With a nod to sci-fi author Vernor Vinge, this site is dedicated to the deepness in the sky -- in NJ USA and elsewhere. More than ever we need to see the wonders of the celestial sphere to help our perspective on this planet. Reducing light pollution to restore dark to the night sky can inspire us, and is critically important to ecosystems and wildlife habitat, and the very survival of birds, insects, other animals, and plants.
I aim to show that doing astronomy through telescopic photography is possible -- even in New Jersey! -- despite the challenges of sky glow from excessive outdoor lighting. It takes good optical and electronic equipment and technique, patience and motivation. I hope you join me in this quest. -- Rex Parker, PhD
See more of my interests at www.princetonastronomy.org
Images with "NJ" in filename were acquired from my home observatory (panel below). Telescope: 12.5" f6.7 AG Optical iDK reflector on Paramount MX with TheSkyX, Maxim-DL, and ACP software. Astro cameras (CMOS): ZWO ASI071MC (color) & ASI2600MM (LRGB). Exposures: many hours each with 10-20 min subs.
Other images ("Chile" in filename) were acquired remotely from the Chilean Andes, at Cerro Tololo (CTIO) and El Sauce Observatories (30 deg S lat.). Telescopes: 16" R-C at CTIO, and 24" Planewave CDK at El Sauce (thanks to S Watson, M Hanson, and S Mazlin). Cameras (CCD): FLI & SBIG KAF-16803. A few images are from Mt Lemmon AZ, 32" telescope (thanks to A Block).
Click on panels below
Nebulae
2021-07-12interstellar clouds of glowing gas & dust...
Galaxies
2021-07-12island universes of billions of stars
Star Clusters
2021-09-09vast "cities of stars" within our galaxy...
Supernova Remnants
2022-02-10The spectacle after a massive star...
Solar System
2021-11-21planets, moons, comets, transits
Backyard Observatory
2022-04-05where the data come from
How-to Videos by Rex Parker
down to earth talk about stellar subjects...
Mt Lemmon Astroimaging Workshop
slide show from Tucson field trip
Measuring Algol's Light Curve with CCD Camera
famed variable star
The Speed of an Asteroid
2022-04-03Calculated using trig and astroimage data...