Cody James Astrophotography

06/16/2026

🔥🔥🌌🔭😍😍🔭🌌🔥🔥

06/16/2026

Both astrophotography rigs are now at Death Valley Observatories in Amargosa Valley, Nevada. This is just 10 miles west of the famous Death Valley National Park in California! With over 300 clear nights a year, you are bound to capture the wonders of the cosmos from some of the darkest skies on the planet!

The staff make you apart of their family and you will not regret installing your telescopes at their facility. For more information and to reserve your space, visit deathvalleyobservatories.com

05/22/2026

Reserve your pier today for an opportunity to image in some of the darkest skies on the planet!

05/14/2026

Hi friends, Here is the last call to register for this event at Death Valley Observatories! We hope to see you out there! For event information and registration go to:

05/04/2026

What a crazy world we live in! I am currently imaging M101 on my 72mm Refractor Telescope located in Amargosa Valley, Nevada. I myself am sitting in the backyard in Las Vegas! A massive shout out and thank you to Death Valley Observatories for this wonderful facility!

By the way, the Las Vegas Astronomical Society is co-hosting a Star Party at the Death Valley Observatories facility in May! If you're available, come check it out, registration link and dates are listed below!

Registration for the Death Valley Observatories Star Party can be found here: https://lvastronomy.org/Home.html

Date: Friday May 15th & Saturday May 16th

04/28/2026

Hi all! Its been a while since ive posted so i thought I'd drop in and share an update.

Work has kept me pretty busy so not much time to process new images, however, I have still been imaging and gathering data on the weekends, new material will get posted here as soon as I have revisions ready.

There are also some very big, very exciting things happening in SW Nevada. The Death Valley Observatories is now operational and is taking orders for pier and Telescope placements! The facility structure was completed about a month and a half ago. This is a one of a kind facility that caters to astrophotographers interested in conducting remote telescope operations with some of the darkest night skies of the continental United States. Check them out here! Nico, Juan, Marcelo, and Francisco will take great care of you and your telescope! https://deathvalleyobservatories.com/

I installed my 72mm refractor on my pier at the observatory Sunday evening! I'll be able to gather more data consistantly, from anywhere in the world! I also included a picture of my polar alignment, as getting total error numbers that low usually requires a lot of luck and prayer lol.

Please note that while piers and telescopes are being installed there will be some loose cables on the floor. The management is planning to tidy them up as rows of piers are completed.

Stay tuned, I'll have more updates to come very soon!

04/22/2026

I'm going to miss you brother; you better be waiting for us when we get there.

03/11/2026

Come Join us Saturday, March 21st, 2026 in Shoshone, California for the Las Vegas Astronomical Society rendition of the Messier Marathon!

We will be hosting solar viewing in Tecopa, California at the community center from 1-3PM and Stargazing from 7-10PM at the Shoshone RV Park and Campground.

The LVAS has coordinated with Friends of the Amargosa Basin to attend their 3rd annual Vole Fest. We will be hosting our annual Messier Marathon in conjunction with Vole Fest.

The Messier Marathon is an annual, worldwide Astronomy challenge that the Las Vegas Astronomical Society participates in, in order to capture all 110 Messier Objects throughout the weekend. The public portion of the event starts Saturday March 21th, 2026 and will run through Sunday March 22nd, 2026. Volunteers will be allowed to arrive Friday, March 20th for a non-public event.

We are hosting solar viewing Saturday, March 21st, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Tecopa Community Center, located at 400 Tecopa Hot Springs Rd, Tecopa, CA 92389.

Saturday night public Stargazing is from 7:30 - 9:30 PM at the Shoshone RV Park, 31 CA-178, Shoshone, CA 92384.

The Messier Marathon will begin as it gets dark and will run until daybreak on Saturday and Sunday respectively. As this challenge is typically very fast paced, we have communicated this with Friends of Amargosa Basin and they are aware that we will be object jumping at a fairly rapid pace while allowing spectators to view objects on Saturday.

Maps:

To Shoshone from Vegas: North and South Route -

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1NP7XTsJHo9rzCfGWucHoejj6_cgJCd8&usp=sharing

To Solar Telescope Area from Shoshone -

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1NP7XTsJHo9rzCfGWucHoejj6_cgJCd8&usp=sharing

Event Layout Site Map -

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=12ksLyy9AF9NQAHkIGV5Y8LeNlxNX464&usp=sharing

Registration:

Volunteers who wish to attend need to email me at [email protected]. If you are available and willing to help with solar viewing, please let me know as well.

There is no registration required for spectators wishing to attend.

🐭After a full day of celebrating our 3rd Annual Vole Fest, keep the fun going with an evening Star Party at the Shoshone Campground & RV Park! 💫This portion of the event will be put on in collaboration with the Las Vegas Astronomical Society (be sure to check them out at: lvastronomy.org).

🗓️ Saturday, March 21st, 2026

📍 Shoshone Campground & RV Park
(22 CA-178, Shoshone, CA 92384)

⏰ 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

🏕We will meet in the field on the north side of the campground close to the office building. There will be signage and lighting to direct participants for the event space, parking, and restrooms nearby.

Helpful reminders: Be sure to check the weather beforehand and to dress appropriately. Additionally, don't forget to make those dinner plans in advance! Capacity at local establishments is likely to be limited during busy weekends.

Come on out and enjoy our fabulously star-filled night skies with powerful telescopes! 🔭

🌌What will you discover in the night sky?

02/21/2026

Hot off the Pixinsight Presses. I present to you, Messier 65, Messier 66 and NGC 3628, the Leo Triplets. At 35 million light years away, the Leo Triplets is comprised of an intermediate and two large spiral barred galaxies in the Constellation Leo. This image is just 3 hours of data, captured from Amargosa Valley, Nevada in January.

Taken with the Askar FRA600 Refractor, on a ZWO AM5 Mount, with an ASI2600MC Duo Color Camera. Processed in Pixinsight.

Lights: 63X180s
Darks: 20X180s
Bias: 50X0.01s

Full resolution image can be seen here: https://www.astrobin.com/7x2jkz/

amargosa

02/21/2026

Hot off the Pixinsight Presses. I present to you, Messier 65, Messier 66 and NGC 3628, the Leo Triplets. At 35 million light years away, the Leo Triplets is comprised of an intermediate and two large spiral barred galaxies in the Constellation Leo. This image is just 3 hours of data, captured from Amargosa Valley, Nevada in January.

Taken with the Askar FRA600 Refractor, on a ZWO AM5 Mount, with an ASI2600MC Duo Color Camera. Processed in Pixinsight.

Lights: 63X180s
Darks: 20X180s
Bias: 50X0.01s

Full resolution image can be seen here: https://www.astrobin.com/7x2jkz/