Trevor Jones

The Seagull Nebula 🌌

Here is a spectacular astrophotography target to try with your wide-field refractor this winter.

I took this one using a super portable (quickly set up and run back inside) on a freezing cold night in February.

#astrophotography

Here is my first attempt using a stock DSLR camera back in 2024! 😊

Thanks! The unit runs warm (even in the cold) - I haven't had any issues with dew yet!

The Rosette Nebula

The Rosette Nebula 🌌

Here's an astrophotography target that delivers the 'Wow Factor' every time - the dynamic 'Rosette Nebula' in the constellation Monoceros.

Unlike some of the dimmer nebulae, this one is bright enough to capture with almost ANY camera 😊

#astrophotography

YouTube video by AstroBackyard DWARF Mini Smart Telescope Review: Real Results!

2 months of deep-sky imaging with the DWARF mini smart telescope!

To capture images of this quality with a telescope/camera of this size is truly remarkable

youtu.be/MmlSS48Ywpg?...

#astrophotography

The Boogeyman Nebula

The Boogeyman Nebula 🌌

Here's a fun astrophotography target to try with your telescope this season - but be warned, this one takes TIME!

LDN 1622 is a dark nebula in the constellation Orion that resembles 'a dark figure with a head and arms' (I kinda see it!)

This is 10 hours!

#astrophotography

The Orion Nebula 😳

I took this picture using my biggest refractor telescope, revealing the intricate details within the 'stellar nursery' known as M42.

For everything you need to know about Orion and why it's so special, check out my latest guide: astrobackyard.com/orions-belt/

Triangulum Galaxy

The Triangulum Galaxy 🌌

I took over 500 images of M33 using the Seestar S50 under dark skies to create this image.

After reviewing many smart telescopes, I still consider the S50 the standard that new models are measured against.

See my full review: astrobackyard.com/seestar-s50-...

astronomy and stargazing apps

My Must-Have Astronomy Apps 🧐

I have about 15 stargazing apps on my phone (seriously), but I only use about 3 of them daily.

I bet you'll find a good one you don't have yet: astrobackyard.com/astronomy-ap...

#astronomy

Thank you, Michael! Clear skies

broadband vs. dual-narrowband

Do You Use Dual-Narrowband Filters? 🤔

If you use a color camera in the city like I do, you know how valuable the right filter is for your astrophotography.

Everything You Need to Know: astrobackyard.com/dual-narrowb...

#astrophotography

The Horsehead and Flame Nebulas

The Horsehead and Flame Nebulas 🔥

I tracked this dramatic area in 'Orion's Belt' for nearly 8 hours to capture the light for this photo.

For a deep-dive on the telescopes I use for photos like this (including this one), check out my updated guide: astrobackyard.com/best-astroph...

My Best Photo of the Andromeda Galaxy Yet This guide breaks down the gear, planning, and shooting strategies you can use to capture your own incredible image of M31.

Have you captured the Andromeda Galaxy yet? 🤔

Here is a complete breakdown of how I took my best-ever photo of this spiral galaxy, including the location, gear used, and my image-processing steps.

astrobackyard.com/best-androme...

The Andromeda Galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy 💫

Last week, I captured the awe-inspiring galaxy M31 with my travel telescope under dark skies.

At 2.5 million light-years away, Andromeda is the most distant object visible without a telescope.

This is 7.5 hours of total exposure!

Comet Lemmon

I drove 2 hours to capture Comet Lemmon under dark skies! It was worth it!

#comet
#cometlemmon

This Telescope Autofocuser Took My Astrophotography to the Next Level Learn how a telescope autofocuser automatically finds perfect focus so you can capture sharper, deeper, and more consistent deep-sky images.

astrobackyard.com/telescope-au...

Who knew that the easiest upgrade to my telescope would make the biggest difference? I see the light now! 😆

Installation notes, key automation improvements, and what a v-curve is actually showing:

The Wizard Nebula

The Wizard Nebula 📸

My latest picture from the backyard is the dynamic Wizard Nebula in Cepheus. This is definitely one of my favorite images to date!

This project includes 18 hours of total exposure time using a reflector telescope with a large 8-inch aperture.

#astrophotography

The Andromeda Galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy 📸

This is how the Andromeda Galaxy looked 2.5 million years ago... I wonder what it looks like now?

I took this image from our campsite in the Summer of 2022. My telescope tracked the galaxy for 2 nights straight, and I combined all of the images into this:

Dumbbell Nebula

This is one of the easiest nebulae to see and photograph in the night sky. It can easily be seen with a modest telescope or even binoculars.

My latest picture of the Dumbbell Nebula was taken using a Newtonian reflector telescope that pairs well with the cameras I use for astrophotography.

Telescope Review by AstroBackyard

My latest video reviews the Apertura CarbonStar 200 Newtonian Reflector - an astrophotography-first telescope that delivers the goods!

Watch: youtu.be/2VhBkrHeRVA

Thank you!

Calfornia Nebula

My latest picture of the California Nebula was taken using an ultra-portable camera and telescope setup.

This emission nebula is rising higher and higher each night, in the constellation Perseus.

Camera: bit.ly/4cqRi61
Telescope: bit.ly/4dIky9s
Mount: bit.ly/4csp0bn

Total Exposure: 9 Hours

The Veil Nebula

The Veil Nebula Complex! 📸

This dynamic area of the night sky features an incredible collection of supernova remnants, including both portions of the Veil Nebula.

August is the perfect month to start capturing the Veil Nebula, and it's an obtainable target, even from the city.

The Ring Nebula, Now with Argon! - AstroBin This is my first experiment with the new [Ar III] (doubly ionized Argon) filter for the QHY miniCam8M. After this successful first attempt, I'm excited to try it on other nebulae. This was captured fr...

The Ring Nebula, now with Argon!
Very excited about this one which incorporates data taken with a new [Ar III] filter available for the QHY miniCAM8M system. More details are available on my astrobin: app.astrobin.com/i/jk9lev
#astrophotography #nebula

The Trifid Nebula

You'll find this gorgeous nebula glowing in the summer constellation Sagittarius; it's one of the brightest in the night sky.

This is 2 hours total exposure under dark skies!

The Cygnus Wall

'The Wall' 📸

My latest image from the backyard is the magnificent 'Cygnus Wall', the brightest portion of the North America Nebula in Cygnus.

This nebulous region is very bright, making it the perfect astrophotography target for telescopes (and camera lenses) of all sizes.

Lobster Claw Nebula

I captured the 'Lobster Claw Nebula' with my telescope in the backyard! This image includes exactly 8 hours of total exposure time.

M16: The Eagle Nebula

Eagle Nebula 🦅

This is one of the most exciting astrophotography targets to photograph in the night sky.

The Eagle Nebula resides near the core of our Milky Way, in the constellation Serpens.

#astrophotography

The core of the Milky Way Galaxy

The Southern Hemisphere Milky Way 📸

Blue Horsehead Nebula

The Blue Horsehead Nebula in Scorpius 📸

My latest astrophotography image using a camera and telescope (3 hours total exposure)