumbbell or hourglass shape extend from the center. Red hydrogen outlines the top and bottom of the circular shape and extends into the center forming an X. Object is shown against a backdrop of scattered stars.
August 18, 2025 at 6:04 PM
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NGC 6559 nicknamed Chinese Dragon Nebula for the dark nebula next to the central star. For me, this was one of those targets where you keep coming back and tweaking. Calling it done for now. Nikon D5300a, RC6 (1370mm at f/9), ISO 1600, 5 min exps. Total stack 3.2 hrs. #Colorado #astrophotography
An image of emission, reflection and dark nebulae. Centered on the NGC 6559 nebula, also known as the Chinese Dragon or Loreta Nebula. Emission nebula is red/pink intertwined with bluish patches of reflection nebula and dark dust lanes known as Barnard 303. It is part of a larger star-forming region in the Sagittarius constellation.
August 18, 2025 at 5:51 PM
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Greater Short-horned Lizard (aka horny toad) from my hike today. Only had a cell phone so not the greatest picture. #Lizard #Colorado #reptile
A camouflaged Greater Short-horned Lizard blending into the rocky soil, its flattened, gray-brown body and short horns barely visible.
August 15, 2025 at 8:16 PM
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Rufous Hummingbird perched in the shade of a pine tree. #Birds #Colorado #Hummingbird #cobirds
A Rufous Hummingbird with a long, slender bill, perched on a branch. The hummingbird has a coppery orange back and belly. Gorget is iridescent red in sunlight but in this image is looks green since the bird is in the shade.
August 15, 2025 at 6:42 PM
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Another capture from June; Rho Ophiuchi. Captured with an unmodified Nikon Z6 and Rokinon 135mm f/2 lens on a star tracker. ISO 1600, 1 minute exposures. Total stack 3.5 hours. Bortle 2 skies. #Colorado #astrophotography
Wide field view of Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex. One of the closest star-forming regions to Earth. The scene features a mix of glowing red emission nebulae and shimmering blue reflection nebulae, interspersed with dark, dense dust clouds. The region is a dense field of young stars illuminating the surrounding gas and dust, and dark filaments of cosmic material obscuring background stars.
August 15, 2025 at 6:33 PM