Walt Watson Astrophotography
@waltwatsonastro.bsky.social
Amateur astrophotographer enjoying the hobby on Cape Cod. All photos were taken by me in my wife's garden unless otherwise noted. waltwatsonastro.com
The Gamma Cygni Nebula (IC 1318) plus the Crescent (NGC 6888) and Butterfly nebulae in Cygnus. This is my 3rd run this year at this region updating my earlier post from 2 spectral bands to 3. This photo renders ionized Sulfur(reds), Hydrogen(yellows) and Oxygen (blues).
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
November 8, 2025 at 12:23 PM
The Gamma Cygni Nebula (IC 1318) plus the Crescent (NGC 6888) and Butterfly nebulae in Cygnus. This is my 3rd run this year at this region updating my earlier post from 2 spectral bands to 3. This photo renders ionized Sulfur(reds), Hydrogen(yellows) and Oxygen (blues).
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
Dragonfly Cluster (NGC 457) is an open star cluster in Cassiopeia. It a visually striking cluster that resembles the insect and is shown here with a visual aid and without. It was discovered in 1780 by William Herschel.
Moonless, Bortle 3 sky, 99 min exposure, 10/22/25
#astronomy #astrophotography
Moonless, Bortle 3 sky, 99 min exposure, 10/22/25
#astronomy #astrophotography
November 5, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Dragonfly Cluster (NGC 457) is an open star cluster in Cassiopeia. It a visually striking cluster that resembles the insect and is shown here with a visual aid and without. It was discovered in 1780 by William Herschel.
Moonless, Bortle 3 sky, 99 min exposure, 10/22/25
#astronomy #astrophotography
Moonless, Bortle 3 sky, 99 min exposure, 10/22/25
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Lion Nebula (Sh2-132) is an emission nebula located on the Southern rim of Cepheus. It is a dim object and I used a long exposure of ~ 8 hours to image it. This photo uses the Hubble palette which renders ionized Sulfur(reds), Hydrogen(yellows) and Oxygen (blues).
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
November 2, 2025 at 12:48 PM
The Lion Nebula (Sh2-132) is an emission nebula located on the Southern rim of Cepheus. It is a dim object and I used a long exposure of ~ 8 hours to image it. This photo uses the Hubble palette which renders ionized Sulfur(reds), Hydrogen(yellows) and Oxygen (blues).
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
Ghosts of Cassiopeia (IC 63, IC 59) are illuminated by the very bright star Gamma Cassiopeia (γ Cas) and are ~ 550 light years from Earth. This is a wide field photo rendered so ionized Oxygen are blues and Hydrogen are reds.
Skies: Moonless Bortle 3
Exposure: 4 hours
#astronomy #astrophotography
Skies: Moonless Bortle 3
Exposure: 4 hours
#astronomy #astrophotography
October 30, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Ghosts of Cassiopeia (IC 63, IC 59) are illuminated by the very bright star Gamma Cassiopeia (γ Cas) and are ~ 550 light years from Earth. This is a wide field photo rendered so ionized Oxygen are blues and Hydrogen are reds.
Skies: Moonless Bortle 3
Exposure: 4 hours
#astronomy #astrophotography
Skies: Moonless Bortle 3
Exposure: 4 hours
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Skull Nebula (NGC 2237) in the constellation Monoceros at ~ 5200 ly from Earth. With it soon to be Halloween it seems like a good time to post the "Skull". This photo is a high contrast BW image of the Rosette nebula rotated to bring out the eerie apparition.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
October 28, 2025 at 11:02 AM
The Skull Nebula (NGC 2237) in the constellation Monoceros at ~ 5200 ly from Earth. With it soon to be Halloween it seems like a good time to post the "Skull". This photo is a high contrast BW image of the Rosette nebula rotated to bring out the eerie apparition.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
The IRIS Nebula (NGC 7023) is 1300ly distant. It is a reflection nebula illuminated by a hot B-type star within the Cepheus Flare dust cloud. It is a very bright intricate object popular with astrophotagraphers.
Bortle 3 sky, UV/IR cut filter, 5 hour exposure
#astronomy #astrophotography
Bortle 3 sky, UV/IR cut filter, 5 hour exposure
#astronomy #astrophotography
October 25, 2025 at 12:39 PM
The IRIS Nebula (NGC 7023) is 1300ly distant. It is a reflection nebula illuminated by a hot B-type star within the Cepheus Flare dust cloud. It is a very bright intricate object popular with astrophotagraphers.
Bortle 3 sky, UV/IR cut filter, 5 hour exposure
#astronomy #astrophotography
Bortle 3 sky, UV/IR cut filter, 5 hour exposure
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Cygnus Loop (SH-103) supernova remnant is over 120 light years in diameter, expanding at ~0.5 million mph. This is an update of my earlier post from 2 spectral bands to 3. This is a SHO image which renders ionized Sulfur(reds), Hydrogen(yellows) and Oxygen (blues).
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
October 22, 2025 at 12:16 PM
The Cygnus Loop (SH-103) supernova remnant is over 120 light years in diameter, expanding at ~0.5 million mph. This is an update of my earlier post from 2 spectral bands to 3. This is a SHO image which renders ionized Sulfur(reds), Hydrogen(yellows) and Oxygen (blues).
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Cradle of Vulpecula is a stellar nursery which contains the emission nebula SH2-86 and a young star cluster NGC 6823. This photo was taken over 2 nights just before a Nor'Easter hit here on Cape Cod. This is a narrow band photo where reds are Ha and blues are Oiii.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
October 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
The Cradle of Vulpecula is a stellar nursery which contains the emission nebula SH2-86 and a young star cluster NGC 6823. This photo was taken over 2 nights just before a Nor'Easter hit here on Cape Cod. This is a narrow band photo where reds are Ha and blues are Oiii.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 925 located in the constellation Triangulum at ~30 million light years from Earth and was used in a Hubble space telescope project to refine the Hubble constant (per Wikipedia). This is a 5 hour exp. collected over 2 nights in Sept. 2025.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
October 16, 2025 at 4:02 PM
The Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 925 located in the constellation Triangulum at ~30 million light years from Earth and was used in a Hubble space telescope project to refine the Hubble constant (per Wikipedia). This is a 5 hour exp. collected over 2 nights in Sept. 2025.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Cosmic Question Mark is comprised of a large emission nebula NGC 7822 and the small "Dot" is the Little Rosette Nebula (SH2-170). This photo is an updated post from 2 spectral bands to 3 where ionized Sulfur are reds, Hydrogen are yellows and Oxygen are blues.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
October 14, 2025 at 11:47 AM
The Cosmic Question Mark is comprised of a large emission nebula NGC 7822 and the small "Dot" is the Little Rosette Nebula (SH2-170). This photo is an updated post from 2 spectral bands to 3 where ionized Sulfur are reds, Hydrogen are yellows and Oxygen are blues.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Fossil Footprint Nebula (NGC 1491) located in the constellation Perseus at a distance of 10 Kly. This is a 6 hour SHO exposure rendered using the eye pleasing FORAXX palette where Ha are reds, Oiii are blues, and Sii are darker blues taken 10/03/25.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
October 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The Fossil Footprint Nebula (NGC 1491) located in the constellation Perseus at a distance of 10 Kly. This is a 6 hour SHO exposure rendered using the eye pleasing FORAXX palette where Ha are reds, Oiii are blues, and Sii are darker blues taken 10/03/25.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Hidden Galaxy (IC 342, Caldwell 5) lies on the other side of the Milky Way near the galactic plane behind dense interstellar dust clouds. This photo is a narrow band Ha/Oiii image rendered using the HOO palette to show regions of nebulosity within the galaxy.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
October 9, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The Hidden Galaxy (IC 342, Caldwell 5) lies on the other side of the Milky Way near the galactic plane behind dense interstellar dust clouds. This photo is a narrow band Ha/Oiii image rendered using the HOO palette to show regions of nebulosity within the galaxy.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Flying Dragon Nebula (Sh2-114) is an extremely faint filament structured HII region located in Cygnus which resembles a dragon in flight. This photo is a 12 hour exposure taken over 4 nights in late September 2025 using a Ha/Oiii narrow band filter.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
October 7, 2025 at 11:11 AM
The Flying Dragon Nebula (Sh2-114) is an extremely faint filament structured HII region located in Cygnus which resembles a dragon in flight. This photo is a 12 hour exposure taken over 4 nights in late September 2025 using a Ha/Oiii narrow band filter.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Cave Nebula (SH2-155, Caldwell 9) is a diffuse emission nebula with reflection and dark regions located in Cepheus. It is a 10.5 hour exposure taken over 2 nights, finished 09/28, and is rendered as a SHO image, Sulfur(reds), Hydrogen(yellows) and Oxygen (blues).
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
October 4, 2025 at 11:47 AM
The Cave Nebula (SH2-155, Caldwell 9) is a diffuse emission nebula with reflection and dark regions located in Cepheus. It is a 10.5 hour exposure taken over 2 nights, finished 09/28, and is rendered as a SHO image, Sulfur(reds), Hydrogen(yellows) and Oxygen (blues).
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Iris (NGC 7023) and Ghost (SH2-136) nebulae in the Cepheus Flare Molecular Cloud Complex. Both reflection nebulae are relatively close to each other and are about 1200 to 1300 ly distant from Earth.
Exposure: 3 hours , Skies: moonless Bortle 3
09/26/25
#astronomy #astrophotography
Exposure: 3 hours , Skies: moonless Bortle 3
09/26/25
#astronomy #astrophotography
October 1, 2025 at 11:32 AM
The Iris (NGC 7023) and Ghost (SH2-136) nebulae in the Cepheus Flare Molecular Cloud Complex. Both reflection nebulae are relatively close to each other and are about 1200 to 1300 ly distant from Earth.
Exposure: 3 hours , Skies: moonless Bortle 3
09/26/25
#astronomy #astrophotography
Exposure: 3 hours , Skies: moonless Bortle 3
09/26/25
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Wizard Nebula (NGC 7380) in Cepheus, was discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1787. This photo is an update of my earlier post from 2 spectral bands to 3. This SHO image uses the Hubble palette which renders ionized Sulfur(reds), Hydrogen(yellows) and Oxygen (blues).
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
September 28, 2025 at 12:27 PM
The Wizard Nebula (NGC 7380) in Cepheus, was discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1787. This photo is an update of my earlier post from 2 spectral bands to 3. This SHO image uses the Hubble palette which renders ionized Sulfur(reds), Hydrogen(yellows) and Oxygen (blues).
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is 2.5 Mly distant. M31 is larger than the Milky Way and is heading right for us at ~ 120 km/sec impacting in ~4.5 billion years. This is a wide field (3.4 x 5.3 deg) HaRGB photo taken with a my SVBony SV555 astrograph.
Skies: Bortle 3-4
09/04/25
#astronomy #astrophotography
Skies: Bortle 3-4
09/04/25
#astronomy #astrophotography
September 24, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is 2.5 Mly distant. M31 is larger than the Milky Way and is heading right for us at ~ 120 km/sec impacting in ~4.5 billion years. This is a wide field (3.4 x 5.3 deg) HaRGB photo taken with a my SVBony SV555 astrograph.
Skies: Bortle 3-4
09/04/25
#astronomy #astrophotography
Skies: Bortle 3-4
09/04/25
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Gamma Cygni Nebula (IC 1318) is a diffuse emission nebula ~ 4900 ly distant in the constellation Cygnus. Included in the photo are the Crescent(NGC 6888) and Butterfly nebulae. This is my 2nd run this year at this region using a Ha (reds) + Oiii (blues) nb filter.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
September 20, 2025 at 12:04 PM
The Gamma Cygni Nebula (IC 1318) is a diffuse emission nebula ~ 4900 ly distant in the constellation Cygnus. Included in the photo are the Crescent(NGC 6888) and Butterfly nebulae. This is my 2nd run this year at this region using a Ha (reds) + Oiii (blues) nb filter.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
Wolf's Cave (B 175, C 201, vdB 152), Dark Shark (LDN 1235) , and Rotten Fish (LDN 1251) are dark and reflection nebulae located in the Cepheus molecular cloud region. They are ~ 650 to 1400 light years from Earth. This is a 2 panel mosaic photo, 5hrs exposure per panel.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
September 18, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Wolf's Cave (B 175, C 201, vdB 152), Dark Shark (LDN 1235) , and Rotten Fish (LDN 1251) are dark and reflection nebulae located in the Cepheus molecular cloud region. They are ~ 650 to 1400 light years from Earth. This is a 2 panel mosaic photo, 5hrs exposure per panel.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635) in Cassiopeia. Is an emission nebula in which the intense central star has sculpted the local stellar medium. This is a SHO narrow band image showing the distribution of Sulfur(reds), Hydrogen(yellows) and Oxygen (blues) within the nebula.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
September 13, 2025 at 1:04 PM
The Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635) in Cassiopeia. Is an emission nebula in which the intense central star has sculpted the local stellar medium. This is a SHO narrow band image showing the distribution of Sulfur(reds), Hydrogen(yellows) and Oxygen (blues) within the nebula.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Deer Lick Galaxy Group and Supernova SN 2025rbs which is located in the large galaxy NGC 7331. The supernova was discovered July 14th and I photographed it September 3rd. SN 2025rbs had decreased in brightness by somewhat by this time but is still visible.
exp: 5 hrs
#astronomy #astrophotography
exp: 5 hrs
#astronomy #astrophotography
September 10, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The Deer Lick Galaxy Group and Supernova SN 2025rbs which is located in the large galaxy NGC 7331. The supernova was discovered July 14th and I photographed it September 3rd. SN 2025rbs had decreased in brightness by somewhat by this time but is still visible.
exp: 5 hrs
#astronomy #astrophotography
exp: 5 hrs
#astronomy #astrophotography
So says Douglas Adams!
September 10, 2025 at 1:56 AM
So says Douglas Adams!
Stephan's Quintet (HCG 92) is a compact group of interacting galaxies in Pegasus (~ 290 Mly distant). It is a chaotic grouping with tidal tails and shock waves. Four of the galaxies are interacting while one of them is much closer.
Taken 09/03/25
Exposure: 5 hours
#astronomy #astrophotography
Taken 09/03/25
Exposure: 5 hours
#astronomy #astrophotography
September 9, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Stephan's Quintet (HCG 92) is a compact group of interacting galaxies in Pegasus (~ 290 Mly distant). It is a chaotic grouping with tidal tails and shock waves. Four of the galaxies are interacting while one of them is much closer.
Taken 09/03/25
Exposure: 5 hours
#astronomy #astrophotography
Taken 09/03/25
Exposure: 5 hours
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Tulip Nebula (SH2-101) is an emission nebula ionized by young energetic stars within. It is close to the black hole Cygnus X-1 which creates a visible bow shock seen at the upper right of the nebula. This was 5 hour exposure on a moonless night, 08/22/25.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
September 6, 2025 at 12:22 PM
The Tulip Nebula (SH2-101) is an emission nebula ionized by young energetic stars within. It is close to the black hole Cygnus X-1 which creates a visible bow shock seen at the upper right of the nebula. This was 5 hour exposure on a moonless night, 08/22/25.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
The Rotten Fish Nebula (LDN 1251) is part of the Cepheus molecular cloud complex. It is a dim dark nebula, a dense cloud of gas and dust that obscures the light from background stars, which was captured with a long (5 hours) wide band exposure.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography
September 2, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The Rotten Fish Nebula (LDN 1251) is part of the Cepheus molecular cloud complex. It is a dim dark nebula, a dense cloud of gas and dust that obscures the light from background stars, which was captured with a long (5 hours) wide band exposure.
#astronomy #astrophotography
#astronomy #astrophotography