Rod Prazeres Astrophotography

Rod Prazeres Astrophotography Aspiring Astrophotographer from Brisbane, Australia
Buy my prints here: http://bit.ly/RODPRAZERES20

Just a closer look at the Lagoon Nebula, taken with a 1000mm refractor. An iconic object, vast hydrogen clouds, delicate...
17/01/2026

Just a closer look at the Lagoon Nebula, taken with a 1000mm refractor. An iconic object, vast hydrogen clouds, delicate oxygen filaments, and sulfur-rich knots swirl together in a cosmic tempest, shaping new suns and stellar nurseries.

Integration: 17h 50′
Hα: 30×600″ (5h)
OIII: 31×600″ (5h 10′)
SII: 37×600″ (6h 10′)
RGB Stars: 30×60″ each channel (1h 30′ total)

Telescope: Sharpstar Optics Askar130PHQ
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
Mount: Sky-Watcher NEQ6-Pro

Thanks for checking.

06/01/2026

The witch like profile is really just a huge cloud of dust lit by the bright star Rigel.

As 2025 comes to an end, I’ve been reflecting on the past 12 months of astrophotography.I didn’t image as much as I hope...
01/01/2026

As 2025 comes to an end, I’ve been reflecting on the past 12 months of astrophotography.

I didn’t image as much as I hoped, but this year still meant a lot. It pushed me, taught me, humbled me, and gave me plenty of moments of awe.

I’m sharing this not to boast, but because I’m genuinely grateful and because so many of you helped me get here. Thank you for the advice, encouragement, and support.

A few milestones I never expected:

1. APY17 shortlisted
2. 1st place, William Optics contest
3. 1st place, nPAE 2025 Northern Hemisphere competition
4. 2nd place, Capture the Dark competition
5. Honourable Mentions and Highly Commended (including CWAS David Malin Awards, Astrophotography Prize, AstroCamera)
6. Published in BBC Sky at Night, Astronomy Now, Australasian Sky Guide, and Urania magazines
7. Image displayed at Sydney Observatory
8. APOD notable (x2), plus a few unexpected media features along the way

Slide 1 is a collage of the 13 images I released in 2025, followed by each one in full size so you can see them up close.

How was your astrophotography year? What’s one win you’re proud of, big or small: a new skill, your first print, a personal best, or a target you finally nailed?

I’m heading into 2026 with a calmer mindset and a focus on quality over quantity. Thanks for being part of this journey, it genuinely means a lot.

Clear skies and happy new year.

Cheers,
Rod

Camera used: ZWO ASI2600MM-Pro
Mounts used: Sky-Watcher NEQ6-Pro & Wave 150i
Telescopes used: William Optics Redcat51 & Sharpstar Askar 130PHQ

Some data also acquired by Telescope.Live and processed by me

A little late for Halloween celebrations, but here’s my take on the Witch Head Nebula. The witch like profile is really ...
01/12/2025

A little late for Halloween celebrations, but here’s my take on the Witch Head Nebula.

The witch like profile is really just a huge cloud of dust lit by the bright star Rigel. This faint reflection nebula hangs in the darkness like an ancient cosmic spell. For this version I also blended in Ha to pull out a red glow of hydrogen wrapped around the dust.

Equipment:

Telescope: RedCat 51 II
Camera: ZWOASI2600MM Pro
Mount: Sky-Watched NEQ6-Pro

Antlia Ha: 99×600″ (16h 20’)
Baader Blue: 43×300″ (3h 35′)
Baader Green: 27×300″ (2h 15′)
Baader Red: 37×300″ (3h 5′)

It’s time to vote! 🗳️https://www.npae.net/2025-world-champion-public-vote/I am honoured to be in this year’s nPAE World ...
18/10/2025

It’s time to vote! 🗳️
https://www.npae.net/2025-world-champion-public-vote/

I am honoured to be in this year’s nPAE World Champion public vote alongside Carlos and my friend Simone Curzi (thank you for the great sportsmanship).

On the voting page my image is the second square to click. Tap the second image near the bottom of the page, then click vote. I have attached the image here so you can recognise it on the page.

Your click means a lot. Please vote and share.

Clear skies and thank you! & fans

Exciting new arrival in the gear family: the Ultra-Cat 76, 30th Anniversary Edition. A commemorative scope that’s both ...
04/10/2025

Exciting new arrival in the gear family: the Ultra-Cat 76, 30th Anniversary Edition. A commemorative scope that’s both a collector’s piece and a tool I can’t wait to put under the stars. I’ll be using this scope for wideview captures.

Here are some quick specs: 76 mm aperture, 365 mm focal length (f/4.8), 50 mm image circle, 5-element advanced Petzval design.

Can’t wait for first light!

-cat

I’m thrilled to share that two of my images have been awarded Honorable Mention in this year’s prestigious CWAS David Ma...
28/09/2025

I’m thrilled to share that two of my images have been awarded Honorable Mention in this year’s prestigious CWAS David Malin Awards, widely regarded as one of Australia’s premier astrophotography contests.

Not only that, but these images will also be displayed in the touring exhibition organised by the Powerhouse Museum throughout australia.

Not done yet - the Vela SNR image will also be in the 2026 Australasian Sky Guide by author Dr Nick Lomb, (out on 1st of October).

Very grateful! Congratulations to all award winners and a big THANK YOU to Central West Astronomical Society Inc. for organising such an amazing event.

Image 1: “A Supernova’s Legacy - Vela SNR”
Image 2: “Stellar Hatchery - IC 2944”

CSIRO

Sharing a different kind of astro work I just had done. A sky you can wear, that tells the same story I try to tell with...
16/09/2025

Sharing a different kind of astro work I just had done. A sky you can wear, that tells the same story I try to tell with my telescope: where we are, how we look up, and why it matters.

Elements include a black hole with a Roman clock for relativity; a symbolic atom - my world at the center & my family as the bonding electrons; Leo constellation; Hubble; Atlas carrying a pulsar map; a fragmented telescope that echoes a rocket launch; geometric links that tie it all together; among others. Can you spot them all?

A Journey Through Shadow 🌒🌕From the first bite of Earth’s shadow to the peak of totality, I captured and stitched togeth...
09/09/2025

A Journey Through Shadow 🌒🌕

From the first bite of Earth’s shadow to the peak of totality, I captured and stitched together the full progression of the recent lunar eclipse.

This is my first time sharing an eclipse I’ve imaged - a new challenge, and one I’m glad I finally took on.

Gear:

🔭 RedCat 51
📷 ASI662MC
🗜️ NEQ6 Pro

Exciting news to share - I’ve made it into the Top 25 in the Deep Space category of the Astrophotography Prize! It’s an ...
09/09/2025

Exciting news to share - I’ve made it into the Top 25 in the Deep Space category of the Astrophotography Prize!

It’s an honour to have my work recognised alongside so many incredible astrophotographers from around the world. The live judging for this round will be streamed on YouTube this weekend, and I can’t wait to see the amazing images on display.

- Watch the live judging here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9NjePiImGg

Sunday 14th 9:00am - 10:30am ASET ; Melbourne
Sunday 14th 12:00am - 1:30am BST : London
Sunday 14th 01:00am - 1:30am CEST : Europe
Saturday 13th 8:00pm - 10:30pm BRT : Brasília
Saturday 13th 7:00pm - 8:30pm EDT : New York
Saturday 13th 4:00pm - 5:30pm PDT : Los Angeles

- Competition homepage: https://astrophotographyprize.com/

Thank you to the organisers, sponsors, and judges for supporting this art form that means so much to me.

I’ve remastered my image of this target! Swipe for closer look. “Shadows and Starlight – SNR G013.3–01.3”A tapestry of s...
04/09/2025

I’ve remastered my image of this target! Swipe for closer look.

“Shadows and Starlight – SNR G013.3–01.3”

A tapestry of starlight and shadow — SNR G013.3–01.3 drifts through the rich fields of Sagittarius. Framed by the glow of M24, the cluster NGC 6603, and sweeping dark nebulae, this remnant of a stellar explosion lies among a crossroads of star birth and death, where cosmic dust, glowing gas, and ancient shockwaves intertwine.

Captured from my Bortle 6 backyard, this was challenging to capture and process but quite rewarding to see it come together in the end.

Thanks for checking.

Equipment & Details

- Telescope: Sharpstar 130PHQ
- Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
- Mount: Sky-Watcher NEQ6-Pro
- Filters: Antlia 3nm Narrowband Hα & OIII (HOO)
- Integration Time: 30h 10′

IG: https://www.instagram.com/deepskyjourney/
All socials: linktr.ee/deepskyjourney
HQ version: https://www.astrobin.com/xokunu/

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