GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 21/07/2026The measured image scale of 3.99 arcseconds per pixel means each pixel covers just under 4 arcseconds of sky. Knowing the image scale is essential for measuring object sizes, comparing observations and registering images from different nights. 000
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 21/07/2026The image is centred on NGC 6992, the brighter eastern section of the Veil Nebula. The solution also identifies NGC 6995, where the filament curves southward, and IC 1340, a fainter emission region extending below the main arc. 100
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 21/07/2026Plate solving compares the recorded star pattern against astrometric catalogues to determine the exact sky coordinates of every pixel. This allows the image to be accurately aligned with celestial coordinates without needing telescope pointing information. 100
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 21/07/2026The Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC 6992) is part of the expanding shockwave from a supernova that exploded ~10,000 years ago. Hydrogen and oxygen emissions reveal its intricate filaments. Approx. 2 hours of 60s sub-exposures. 🔭✨ #Astrophotography #Astronomy #VeilNebula @kat-astro-bot.bsky.social 1262
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 20/07/2026Tonight's 40% first quarter Moon, in honour of International Moon Day. 031
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 20/07/2026youtube.com/watch?v=fvsh...youtube.comArtemis II astronauts visit ESA's technical centre (ESTEC)YouTube video by European Space Agency, ESA 000
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 20/07/2026Today marks the anniversary of Apollo 11's historic lunar landing on 20 July 1969—the day humanity first set foot on another world. The UN established International Moon Day to celebrate this achievement and to inspire the peaceful exploration and sustainable use of the Moon. 000
Reposted by GOFlahertyKym @ The Evening Sky Map @skymaps.com · 17/07/2026🌙 🌟 Over the next few hours the crescent Moon will appear close to the planet Venus, with closest approach at 16h UT on July 17th. The beautiful scene is visible worldwide and is best viewed about an hour after sunset. Simply look up! 🔭 skymaps.com/skycalendar/ 083
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 14/07/2026Astrometry for my image of the Western Veil Nebula. 000
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 14/07/2026The Western Veil Nebula (NGC 6960), part of the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant, captured over ~5 hours using 60-second sub-exposures with a Seestar S30 in EQ mode. 🔭✨ #astrophotography @kat-astro-bot.bsky.social 1193
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 13/07/2026Out capturing more data for the Western Veil Nebula. 020
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 13/07/2026Well, the Universe and the second law of thermodynamics favor disorder and randomness, so I predict explosions and collisions 😁 030
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 12/07/2026Tonight's planned observations. It's nice to have a clear night at last. #astrophotography 010
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 12/07/2026Astrometry of my Whirlpool Galaxy image. Approximately 9 hours of 60 second sub exposures with a Seestar S30 smart telescope in equatorial mode. 000
Reposted by GOFlahertyAstrometry Bot @kat-astro-bot.bsky.social · 12/07/2026Astrometry: RA: 202.47 ° Dec: 47.23 ° Resolution: 1.33 arcsec/pix Objects: NGC 5194, M 51, NGC 5195, IC 4263, Whirlpool Galaxy 001
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 12/07/2026Great question! It's called a tidal bridge. It's made up of stars, gas, and dust that have been pulled out of the galaxies by their mutual gravitational attraction. It's not a solid structure—it's material stretched between the galaxies as they interact. 100
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 12/07/2026M51 interacting with NGC 5195. Their gravitational encounter compresses gas and dust, triggering star formation while reshaping M51's spiral arms. Around 31 million light-years away, this pair offers a nearby glimpse of galaxy evolution. #Astrophotography @kat-astro-bot.bsky.social 3479
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 25/04/2026Thank you so much. I loved following Artemis II too!! 010
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 25/04/2026Today's Sun 🌞 with a closeup of its sun spots. Taken from my front driveway on a rare sunny day in Ireland. #Sun #SolarActivity #Solarphotography 040
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 25/04/2026Last night's first quarter Moon, imaged from my suburban back garden before I went looking for Deep Space Objects to capture. I can't wait for humans to land on the Moon again in 2028. Go Artemis IV! #Moon #Lunar #LunarPhotography 21038
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 24/04/2026M35 with the compact background cluster NGC 2158, captured with my Seestar S30 smart telescope. 60 minutes total integration (10s subs, EQ mode) reveals a dense stellar field with natural color variation. @kat-astro-bot.bsky.social #astrophotography #deepsky #astronomy #seestar #opencluster 161
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 17/04/2026M42 (Orion Nebula) captured with a Seestar S30. ~1 hour total integration from 10s sub-exposures. Short subs preserve core detail while stacking reveals faint outer nebulosity. Emission from ionized hydrogen (Hα) and oxygen (OIII) traces active star formation. False color palette. #Astrophotography 180
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 13/04/2026Astrometry from my M101 image. It's a busy part of the sky! 010
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 12/04/2026M101 (Pinwheel Galaxy) Seestar S30 (EQ mode) 70 min integration | 60s subs Face-on spiral ~21 million light years distant in Ursa Major. #Astrophotography #M101 #DeepSky #Space 3122
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 12/04/2026Happy International Day of Human Space Flight to all my fellow Space nerds! 000
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 08/04/2026My second image published in the April 2026 issue of Astronomy Ireland 🌌 Aurora Borealis over Newbridge, Co. Kildare Captured Jan 19, 2026 at 21:53 — Orion watching overhead. Ireland under northern lights… still doesn’t feel real. #Astronomy #Aurora #Ireland #Astrophotography 020
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 04/04/2026Just got published in Astronomy Ireland magazine 🚀 My image of the Pac-Man Nebula (NGC 281), captured with a Seestar S30 — 64 mins of data bringing out those deep H-alpha reds. Seeing it in print hits different. Backyard astronomy lives on 🌌 #astrophotography #space #NGC281 041
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 01/04/2026Tonight's nearly full moon as the crew of Artemis 2 prepare for lift off! Godspeed! 020
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 23/03/2026Seestar S30 observation of planetary nebula M97. ~60 min integration resolves OIII-dominated inner shell (teal) with surrounding Hα emission. Processing kept conservative to preserve photometric integrity and faint structure. 271
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 20/03/2026At the vernal equinox, Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the Sun, placing it over the celestial equator. Day and night are nearly equal worldwide. From Ireland, winter constellations set as spring rises. Happy Vernal Equinox 2026! #equinox 020
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 19/03/2026Lots of interesting astrometry in my image of the Monkey Head Nebula. It's amazing what one can capture from one's suburban back garden. 000
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 19/03/2026NGC 2175, an H II emission region, shows ionized hydrogen shaped by radiation from embedded young stars. This broadband view resolves diffuse structure and stellar content within a dense Galactic field, captured with a Seestar S30. #astrophotography #astronomy #deepsky #seestar #emissionnebula 2376
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 11/03/2026Leo Triplet (M65, M66, and NGC 3628) captured with a Seestar S30. This wide-field view shows the contrasting structures of two bright spiral galaxies and the edge-on dust lane of NGC 3628 within a dense background star field. #astrophotography #deepsky #astronomy #galaxies #seestar 410816
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 07/03/2026Castor (α Geminorum), ~51 light-years away in Gemini. What appears to be one star is actually a hierarchical sextuple system: three gravitationally bound binary pairs. The two brightest A-type stars orbit each other every ~467 years. #astrophotography 318726
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 06/03/2026Out doing what I love, capturing the beauty of the cosmos #astrophotography 030
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 06/03/2026I might actually get the chance to do so imaging tonight! 020
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 19/02/2026Thin waxing crescent Moon captured with a Seestar S30. Low solar incidence along the terminator enhances crater rims and highland relief through elongated shadow contrast. Subtle Earthshine is visible on the night side, caused by sunlight reflected from Earth. 330726
GOFlaherty @goflaherty.bsky.social · 19/02/2026This is the earliest moon phase I've ever captured. 000
