![Read more about the article Orion Astroview 6: Equipment Spotlight [Moving Prime Focus]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Mirror-Extension.jpg?fit=628%2C479&ssl=1)
Orion Astroview 6: Equipment Spotlight [Moving Prime Focus]
I moved prime focus without cutting the OTA (Optical Tube Assembly) on my Orion Astroview 6 telescope. Huh? How? No way? The first thing I did when the Canon EOS…
![Read more about the article Canon EOS XTi: Equipment Spotlight [DSLR Camera]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/image-20181226_160328.jpg?fit=4032%2C3024&ssl=1)
Canon EOS XTi: Equipment Spotlight [DSLR Camera]
The Canon EOs XTi joins my astrophotography family. I started using my Google Pixel Really Blue to photograph night sky objects. I've captured the Orion Nebula, Sun, stars, planets, star…
2019 Total Lunar Eclipse [Astrophotography]
Progression from start to totality Total Lunar Eclipse The total lunar eclipse was beautiful! I took more than 500 pictures of this event to create this photo. The 2019 total…
![Read more about the article Dark Sky Astrophotography [Smokey Mountain Getaway]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Planets-8-11-2018.jpg?fit=1076%2C1116&ssl=1)
Telescope: Meade EXT-125
Camera: Google Pixel
Dark Sky Astrophotography [Smokey Mountain Getaway]
August is a busy month for my family, and we took a weekend to visit the Smokey Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Wow what a great opportunity to do dark sky…
![Read more about the article Mars: The Red Planet on Display in Summer 2018 [Dust Storm]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Mars-7_14_2018.jpg?fit=448%2C448&ssl=1)
Telescope: Meade EXT-125
Camera: Google Pixel
Photographer: Kevin Francis
Mars: The Red Planet on Display in Summer 2018 [Dust Storm]
During the last star party at The Virginia Living Museum, I laid eyes on Mars for the first time this year. It rose above the horizon to become the fitting…
![Read more about the article Saturn: Photographing the Cassini Division 2018 Update [Rings]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Saturn-7_10_2018.jpg?fit=496%2C496&ssl=1)
Telescope: Meade EXT-125
Camera: Google Pixel
Saturn: Photographing the Cassini Division 2018 Update [Rings]
Light travels about 2 hours from the Sun to Saturn to your telescope.  We can spend about that much time searching for the perfect picture of planet and rings. Because…
![Read more about the article Derotation in Astrophotography [Field Rotation]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Jupiter-7_2_2018-Derotated.jpg?fit=672%2C672&ssl=1)
Telescope: Meade EXT-125
Camera: Google Pixel
Derotation in Astrophotography [Field Rotation]
Derotation in Astrophotography is Amazing I learned something new this weekend. I learned about a technique in astrophotography called Derotation. I'm amazed at what a little imagination and scientific skill…
Mercury: My Astrophotography First Attempt [The Planet]
This summer night was meant to be a warm evening capturing Jupiter, Venus & Saturn. Mercury just happened to appear near the horizon and I thought I should give it…
![Read more about the article Moon: Take Photos & Find Many Colors [Brown or Grey]](https://i0.wp.com/kevinrfrancis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Moon-6_29_2018.jpg?fit=3328%2C2327&ssl=1)
True color Moon, June 29, 2018.
Moon: Take Photos & Find Many Colors [Brown or Grey]
You don't have to be an astrophotographer to have a photo of the Moon in your collection. The Moon appears, markedly, in all of the photos in with the same…
Beehive Cluster: I Don’t See Anything There [Magnitude]
Light Pollution In light polluted areas, seeing fuzzy star clusters is nearly impossible to the naked eye. Therefore, when I attended a Star Party at the Virginia Living Museum, I…