2002/2003 Starry Nights Pix

Shots from my trip to the "Starry Nights" B&B in Wimberly, TX. Click on the thumbnail to see the full-sized picture.

Horsehead and Flame Nebula area

(Below) M31, the Andromeda Galaxy. This is a work in progress for sure. I've done this object before, but I'm working to combine 4 individual images to get a more detailed and less noisy version.

(1st)

(2nd, reworked composite)

This is the California Nebula. The name comes from the fact that it vaguely resembles the shape of the state of California, with the North being to the right. It is a fun (challenging) object to shoot because you can't see it in the scope (it's really a photographic-only object). As you can see, I was able to get it framed and exposed properly.

Myself & scope. Note the deep blue sky (all natural, no filters or processing!)

Scope and Sky. The clouds in the background faded and there were clear skies by dark. However, this night a big wind storm came up around 9:30, finishing my night. Wind gusts in San Antonio were up to 41 mph, and probably higher at my location.

Moments after I arrived I snapped this picture of the dramatic sky. About 15 miles East I had encountered a tremendous thunderstorm for about 1/2 hour.

Here's a wider view of the skies. I looked for signs of a funnel cloud but didn't see any. There were tornadoes in the area this day.

The preceding 4 pictures on this page taken with my Olympus C-4040 digital camera, with light processing in Photoshop.

I was out in Wimberly (in the hill country between Austin and San Antonio) during New Year's week 2002/2003. I enjoyed outstanding weather and clear skies on Tue, Thu, and Friday nights. Had rain Monday, and a tremendous wind storm (gusts at 41 mph reported in San Antonio) that cut short my Wednesday night. Otherwise I enjoyed cool temperatures (lows around 40), light breezes, and dry (no dew!) weather, really just about perfect.

Other Starry Nights Astro Images
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