View of Prickly Bay, Grenada

Smartphone Astrophotography [Google Pixel 3]

Post author:Kevin Francis
Post published:November 26, 2019
Post category:Astrophotography Google PIxel Smartphone

Smartphone astrophotography is a fast growing part of astronomy. Smartphones are common, portable, and have great cameras. I've owned a Google Pixel 3 for almost a year now and get…

3D printed Bahtinov Masks

Bahtinov Mask: Equipment Spotlight [Focus]

Post author:Kevin Francis
Post published:February 2, 2019
Post category:Astronomy Astrophysics DSLR Camera Telescope

I 3D printed a Bahtinov Mask, so I can clearly see the sky. There are numerous objects in the night sky. Using a telescope brings them into view but how…

2019 Total Lunar Eclipse [Astrophotography]

Post author:Kevin Francis
Post published:January 22, 2019
Post category:Astronomy Lunar Eclipse Moon Night Sky

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…

Smartphone Astrophotography Challenges [Obstacles]

Post author:Kevin Francis
Post published:January 22, 2019
Post category:Astronomy

What Smartphone Astrophotography Obstacles? I've been "Missing In Action" with my smartphone astrophgraphy for many months now. Let me tell you why. First was the Android P or Android Pie…

Telescope: Meade EXT-125 Camera: Google Pixel

Dark Sky Astrophotography [Smokey Mountain Getaway]

Post author:Kevin Francis
Post published:August 30, 2018
Post category:Astronomy Night Sky Planets Smartphone Telescope Universe

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…

Telescope: Meade EXT-125 Camera: Google Pixel Photographer: Kevin Francis

Mars: The Red Planet on Display in Summer 2018 [Dust Storm]

Post author:Kevin Francis
Post published:July 20, 2018
Post category:Astronomy Astrophysics Night Sky Planets Smartphone Telescope

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…

Telescope: Meade EXT-125 Camera: Google Pixel

Saturn: Photographing the Cassini Division 2018 Update [Rings]

Post author:Kevin Francis
Post published:July 18, 2018
Post category:Astronomy Night Sky Planets Smartphone Telescope

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…

Telescope: Meade EXT-125 Camera: Google Pixel

Derotation in Astrophotography [Field Rotation]

Post author:Kevin Francis
Post published:July 15, 2018
Post category:Astronomy Night Sky Planets Post Processing Smartphone Telescope

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…

Telescope: Cornado P.S.T Camera: Google Pixel Filter: Hydrogen Alpha

Beautiful Solar Prominence [Flares]

Post author:Kevin Francis
Post published:July 12, 2018
Post category:Astronomy Astrophysics Heliophysics Smartphone Stars Sun

Solar Prominence The Sun, our closest star, is also a complex and active part of the solar system. On Sunday July 8, 2018 we witnessed sizable activity in the form…