astroaf

07/08/2026

Hey everyone! I had to re-publish my solar mosaic video due to some technical problems with the initial publishing!

https://youtu.be/Wn86TizSfa4

If you’ve ever wanted to create a full-disk solar mosaic, this astrophotography tutorial walks through my complete pre-processing and mosaic workflow using a 13-panel solar dataset.

Beginning with stacked panels from AstroSurface, I’ll demonstrate how I prepare each panel for assembly, maintain a consistent appearance across the entire mosaic, and bring everything together into a seamless full-disk image. Along the way I’ll cover the role each application plays in the workflow, from enhancing fine solar detail in ImPPG, to final contrast adjustments in PixInsight, and ultimately merging and finishing the mosaic in Photoshop.

Cheers!
Doug

If you’ve ever wanted to create a full-disk solar mosaic, this astr...

07/04/2026

Full-disk with panels solar mosaic This composition is composed of 13 individual panels captured at 108 fps with the Mars 662M in SharpCap. The final image was created by stacking the best 50% of 60,000 frames.

Equipment
DayStar DS60
Player One Astronomy Mars 662M
Svbony UV/IR Cut Filter

Workflow:
Capture: SharpCap
AstroSurface
ImPPG
PixInsight
Photoshop

06/26/2026

Hey everyone! Here's my Hercules Constellation and Surrounding Region image from my latest video of my Fully Automated Widefield rig:
https://youtu.be/Qi5wQOz0AEw?si=9QHAactqTg9HLHDa

This image captures a sweeping view of the Hercules constellation and its surrounding region, placing one of the night sky’s most recognizable constellations into its broader celestial context. Rather than focusing on a single deep-sky object, the widefield perspective reveals the intricate tapestry of stars that defines this area of the sky, while the Great Hercules Globular Cluster (M13) appears as a small but unmistakable beacon nestled within the constellation. The result is a view that emphasizes both the scale of Hercules and the vastness of the stellar landscape that surrounds it.

Gear and Image Info:
Hercules Constellation
Rokinon EF 14mm f/2.8
ZWO EF Filter Drawer
Optolong Astronomy Filter UV/IR
ZWO ASI533MC Pro
Astroasis Oasis Autofocuser

2 Hours - 300sec Unguided

Equipment Which Was Featured:
(Affiliate Links Help Support this Channel - At no additional cost to you!):
• Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 ED Cannon EF
• ZWO ASI533MC Pro ➤ https://bit.ly/3pTQh4u
• ZWO Canon EF Filter Drawer ➤ https://bit.ly/4vwhSoG
• Astroasis Oasis Autofocuser ➤ https://www.astroasis.com/en/focuser/44.html
• Custom PA6-CF Printed Mounting Rings
• Losmandy D Plate ➤ https://amzn.to/4uTryZd
• Arca Swiss Accessory Rail ➤ https://amzn.to/3Stvr9Y

Cheers!
Doug

06/25/2026

Hey everyone! New video published!
https://youtu.be/Qi5wQOz0AEw?si=9QHAactqTg9HLHDa

Astrophotography continues to evolve, and one of the projects I’ve been most excited about has been building a fully automated ultra-widefield imaging system around a manual Rokinon 14mm lens.

In this video I walk through the complete build of my new widefield astrophotography rig, from a fully disassembled collection of components to the finished imaging system mounted and ready for the night sky. Along the way we’ll discuss the design decisions behind the build, achieving the correct Canon EF backfocus, custom PA6-CF printed mounting rings, integrating a ZWO Astrophotography ASI533MC Pro cooled astronomy camera, ZWO FD-EOS filter drawer, Astroasis Oasis autofocus system, and preparing the rig for NINA automation.

Cheers!
Doug

Astrophotography continues to evolve, and one of the projects I’ve ...

06/21/2026

I've decided to get into night time cloud photography, that way I can image nearly every night! 😉

06/15/2026

Hey Everyone! Here's my final image from my latest video..
Decomposing Medusa Nebula | Looking Deeper At Your Astrophotography Data
https://youtu.be/HFEuOQSLgQg

The Medusa Nebula (Abell 21 / Sharpless 2-274) is an ancient planetary nebula located roughly 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Gemini. Formed from the outer layers of a dying star ~10,000 years ago, its tangled filaments and shell-like structure create one of the most fascinating narrowband targets in the night sky.

Image Details:
Object: Medusa Nebula (Abell 21 / Sharpless 2-274)
Constellation: Gemini
Acquisition: SHO Narrowband
Camera: Player One Artemis-M Pro
Telescope: Celestron EdgeHD 8 with Reducer
Mount: Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro
Processing: PixInsight & Photoshop

Integration 22h 30m:
Ha: 27 × 900s = 6h 45m
OIII: 27 × 900s = 6h 45m
SII: 36 × 900s = 9h 0m

Player One Astronomy Artemis-M Pro | Xena 585M
Astroasis Oasis Filter Wheel and Focuser
Celestron EdgeHD 8 (.7x 1440mm) | OAG
Sky-Watcher USA HEQ5 Pro
Svbony Website SV227 SHO 5nm Filters

Captured in NINA
Processed in Pixinsight

Cheers!
Doug

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06/15/2026

Hey Friends! New video published.

https://youtu.be/HFEuOQSLgQg?is=pHGG_DBrSUx-Q58N

Astrophotography is often taught as a sequence of image processing steps:
Do this. Click that. Apply this process.
But real image processing rarely works that way.

Every image presents different challenges, different opportunities, and different decisions. The most valuable part of the process isn’t memorizing a workflow. It’s learning how to interpret the data and make informed choices.

Rather than building an image of the Medusa Nebula from scratch, we’re going to work backwards through the finished result and decompose it into the individual components that shaped the final image.

We’ll examine:
• The contributions of Sulfur, Hydrogen, and Oxygen data
• Why some structures became focal points during processing
• How individual channels reveal different physical features of the nebula
• The importance of testing assumptions rather than forcing a result
• How data-driven decisions influence the final image

Cheers!
Doug

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Astrophotography is often taught as a sequence of image processing ...

05/31/2026

Hey Friends! New video published: Harmonic Drive Mount | From Idea to DIY Manufacturing.

Since the original HarmonicAF V1 prototype videos, this project slowly evolved into something much larger than I originally expected.

What started as a concept for a harmonic drive astrophotography mount gradually turned into a deep dive into design iteration, PA6-CF manufacturing, process control, CNC refinement, material science, and hybrid fabrication workflows. This project also evolved as a result of listening to your feedback and suggestions in comments and Discord and for that I thank you!

This video documents the engineering journey behind HarmonicAF V2 and the manufacturing systems that gradually evolved around the project along the way.

What you build transforms you.

https://youtu.be/8GJvFHFsJAA

Cheers!
Doug

Over the past two years, this astrophotography project slowly evolv...

02/22/2026

New Video Published!
https://youtu.be/dS3XDJH1ufM

In Part 3 of my astrophotography pier build, we bring everything together — mechanical assembly, leveling, power, Ethernet, mount setup, rough alignment, and first light preparation.

If you haven’t seen the earlier stages of the build:

Building My Dream Astrophotography Pier – Part 1
https://youtu.be/ZZBbORby3Vg

Building My Backyard Astrophotography Pier! – Part 2
https://youtu.be/XbPxWeFsOEk

This project has been about more than just pouring concrete. It’s about building a permanent imaging platform that supports long-term stability, repeatable polar alignment, clean cable routing, and reliable power and networking for remote and unattended astrophotography.

A huge thank you to my friend Jay for helping bring this pier to life. Jay is an incredibly talented machine and body shop specialist who restores classic cars for a private collector. He handled all of the welding and finish work on this pier, applying the same level of craftsmanship and finishing techniques he uses in high-end automotive restoration. The result is something that looks intentional, durable, and professionally built.

You can check out Jay’s channel here:
‪‬
https://www.youtube.com/

Cheers!
Doug

In Part 3 of my astrophotography pier build, we bring everything together — mechanical assembly, leveling, power, Ethernet, mount setup, rough alignment, and...

02/17/2026

Here's my image from the last video on the Player One Xena 585M.
https://youtu.be/2lI7b9DMGok

IC 410 – The Tadpole Nebula

Located in the constellation Auriga, IC 410 lies approximately 12,000 light-years from Earth. This emission nebula surrounds the open star cluster NGC 1893, whose hot, young stars energize the surrounding hydrogen gas.

The famous “tadpoles” are dense globules of gas and dust being sculpted by intense stellar radiation — each one stretching roughly 10 light-years long.

Discovered in 1892 by Max Wolf, IC 410 continues to be a stunning example of star formation in action.

Integration 26h 35m:
Ha: 33 × 900s = 8h 15m
OIII: 24 × 900s = 6h 00m
SII: 38 × 900s = 9h 30m
Total Narrowband: 23h 45m

L: 8 × 300s = 40m
R: 10 × 300s = 50m
G: 8 × 300s = 40m
B: 8 × 300s = 40m
Total LRGB: 2h 50m

Captured in NINA
Processed in Pixinsight

Gear:
​ Player One Astronomy Artemis-M Pro | Xena 585M
​ Astroasis Oasis Filter Wheel and Focuser
​ Celestron EdgeHD 8 (.7x 1440mm) | OAG
​ Sky-Watcher USA HEQ5 Pro
Svbony SV227 SHO 5nm Filters
​ Optolong Astronomy Filter LRGB Filters