Astrophotography | Telescopes

This week, we're thrilled to be featuring @‌within.the.dark 🤩⁠ ⁠ Head over to their profile and hit that follow button to keep up with all the latest posts!⁠ ⁠ 📷 (1) Rho Ophiuchi⁠ 📷 (2) Heart Nebula⁠ 📷 (3) Full Moon⁠ 📷 (4) Messier 51⁠ ⁠ Share your images using the hashtag #highpointscientific for a chance to be featured next!⁠⁠ Whether or not you purchased your equipment from us, we appreciate good astronomy when we see it and we want to highlight your hard work 🔭⁠ ⁠ #astrophotography #amateurastronomy #heartnebula #lunarphotography #messier51

Wow! Thank you @‌ericzig92 for sharing your amazing shots of the Whirlpool and Pinwheel Galaxies!⁠ ⁠ "Whirlpool Galaxy (with and without stars) and another image of Pinwheel with a little more integration time.⁠ ⁠ Whirlpool Galaxy is a large spiral galaxy about 31 million light-years from Earth. It’s famous for its bright swirling arms filled with stars, gas, and dust, giving it the look of a giant cosmic whirlpool. The galaxy is interacting with a smaller nearby galaxy, which helps create its dramatic spiral shape⁠ ⁠ Integration time: 140x60sec subs (8400 seconds)⁠ Focal Length: 335 mm⁠ Aperture: 152 mm (6”) RASA⁠ Focal Ratio: f/2.2⁠ IMX678 Camera"⁠ ⁠ 📷 @ericzig92 ⁠ ⁠ #highpointscientific #astrophotography #whirlpoolgalaxy #pinwheelgalaxy #amateurastronomy

Thank you @‌spacehawara for tagging us in your magnificent image of Messier 101!⁠ ⁠ "The very first galaxy I ever captured.⁠ ⁠ And like every year, l’ve recaptured and processed it again to track how much l’ve improved.⁠ ⁠ Messier 101 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major.⁠ It‘s about 21 million light-years away and spans approximately 170,000 light-years across⁠ -making it nearly twice the size of our Milky Way.⁠ ⁠ If you’re curious about the comparison:⁠ check out my latest reel to see how my astrophotography has evolved over 5 years."⁠ ⁠ 📷 @spacehawara ⁠ ⁠ #highpointscientific #astrophotography #messier101 #amateurastrophotography #backyardastrophotography

Amazing! Thank you @‌scotiaastrouk for sharing your outstanding shot of the Needle Galaxy!⁠ ⁠ "My wide-field trip around the galaxies of northern skies continues with this wee project around NGC4565 aka ‘The Needle Galaxy’.⁠ ⁠ Located around 40 million light years away in the constellation of Coma Berenices, The Needle is an edge on spiral galaxy with a lovely dark ribbon of dust running along its outer arms. These are more apparent in the cropped images.⁠ ⁠ With this more ‘zoomed out’ view, we can also see that the Needle has a number of more distant galactic neighbours of all shapes and sizes.⁠ ⁠ I was also interested to see a (very) faint red glow appearing on the outer edge of this image, which I imagine are some Hydrogen emissions in the area. I’ll need to revisit this with an H-alpha filter to see if I can draw more of this out in a future project.⁠ ⁠ Thanks for looking and hope you’re all getting some time under the stars! 🔭📸✨⁠ ⁠ ⏱️ 9h 32’⁠ 🎯 NGC4565 ‘The Needle Galaxy’⁠ 🔭 StellaMira 90ED Triplet APO⁠ 📸 ZWO 2600MM Pro⁠ 🔭 iOptron CEM40⁠ ⭕️ Antlia 36mm RGB⁠ 💻 Beelink GK Mini"⁠ ⁠ 📷 @scotiaastrouk ⁠ ⁠ #highpointscientific #astrophotography #needlegalaxy #amateurastronomy #backyardastronomy

Mark your calendars now! ☀️ The August 2027 total solar eclipse is set to be one of the most spectacular celestial events of the century. Lasting an outstanding 6 minutes and 23 seconds, this is an eclipse that's worth seeking out if you can.⁠ ⁠ 🔗 Click the link in our bio to learn everything you need to know about the 2027 total solar eclipse, including the best locations to experience totality!⁠ ⁠ #highpointscientific #astrophotography #solareclipse #totalsolareclipse #astronomy

This week, we're thrilled to be featuring @‌peace_love_and_bugs 🤩⁠ ⁠ Head over to their profile and hit that follow button to keep up with all the latest posts!⁠ ⁠ 📷 (1) The Flaming Star Nebula⁠ 📷 (2) Milky Way⁠ 📷 (3) Melotte 15⁠ 📷 (4) The Tadpole Nebula⁠ ⁠ Share your images using the hashtag #highpointscientific for a chance to be featured next!⁠⁠ Whether or not you purchased your equipment from us, we appreciate good astronomy when we see it and we want to highlight your hard work 🔭⁠ ⁠ #astronomy #astrophotography #astrophoto #spacephotography #amateurastrophotography #backyardastronomy #deepskyphotography #amateurastronomy #deepskyastrophotography #backyardastrophotography #pixinsight #astrophotos #deepsky #spacephotos

Thank you @‌qswat72 for tagging us in your spectacular shot of Messier 104, the Sombrero Galaxy!⁠ ⁠ "M104 - The Sombrero Galaxy⁠ ⁠ Finally got around to processing some data on the Sombrero Galaxy from a couple months back! First time revisiting this target since 2021.⁠ ⁠ Located roughly 30 million light years away in the constellation Virgo, the Sombrero Galaxy is best known for its well defined spiral arms. The galaxy comes in at ~100 thousand light years in diameter, making it just smaller than the Milky Way. It gets its name from its Sombrero like shape and large diffuse outer halo.⁠ ⁠ Also visible are quite a few smaller more distant galaxies, with one cluster in particular having a redshift that places it in the 2.4 billion light year range.⁠ ⁠ —————————————————————————⁠ Acquisition:⁠ • 150x120” lights, Gain 100, Offset 40, -10C, f/3.45, 518mm (Bortle 2)⁠ • Matched darks from library⁠ —————————————————————————⁠ Equipment: @zwoasi ASI533MC Pro, Sky-Watcher Quattro 150P, @optolongfilter UV/IR Cut, @skywatcherusa HEQ5 Pro, SVBONY SV165, ZWO ASI120MM mini, ZWO EAF, MeLE Quieter2, @jackeryusa 240/290⁠ ⁠ Stacked in DSS, processed in Pixinsight, and finished in Lightroom"⁠ ⁠ 📷 @qswat72 ⁠ ⁠ #highpointscientific #astronomy #astrophotography #astrophoto #spacephotography #amateurastrophotography #backyardastronomy #deepskyphotography #amateurastronomy #deepskyastrophotography

Thank you @‌ciavagliafrancesco for sharing your outstanding image of the Seagull Nebula! 🤩⁠ ⁠ "IC 2117 Nebulosa Gabbiano è una nebulosa diffusa visibile al confine fra le costellazioni del Cane Maggiore e dell’Unicorno. SI trova ad una distanza di circa 3200 anni luce dalla Terra⁠ La strumentazione utilizzata è la seguente:⁠ Telescopio: Tecnosky 70AG F5⁠ Camera Cmos: Player One Poseidon-M PRO⁠ Temperatura Camera: -20⁠ Angolo Camera: 180°⁠ Montatura: IOptron CEM120EC⁠ Guida Telescopio: PLAYER ONE FHD-OAG MAX - Player One Astronomy SEDNA-M⁠ Software: Voyager - PixInsight⁠ Light: H 25X600 Gain 125 Offset 30 BIN 1X1 - OIII 7X600 Gain 300 Offset 30 BIN 1X1 - SII 7X600 Gain 300 Offset 30 BIN 1X1 - R 3X300 Gain 8 Offset 30 BIN 1X1 - G 3X300 Gain 8 Offset 30 BIN 1X1 - B 3X300 Gain 8 Offset 30 BIN 1X1 - 11 Dark 11 Flat 11 Bias⁠ Filtri: Optolong L 50.8 – Optolong R 50.8 – Optolong G 50.8 – Optolong B 50.8 – Optolong HA 3NM 50.8 – Optolong OIII 3NM 50.8 – Optolong SII 3NM 50.8⁠ Accessori: Wanderer Power Box V3 PRO - Focheggiatore Elettronico ZWO EAF N - Wanderer Rotator Mini M54 - Wanderer Astro Flat Panel Motorizzato⁠ Data: 21-02-26 24-02-26⁠ Luna: 20% 53%⁠ Luogo di Ripresa: Gualdo Tadino(PG) Italia"⁠ ⁠ 📷 @ciavagliafrancesco ⁠ ⁠ #highpointscientific #astronomy #astrophotography #astrophoto #spacephotography #amateurastrophotography #backyardastronomy #deepskyphotography #amateurastronomy #deepskyastrophotography

Thank you @‌within.the.dark for tagging us in your magnificent shot of Messier 51!⁠ ⁠ "17 Hours of M51 with my ZWO FF107"⁠ ⁠ 📷 @within.the.dark ⁠ ⁠ #highpointscientific #astronomy #astrophotography #astrophoto #spacephotography #amateurastrophotography #backyardastronomy #deepskyphotography #amateurastronomy #deepskyastrophotography

Wow! Thank you @‌deepastroframes for tagging us in your stunning shot of NGC 2264!⁠ ⁠ "NGC 2264 is the designation number of the New General Catalogue that identifies two astronomical objects as a single object: the Cone Nebula, and the Christmas Tree Cluster. All of the objects are located in the Monoceros constellation and are located 2,300 light-years from Earth.⁠ 🔭130PDS⁠ 📸Touptek 533m⁠ ⚙️Heq5⁠ 🌟Antlia HaLRGB filters⁠ 🌌Total exposure: 60h⁠ 📌Location: Poland 🇵🇱"⁠ ⁠ 📷 @deepastroframes ⁠ ⁠ #highpointscientific #astronomy #astrophotography #astrophoto #spacephotography #amateurastrophotography #backyardastronomy #deepskyphotography #amateurastronomy #deepskyastrophotography

Wondering what you can find in the sky this month? Take a look at our May newsletter to learn all about the Needle Galaxy, Messier 5, Cor Caroli, and more!⁠ ⁠ Click the link in our bio to check it out 🔗⁠ ⁠ 📷 Ken Crawford⁠ ⁠ #highpointscientific #astronomy #astrophotography #astrophoto #spacephotography #amateurastrophotography #backyardastronomy #deepskyphotography #amateurastronomy #deepskyastrophotography

Thank you @‌astro_raffaele_calcagno for tagging us in your outstanding shot of Messier 97!⁠ ⁠ "ITA⁠ M97, la Nebulosa Gufo, è una nebulosa planetaria nella costellazione dell’Orsa Maggiore, a circa 2.600 anni luce da noi e si estende per circa 2 anni luce. È ciò che rimane di una stella simile al Sole, ora trasformata in una piccola e caldissima nana bianca.⁠ Il suo nome deriva dalle due macchie scure al centro, che ricordano gli occhi di un gufo. I suoi colori sono dovuti ai gas illuminati dalla stella centrale. Scoperta da Pierre Méchain e catalogata da Charles Messier nel 1781.⁠ ⁠ Dati tecnici:⁠ • Tubo/Montatura: Skywatcher 150/750 HEQ5 Pro⁠ • Camera: ZWO ASI 294 MC Pro⁠ • Integrazione & filtri:⁠ • 225 pose da 300” con filtro Optolong L-PARA⁠ • Acquisizione: Asiair Mini⁠ • Tele guida: 60/240⁠ • Camera guida: ZWO ASI 224 con filtro UV/IR cut⁠ • Location: Faggiano (TA)⁠ • Data: 25-26-27/04/2026⁠ • Class Bortle: 6⁠ • Software di elaborazione: DSS, GraXpert, Photoshop⁠ ______________________________________⁠ ENG⁠ M97, the Owl Nebula, is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Ursa Major, approximately 2,600 light-years from Earth, and spans about 2 light-years in diameter. It is the remnant of a Sun-like star, now transformed into a small, extremely hot white dwarf.⁠ Its name comes from the two dark patches at its center, which resemble the eyes of an owl. Its colors are due to the gases illuminated by the central star. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain and cataloged by Charles Messier in 1781.⁠ ⁠ Technical Details:⁠ • Telescope/Mount: Skywatcher 150/750 HEQ5 Pro⁠ • Camera: ZWO ASI 294 MC Pro⁠ • Integration & Filters:⁠ • 225 x 300” exposures with Optolong L-PARA filter⁠ • Acquisition: Asiair Mini⁠ • Guide Scope: 60/240⁠ • Guide Camera: ZWO ASI 224 with UV/IR cut filter⁠ • Location: Faggiano (TA)⁠ • Date: 25-26-27/04/2026⁠ • Bortle Class: 6⁠ • Processing Software: DSS, GraXpert, Photoshop"⁠ ⁠ 📷 @astro_raffaele_calcagno ⁠ ⁠ #highpointscientific #astronomy #astrophotography #astrophoto #spacephotography #amateurastrophotography #backyardastronomy #deepskyphotography #amateurastronomy #deepskyastrophotography