iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

After two months of cloudy nights, I finally got a few relatively clear, dark nights to shoot. This is the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101), shot in LRGB + Ha using my 6” RC. A total of 12 hours of exposures using an ASI533MM Pro camera. More tech info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/s8mu2p #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

After two months of crappy skies, I finally got a break with three nights of clear skies. Tonight is the third night shooting the Pinwheel Galaxy and all is going smoothly. Sub 0.5-sec guiding tonight with my 6" f/9 RC. Seems like I remember how this goes... #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 19/04/2026

Shot this with my 6" RC, which I'm still figuring out. 7 hours in LRGB and Ha with an ASI533MM Pro camera. Not as sharp as I would like, and I've since reconfigured and recollimated. Waiting for a chance to fine tune the collimation under the stars and shoot again. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Barnard 18, a dark nebula in Taurus. About 10 hours of integration in LRGB back in January using my SW Esprit 80ED f/5 refractor and ASI2600MM Pro camera on a Wave 150i mount. Details on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/u/PhotonPhan... #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Another galaxy I was able to image last week--NGC 2403, a spiral galaxy about 10 Mly away in Camelopardalis. Shot with my 6" f/9 RC telescope and ASI533MM Pro camera in LRGB+Ha. 13.5 hours of exposures. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/64hn5z #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Trying to make hay while the skies are clear and dark. M106, a galaxy in Canes Venatici. Shot with my 6" f/9 RC and an ASI533MM Pro camera on an iOptron GEM45 mount. Shot in LRGB + Ha. About 6.5 hours of exposures. More technical info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/q3z2l0 #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Shakedown cruise for my 6" f/9 Ritchey-Chretien telescope last night. Was able to get 5.25 hours on M81 in LRGB+Ha with an ASI533MM Pro camera. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/u/PhotonPhan... #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Another recent shot--this time the Orion Nebula, shot in LRGB using my SW Esprit 80ED refractor on my Wave 150i mount. Shot with an ASI2600MM Pro camera. 3.4 hours total integration. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/lvm6s9 #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Wide field shot of M81, M82, and companions. Note the wispy integrated flux nebula throughout. 26 hours of exposures in LRGB + Ha through my SW Esprit 80ED f/5 refractor. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/9qkpit #Astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

NGC 7822, an emission nebula in Cepheus. Shot in narrowband (plus RGB for stars) with my SW Esprit 80ED reduced to 260 mm FL using a Starizona Apex ED-S reducer. 11 hours total integration. Hubble palette. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/jwte1m #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

The Christmas Tree Cluster, shot in narrowband using my Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED refractor. I initially processed this in HOO, and then blended in SII data as a shade of green, yielding the gold color you see. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/fqwgeh #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

Dark nebula LDN 1452. 18 hours of data. Shot in LRGB with my SW Esprit 80ED refractor, ASI2600MM Pro camera, SW Wave 150i mount. I tried out the new Veralux Hypermetric Stretch tool on this image, and it did quite well on the nebulosity. More on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/f0ln5e #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

This is a quick-and-dirty version of a dark nebula image I shot over the past week. This is about 18 hours of data, processed in true color. Veralux Hypermetric Stretch kept popping up on my radar, so I tried that with this image. Space is a dusty and dirty place. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

The California Nebula (NGC 1499), shot in narrowband (RGB for the stars) and processed in the Hubble pallette. About 13 hours of data shot over two evenings. Shot with my 80-mm f/5 refractor. More details on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/fbhw1e #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

A couple hours on the Perseus Double Cluster in LRGB last night, using my 80-mm f/5 refractor and ASI2600MM Pro camera. Not the most spectacular target, but worth a couple hours. Details on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/bf4f1r #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Shooting astro from the middle of an RV resort around Christmas presents some extra challenges. At least we're past full moon. Trying out a Pegasus Falcon V2 rotator this evening. Shooting the Double Cluster in Perseus for a couple hours, then moving onto the California Nebula. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

The Seagull Nebula (IC 2177), shot at 260 mm FL in narrowband using my Sky-Watcher Esprit 80ED f/5 refractor with a Starizona Apex ED-S 0.65x reducer, riding on a Sky-Watcher Wave 150i strain wave mount. More equipment and exposure details on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/xtfoe5 #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

Another couple of clear nights gave me a chance to collect about 12 hours of photons on M33. Shot in LRGB + H-alpha with my SW Esprit 80ED 80-mm f/5 refractor and ASI2600MM Pro camera. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/4tmgil #Astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Managed 5 hours on the Andromeda Galaxy last Friday (Nov 14). Shot with my 80mm f/5 refractor. LRGB + Ha. Seems I shoot this one every year. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/95kz13 #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

A redo of my Heart and Soul Nebulae image from a few days ago. I think the color and contrast in this one is a bit better. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Redo of my North American Nebula data from a few days ago. This time I used the approach that Adam Block recently published for narrowband processing. Started with SOO and then blended Ha in across mostly the R and G channels. Maybe SH-OH-O? Definitely still false color. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

The Heart and Soul Nebulae, shot over four nights using my Esprit 80ED refractor shortened to 260mm FL using a Starizona Apex ED-S reducer. SHO with RGB stars. More info on equipment and exposures is on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/t38a7c #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

The North American Nebula (NGC 7000) and the Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) captured in a wide field image, shot at 260mm FL with a SW Esprit 80ED f/5 refractor reduced to f/3.25 with a Starizona Apex ED-S reducer. Hubble palette with RGB stars. About 10 hours of integration total. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

The last few years we've been wintering in our 5th wheel in AZ, and I always drag along some travel-friendly imaging gear. In previous years the gear I've brought along as not met expectations. Not so this year. This hardware has exceeded my expectations (1/4): #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

This is what I get almost immediately when I follow back indiscriminately on Bluesky. All bots, no doubt. (Yes, I knew they were bots when I followed them back.)

My chat window showing all the bots that messaged me after I followed them back

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Another image I processed using Telescope Live's data. This is M66, a galaxy about 31Mly distant, shot with a 27.5" scope. I processed this using PixInsight and Affinity Photo. More on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/076cr4 #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Another image using data from Telescope Live, processed by me using PixInsight and Affinity Photo. The Fighting Dragons of Ara--too far south to shoot myself. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/v5081t #Astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

NGC 253, The Sculptor Galaxy. Too far south for me to shoot myself so this data is from Telescope Live, processed by me with PixInsight and Affinity Photo. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/tnmpnm #astrophotography

The Sculptor Galaxy is seen nearly edge-on so it appears as oval-shaped. Its center is bright and it has spiral arms that show dust and nebulosity.

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

This one's too far south for me to shoot myself. The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, data from Telescope Live in Chile (24" scope!), processed by me in PixInsight. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/u/PhotonPhan... #Astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

The Dolphin Nebula (SH2-308). I used data from Telescope Live's observatory (20" telescope!) in Chile to create this image in HOO. Would like to shoot this myself someday, but it's tough to shoot where we are right now. More on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/u/PhotonPhan... #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Old data, new image. M 51, shot in Apr 2023. This time I added the H-alpha data I originally shot but never used. Less than 3 hours on this target, barely does it justice. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/e10t0a?r=D #Astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Another new image from old data. Shot in March 2022. Bode's Galaxy (M 81) and the Cigar Galaxy (M 82). Shot with a color camera through my 100-mm f/5.5 refractor. More info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com?i=f7osza #Astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

More old data, this time from June 2023. The Sunflower Galaxy (M 63), shot with a color camera through my C8. About 4 hours of exposures. Could have used more time on target. Technical info on this image can be found on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/zy3dzq?r=B #Astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Recycling data from a year and a half ago. NGC 7331, this time with H-alpha added. Shot with my C8 in LRGB + Ha. More tech info on Astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/xi9ffk?r=B #Astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

In between shooting astro images I've been dabbling in silversmithing. Today I finished this silver ring with chrysocolla stone and inlay. The local rock and gem club has a nice metal shop for doing this kind of stuff. Maybe for my next project I'll figure out something astronomy-themed.

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Image from last night's first light for the new SW Wave 150i mount. Adding more data tonight. Shot using a SW Esprit 80ED f/5 refractor and ASI2600MM Pro camera. SHO with RGB stars. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

First night with the new SW Wave 150i strain wave mount. Changed a few guiding settings and getting 0.6 - 0.7" guiding with an OAG through my 80mm f/5 refractor. Pretty pleased so far. Shooting the Rosette. First sub in H-alpha. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

My iOptron GEM28 mount has been chronically flakey--sometimes it works great, sometimes it's cantankerous. I decided to try one of the new strain wave mounts--a Sky-Watcher Wave 150i. Seems like a nice piece of hardware. Hoping to try it out sometime in the next few nights. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

I reshot the Jellyfish a few nights ago with my relatively new ASI2600MM Pro camera and SW Esprit 80ED refractor. One of my favorite targets. Shot in narrowband (Hubble palette) with RGB stars. More info on Astrobin: www.astrobin.com/qtxzxf/ #Astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Time to shoot again. Familiar target, but with newer equipment. The Jellyfish, but this time with a 400mm FL refractor and ASI2600MM Pro camera on an iOptron GEM28 mount. Nice compact setup for shooting while traveling in the RV. Shooting narrowband, but RGB first for the stars. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 18/01/2025

More data recycling. I shot the Lobster Claw (SH2-157) back in Sept 2023 but my original image didn't really have the Hubble-like colors I wanted. This one is much closer. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Another retread. Captured Thor's Helmet (NGC 2359) a year ago--it was lousy data so I was avoiding this redo, but glad I gave it another shot today. #Astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 17/01/2025

Sunset this evening in Quartzsite, AZ, our refuge from cold and snow for a few months.

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

More recycled data, from Dec 2023. The Jellyfish Nebula, in SHO. Reprocessed today using a more refined workflow. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

More recycled data, and another favorite target. The Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237), originally imaged in April 2023 and reprocessed today with a more refined workflow. #Astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Another redo, using data from Sept 2024. The Wizard Nebula (NGC 7380), narrowband SHO with RGB stars. Another of my favorite targets. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

New version of my Bubble Nebula image from Oct 2023. One of my favorite targets. Shot in SHO. When I can't shoot new targets, I play with data from older targets. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Revisited my Lion Nebula data from Oct. Wasn't really happy with my first processing effort so I took another whack at it. Always learning something new. #astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Had a chance to spend a night on the Seagull Nebula (IC 2177) with my 80-mm f/5 refractor. Shot in SHO with RGB stars. About 6 hours of data. More info on Astrobin: www.astrobin.com/2qn2e9/ #Astrophotography

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Dave @photonphanatic.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Another clear night--shooting the Seagull (IC 2177) in narrowband. Here's the first sub, in H-alpha. Wish me luck... #astrophotography

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