Astronomy Images and Video

Beautiful and interesting images and video of the night sky including stars, planets, the Milky Way, and deep-sky objects taken through a camera lens or through a telescope.

Best Nightscape Images of 2015

June 18, 2015 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Astronomy Images and Video

This video shows the best images of the 6th International Earth and Sky Photo Contest, a program by The World at Night (TWAN) in collaboration with the Global Astronomy Month and the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO). The contest aims to show the natural beauty of starry sky and help preserve the dark skies which are not yet polluted by artificial lights. The images in this video are copyrighted by the photographers. Click on the video, maximize the window size, switch on HD, and enjoy…

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The Southern Pinwheel – M83

June 4, 2015 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Astronomy Images and Video, Deep Sky

Messier 83, the "Southern Pinwheel", imaged at the Star Shadows Remote Observatory. Courtesy — Messier 83, the “Southern Pinwheel”, imaged at the Star Shadows Remote Observatory. Courtesy of Warren Keller, Steve Mazlin, Steve Menaker, and Jack Harvey

Today, let’s look at the spiral galaxy M83, a lovely cosmic lotus blossom and one of the showpieces in the southern deep sky.

Barely visible from northern latitudes, M83 lies roughly 15 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. It’s one of the 25 brightest galaxies in the sky, and one of the closest and brightest barred spiral galaxies. At magnitude 7.6, it’s easily visible with binoculars and small telescopes about 18° due south of the bright star Spica, in Virgo, and just north of the star Menkent in the constellation Centaurus [Read more…] about The Southern Pinwheel – M83

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Secrets of Nightscape Imaging – Interview with Alan Dyer

May 28, 2015 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Astronomy Images and Video

Nightscape of stargazers and the Milky Way through Scorpius and Sagittarius at the Texas Star Party in 2015 (by Alan Dyer)

I had the great pleasure of recently interviewing the master astrophotographer Alan Dyer of AmazingSky.com to discuss the basics of nightscape imaging with a digital camera. This sort of imaging, which combines elements of landscape photography and astrophotography, has become extremely popular over the last few years thanks to the advent of large, low-noise sensors in digital SLR cameras. Alan is the author most recently of the multi-media guide called Nightscapes and Timelapses which gives a comprehensive introduction to the art and craft of nightscape imaging.

As you listen to my interview with Alan, you will discover: [Read more…] about Secrets of Nightscape Imaging – Interview with Alan Dyer

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Panorama of the Virgo Cluster

May 6, 2015 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Astronomy Images and Video, Deep Sky

Galaxies of the Virgo Cluster, including M84, M86, M87 and spiral galaxies in Markarian's Chain (credit: Terry Hancock) — Galaxies of the Virgo Cluster, including M84, M86, M87 and spiral galaxies in Markarian’s Chain (credit: Terry Hancock)

“We and our world are the minutiae and curiosa– galaxies are the grand realities.” -Leland Copeland

This wide-field image of the core of the Virgo cluster reveals several dozen of the more than 2,000 galaxies spread across our sky between the stars Denebola in Leo and Vindemiatrix in Virgo [Read more…] about Panorama of the Virgo Cluster

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Full Moon Over Lick Observatory

May 4, 2015 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Astronomy Images and Video

Located in the Diablo mountain range east of San Jose, California, Lick Observatory is the world’s first permanently occupied mountain-top observatory. It was founded in 1888 and has been part of the University of California ever since. This image by reader Marilyn Perry shows the Full Moon rising over the observatory in May 2015.

The location of Lick on Mt. Hamilton provides calm air and excellent viewing despite ambient light and pollution. The peak is normally above the level of the low cloud cover often seen in San Jose. The peak provides a stunning view to the west of the Valley of Heart’s Delight, now better known as Silicon Valley. To the east, the Sierra’s can be seen on a very clear day [Read more…] about Full Moon Over Lick Observatory

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