iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 17/10/2026

I was able to get some therapeutic telescope time in this week! This is NGC 891, an edge-on galaxy about the size of our own Milky Way and is approximately 30 mly away in the constellation Andromeda. 10.5 hours over two nights with my old Orion 11" SCT. #astrophotography #astronomy

NGC 891, the Silver Sliver galaxy, some 30 million light years away in Andromeda.

2280 28

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 30/09/2026

A couple of nights ago, I pointed my telescope at the moon and randomly caught five satellite transits within 2.5 minutes. #astrophotography

Five satellites transiting the moon within two and a half minutes.

2105 10

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 29/09/2026

I followed the evolution of supernova #SN2026aaiv for my September backyard #astronomy project. Bonus, I now have some differential photometry skills. #astrophotography

Light curve for supernova SN 2026aaiv in NGC 7331.
Nightly means :
2026-09-08 n = 27 V = 13.075 +/- 0.010 (04:28 - 10:26 UT)
2026-09-09 n = 25 V = 12.814 +/- 0.009 (04:25 - 10:17 UT)
2026-09-10 n = 13 V = 12.621 +/- 0.013 (04:05 - 07:34 UT)
2026-09-11 n = 26 V = 12.452 +/- 0.008 (03:58 - 10:19 UT)
2026-09-12 n = 27 V = 12.329 +/- 0.007 (03:56 - 10:28 UT)
2026-09-15 n = 14 V = 12.129 +/- 0.007 (03:53 - 04:32 UT)
2026-09-19 n = 15 V = 11.960 +/- 0.005 (08:18 - 09:06 UT)
2026-09-20 n = 10 V = 11.705 +/- 0.005 (03:35 - 04:09 UT)
2026-09-28 n = 64 V = 12.198 +/- 0.010 (04:00 - 07:41 UT)
2026-09-29 n = 53 V = 12.280 +/- 0.004 (03:39 - 10:56 UT)
Mean epoch (mid) : JD 2461302.77535 (2026-09-19 06:36 UT) (span 510.45 h)

070 7

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 20/09/2026

I'm continuing to image supernova #SN2026aaiv in NGC 7331 from my driveway observatory. A quick look at the differential photometry has it clocking in at a healthy 11.7 magnitude. #astronomy #astrophotography

Light curve of supernova SN 2026aaiv in galaxy NGC 7331. It's still increasing in brightness, at 11.7 magnitude.

040 4

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 15/09/2026

I've spent the last week imaging supernova 2026aaiv in NGC 7331 and dabbling in differential photometry from my data. I calculated it at magnitude 12.1 last night. #astronomy #astrophotography #supernova #sn2026aaiv

The galaxy NGC 7331 with supernova 2026aaiv, imaged from my driveway in Oregon.

Light curve for SN 2026aaiv. It's still getting brighter!

0111 11

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 27/04/2026

The globular cluster Messier 3! 34,000 light years from the center of my driveway in Canes Venatici, this object contains more than 500,000 stars. Imaged with an 11-inch SCT and mono camera with LRGB filters. #astrophotograpy #astronomy

0132 13

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 18/04/2026

I've been sitting on this one since last October - the last time I had my gear out! This is a Bubble nebula (NGC 7635) wide field. This was imaged with my F/2 8-inch RASA for 14 hours over two nights. #astrophotography #astronomy

0132 13

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 03/03/2026

Last night's skycam perspective of the lunar eclipse. #astrophotography #astronomy

1140 14

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 04/01/2026

I haven't had a telescope out since October, as I'm in rehab (for a back problem!). I went into my archival data this weekend and produced a very dusty image of Messier 45. Imaged from the driveway in 2019 and 2023. #astrophotography #astronomy

1334 33

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 22/11/2025

I tried my hand at vibe coding this week with Google's Antigravity. Within minutes, I had a working Python script that takes Pixinsight image annotation data, does Simbad queries, and generates a spreadsheet of info - and I can barely spell "Python." #astrophotography

0100 10

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 18/11/2025

Andromeda's maelstrom! Imaged over three nights in September from the driveway. Image details are on my Astrobin page at app.astrobin.com/i/w0aubd. #astrophotography #astronomy

1569 56

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 06/10/2025

The Pacman nebula (NGC 281), some 9500 LY from the center of my driveway. This was imaged with an 8" Celestron RASA and ZWO ASI2600MC camera with a dual narrowband filter. #astrophotography #astronomy

0475 47

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 26/09/2025

I've got the William Optics GT-81 out this week. This scope never fails to deliver incredible views! #astrophotography #astronomy

William Optics GT-81 telescope on the ZWO AM5 mount, outside waiting for dark.

2250 25

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 22/06/2025

Them: You don't need to double-stack a Daystar Quark solar filter. Me: A Quark double-stacked with a Lunt LS40F filter. I designed and 3D printed a couple of adapters. The ZWO ADC tames Newton's rings like magic. This project created many cloudy days in the PNW! #astrophotography #astronomy

A Daystar Quark solar filter attached to a Lunt 40mm etalon with 3D printed adapters.

2251 25

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 12/06/2025

NGC 6503, a dwarf spiral galaxy that lies 18 million light years distant in the constellation Draco and on the edge of the Local Void. Imaged with my 11" SCT over two nights this month. Image details on my Astrobin page at app.astrobin.com/i/au7oe5. #astrophotography #astronomy

Dwarf spiral galaxy NGC 6503 in the constellation Draco lies 18 million light years away on the edge of the Local Void.

0162 16

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 11/06/2025

Spiral galaxy NGC 6015 in Draco, about 60 million light years from the center of my driveway. This is the result of nearly 12.5 hours of imaging over 3 nights in June. Image details are on my Astrobin page at app.astrobin.com/i/lcolg9. #astrophotography #astronomy

Spiral galaxy NGC 6015 in the constellation Draco, approximately 60 million light years from Earth.

1283 28

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 08/06/2025

The Draco Triplet, in the constellation (you guessed it) Draco! The spiral galaxy at the top (NGC 5986) is about a third larger than our Milky Way and 140 million light years distant! Image details on my Astrobin page at app.astrobin.com/i/jccmmy #astrophotography #astronomy

210414 104

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 31/05/2025

This is how the galaxy group Hickson 44 looked some 80 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Photons collected with my RASA in 2020 and reprocessed this week! #astrophotography

The galaxy group Hickson 44, about 80 million light years from our solar system.

0433 43

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 08/05/2025

The morning after the night before. Clouds have moved in, so I get a few nights off. #astrophotography

2121 12

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 08/05/2025

Arp 104, Keenan's system in Ursa Major. A bridge of galactic material spans between the two galaxies as they interact. I had to dodge clouds for 3 nights to get this shot! Image details on my Astrobin page at app.astrobin.com/i/3hnqng. #astrophotography #astronomy

Keenan's system, a.k.a. Arp 104, in Ursa Major. Imaged from Southern Oregon.

2443 44

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 03/05/2025

Messier 63, the Sunflower galaxy. Data from last year was combined with my imaging sessions from this spring to bump this to over 19 hours of total integration time from the driveway. Image details on my Astrobin page at app.astrobin.com/i/ql3yos. #astrophotography #astronomy

Messier 63, the Sunflower galaxy. 19 hours, 6 minutes total integration time.

4788 78

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 24/04/2025

The Eyes Galaxies in Markarian's Chain, approximately 52 million light years from Earth. NGC 4438's distortions are due to past interactions with other galaxies, likely NGC 4435 & M86. Image details on my Astrobin site at app.astrobin.com/i/enzh4a. #astrophotography #astronomy

The Eyes Galaxies in Markarian's Chain, about 52 million light years from Earth.

1433 43

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 22/04/2025

The Whirlpool galaxy (Messier 51), about 31 million light years from the center of my driveway. Total integration time was nearly 14.5 hrs in LRGB. Image details on my Astrobin page at app.astrobin.com/i/02phmv. #astrophotography #astronomy

Messier 51, the Whirlpool galaxy. Imaged from SW Oregon in April 2025.

2656 65

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 19/04/2025

642 - the number of galaxies in this image of the Markarian's Chain neighborhood! Imaged from the driveway last week with the William Optics GT-81 refractor. More image details on my Astrobin page at app.astrobin.com/i/1lkrwb. #astrophotography #astronomy

0292 29

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 17/04/2025

The Needle galaxy (NGC 4565), a beautiful edge-on spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices. Imaged with my 11-inch Celestron SCT last night from the driveway. Image details are on my Astrobin page at app.astrobin.com/i/ubhujj. #astrophotography #astronomy

NGC 4565, the Needle galaxy is approximately 40 million light years from Earth.

1696 69

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 12/04/2025

Since this is the current ChatGPT rage, here's my contribution. Not sure what's up with the groin-level telescopes, But with three clear nights starting this weekend, I'm obviously happy. #Astrophotography

0120 12

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 14/03/2025

I've been a bit under the weather this week and it was cloudy last night, so I skipped the lunar eclipse. Here's something from the archive instead. Messier 1, the Crab nebula. Imaged in narrowband from the driveway with the 8" EdgeHD in Jan & Dec 2022. #astrophotography #astronomy

Messier 1, the Crab nebula. Imaged in 2022 from my driveway.

0203 20

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 02/03/2025

The galaxy Messier 96, 31 million light years from our solar system in the constellation Leo. Imaged during our late February "false spring." More rain & snow incoming! Image details on my Astrobin page at astrob.in/rmlk70/0/. #astrophotography #astronomy

The galaxy Messier 96, 31 million light years distant in the constellation Leo.

0505 50

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 26/02/2025

Combining old data with new, I was able to reveal Messier 82's H-alpha "Cap," that slight, red smudge in the upper left of the image. It's extremely dim! This represents a total of nearly 25 hours of imaging from the driveway in 2022 & 2025. #astrophotography #astronomy

The galaxy Messier 82 with its extremely dim hydrogen-alpha "cap".

116221 162

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 10/02/2025

In 2019, I was just getting into narrowband and attempted to image the faint planetary nebula Yerkes-McDonald 16 in Serpens Cauda. The image was a mess and my processing skills suspect, but I kept the data. Reprocessed today and was pleasantly surprised! #astrophotography #astronomy

11106 110

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 09/02/2025

The Serpens Molecular Cloud, with the reflection nebula vdB 123 at the top-center and the Flaming Skull (planetary) nebula on the right. This was imaged as a 2-panel mosaic with the 8-inch RASA in 2023. #astrophotography #astronomy

2538 53

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 01/02/2025

The Cigar galaxy (Messier 82), about 12 million light years from the center of my driveway! Image details on my Astrobin page at astrob.in/o7f0wk/0/. #astrophotography #astronomy

1483 48

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 30/01/2025

The Medusa nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation Gemini. I shot this over two nights this week from the driveway. Image details are on my Astrobin page at astrob.in/f1reae/0/. #astrophotography #astronomy

Sh2-274, the Medusa nebula in the constellation Gemini.

Sh2-274, the Medusa nebula in the constellation Gemini (starless version).

410413 104

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 25/01/2025

Galaxy NGC 2841 in Ursa Major, approximately 46 million light years from the driveway! Image details on my Astrobin page at app.astrobin.com/i/n0g7hz. #astrophotography #astronomy

The spiral galaxy NGC 2841 in Ursa Major.

31699 169

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 11/01/2025

January 8th's moon in monochrome! I'd planned to do some narrowband imaging that night, took a peek at the moon, then the fog rolled in. C11 with 0.7x reducer, ZWO ASI2600MM Pro, and 3nm Ha filter. #astrophotography

1342 34

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 17/12/2024

The globular clusters NGC 5053 (top) and Messier 53 (bottom), as viewed from my Southern Oregon driveway in May, 2023. #astrophotography

Globular clusters NGC 5053 and Messier 53. Imaged from my driveway in southern Oregon.

0524 52

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 14/12/2024

I'm back! I've been ill for the last month or so, but the docs finally have me on the mend. As I get older, I don't bounce back as quickly as I once did. Anyway, here's Messier 45, imaged from the driveway in Jan 2023 with the 8" RASA. #astrophotography

Messier 45, imaged with my 8-inch RASA in January 2023.

3857 85

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 29/08/2024

The galaxy NGC 7331 at 40 million light years, with its visual group some 300-350 mly distant. Imaged from the driveway this week. Acquisition details are on my Astrobin page at astrob.in/75f4kb/0/. #astrophotography #astronomy

5886 88

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 14/08/2024

I had a small window of opportunity last night (no smoke!) and pointed my 11-inch SCT at the Western Veil nebula. 5 hours, 10 minutes in SHO narrowband. #astrophotography #astronomy

0826 82

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 15/07/2024

Sh 2-86/NGC 6820/NGC 6823 from the driveway! 13hrs 50 min with the Celestron 8" EdgeHD & ZWO ASI2600MM Pro camera with SHO 3nm narrowband filters. Image details on my Astobin page at astrob.in/jrag82/0/. #astrophotography #astronomy

Emission nebula Sh 2-86, reflection nebula NGC 6820, and open cluster NGC 6823 as seen from my telescope in July 2024.

1404 40

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 14/06/2024

We had a stretch of really nice weather in So Oregon and I spent 4 nights on Messier 57, the Ring nebula. 19+ hrs of narrowband & RGB. #astrophotography

Messier 57, the Ring Nebula. Imaged over four nights from So Oregon.

3463 46

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 13/05/2024

Messier 94, the Cat's Eye galaxy, imaged from the driveway this week! Celestron 8" EdgeHD, ZWO ASI2600MM Pro with LRGB filters, iOptron HAE69CEC mount. #astrophotography #astronomy

160 6

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 28/04/2024

4-panel mosaic of the Flame, Horsehead, and Orion nebulas. Imaged from the driveway last November with the 8-inch Celestron RASA, ZWO ASI2600MC Pro, and Antlia ALP-T high-speed dual-band filter. Total integration time was just under 3 hours! #astrophotography

Wide-field image of the Flame, Horsehead, and Orion nebulas in the constellation Orion.

171 7

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 19/03/2024

This is Jones-Emberson 1, a.k.a. the Headphone Nebula in Ha-OIII-RGB. 1600 ly distant in the constellation Lynx. 25+ hours over 4 nights from the driveway. Details on my Astrobin at astrob.in/v7aix1/0/ #Astrophotography #astronomy

Jones-Emberson 1, also know as the Headphone nebula, is a planetary nebula 1600 light years from Earth in the constellation Lynx.

070 7

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 03/03/2024

Solar prominences on February 24th, as seen from the driveway. I used the Pixinsight Solar Toolbox by Bill Blanshan & Mike Cranfield to process this.

Solar prominences on February 24, 2024. Imaged from my driveway in southern Oregon.

0255 25

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 28/01/2024

Dipping into the driveway archives for some 2022 data on the Cocoon nebula in HaRGB. I imaged this with the 8" EdgeHD, ZWO ASI294MM Pro, and iOptron CEM70G.

050 5

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 15/01/2024

Seems all the astro stores are fresh out of clear nights, so here's NGC 6888, the Crescent nebula, imaged from the driveway last summer. Celestron EdgeHD 8, ZWO ASI2600MM Pro, Antlia 3nm SHO, and iOptron CEM70G mount.

4388 38

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 26/12/2023

A reprocess of Messier 81, imaged from the driveway in LRGB mono in February 2022. Less than clear nights here at the moment! #astrophotography #astronomy

1123 12

Loran Hughes @westwoodastro.net · 18/12/2023

Dipping my toes into the Bluesky waters for the first time. I have a day job, but I also take pictures of space from my driveway in southern Oregon. When I score a clear night, that is. Thankfully, I'm a raging insomniac so it works out! #astrophotography #astronomy

78810 88