PIE MATRIX’s Post

Hi Folks, I just dropped a new post on my website: "Awash in Ancient Photons - A Perspective on Astrophotography" These are some thoughts about the role of Astrophotography. It starts with the premise that all luminous objects in the observable Universe are shooting off photons. When you go out under the Night Sky - you are literally being bathed in a sea of photons from every luminous object in the sky - a vast majority of which can not be perceived by the naked eye. You can see my thoughts here: https://lnkd.in/exTArGTv #astronomy #astrophotography

Nebulae, which are massive clouds of dust and gas, are popular targets for deep-sky astrophotography due to their size and colour combinations. They also happen to make great targets for beginners because they are easier to focus, frame, and process compared to dimmer, smaller objects. We've put together a list of the brightest nebulae in the night sky for your next clear night. How many have you checked off your list? ☑ https://lnkd.in/gQdXMwXM

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 "𝐟𝐚𝐤𝐞?" 😱 This is a thought that I'm sure many people have when they first start getting into astrophotography. Turns out, the highly-detailed images of nebulas and galaxies that we often see shared online are not 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 that can be observed from the naked eye or even through powerful telescopes. Instead, they are 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬, an image composed of hundreds, if not thousands of shots, all combined together through a process known as "𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠." Stacking reveals the hidden details of space, allowing us to truly observe our cosmos. And so, the goal of astrophotography is not simply to take an image of what can be seen. But rather, to showcase what's actually there. This is a shot I took of the famous 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐧'𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 featuring the stars, Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka. The sheer detail seen in this image is only made possible through stacking. What do you think? Should pictures of space try to be true to life or focus on capturing as much detail as possible?

Meet AstroKeeper: The photo manager for astronomers. Already enhancing the experience of astronomers worldwide. AstroKeeper is an essential tool for every astrophotographer who values organization and efficiency. Here’s what makes AstroKeeper stand out: 📸 Automatic Photo Import - Effortlessly sync your shots from selected folders in essential astronomy formats. 🏷️ Custom Tags - Organize pictures with ease, making them easy to categorize and retrieve. 🔍 Advanced Search - Quickly locate photos based on telescope type, celestial object, and other criteria. 🔄 Blink Function - Compare pictures to discern even the subtlest changes in the night sky. 🛠️ Image Adjustment Tools - Enhance your photos with fine-tuning options for brightness, contrast, and saturation. ✏️ Drawing Tools - Mark and annotate celestial bodies directly on your images. 🌟 Astrometry Integration - Accurately locate celestial bodies using advanced astrometry. Get AstroKeeper now: https://lnkd.in/eEnA2ma7 #Astrophotography #astronomy #AstroKeeper #Starmaze

As I gazed up at the night sky recently, I was fortunate enough to witness something truly breathtaking—the Atlas Comet, officially named C/2023 A3. It’s moments like these that remind us how small we are in the grand scheme of the universe, yet how powerful our curiosity and desire to explore can be. With my camera in hand, I set out to capture this rare spectacle.The glowing tail, stretching behind the comet, was visible in stunning detail—a visual reminder of the raw beauty and energy that the universe holds. This experience wasn’t just about capturing a photograph. It was about being present in the moment, appreciating the vastness of space, and the knowledge that we are part of something far bigger than ourselves. It’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day grind, but moments like these encourage me to pause, reflect, and look beyond the boundaries of our world. For those who may not have the chance to witness the Atlas Comet in person, I hope my photo serves as a small window into this cosmic event. It’s a reminder that whether you’re a scientist, a photographer, or simply someone who looks up at the stars in wonder, we’re all connected by the shared pursuit of discovery and awe for the universe. #AtlasComet #Astronomy #Cosmos #ScienceAndNature #SpaceExploration #Citizenscolleague

The Biggest Planetary Alignment of 2025 When we think of observing the night sky, the first things that come to mind are often the planets and the Moon. One of the most exciting astronomical events is a planet alignment, and the good news for astronomers is that on January 21, 2025, six planets will align in a straight line across the night sky. This is a rare event, with the last alignment occurring on June 3, 2024. This planetary alignment provides a unique opportunity for astronomers to locate various celestial bodies. Witnessing this 6-planet alignment is truly remarkable, and you can capture it with your smartphone from the roof of your house. It's easily visible to the naked eye, so don’t forget to set a reminder for January 21. Observing this alignment should be your top priority at that time! #PlanetAlignment #Astronomy2025 #AstronomicalEvent #NightSky #SpaceScience #PlanetaryAlignment #Skywatching #AstronomyLovers #SpaceEvent #Stargazing #CelestialEvent #ScienceInspiration #AstronomyCommunity #PlanetWatching #AstroPhotography #Skywatchers #Spacelia

🌌𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐔𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓!🌠 On this remarkable day, the universe will put on a show—a planetary parade featuring six planets aligning gracefully in the night sky. 🌍✨ 🌟 What to Expect? Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune will require binoculars or a telescope. This celestial alignment forms a breathtaking arc, a reminder of the beauty and vastness of our cosmos. 📍 How to Witness This Event? Find a location with minimal light pollution, look up, and immerse yourself in this rare astronomical event. 🌠 Why It Matters? Moments like these remind us of how interconnected we are with the universe. They spark curiosity, inspire wonder, and deepen our appreciation for the mysteries beyond our Earth. Let’s take a moment to pause, look up, and marvel at the wonders of the universe. 🌌 Are you planning to catch this celestial event? Share your thoughts or tips for stargazing in the comments! ⬇️ #PlanetaryAlignment #Astronomy #CosmicEvents #Inspiration #LookUp #Stargazing #Space #Planets #CelestialEvent #Universe #SpaceExploration #AstronomyLovers #Skywatching #Galaxies #Astrology #StargazingTips #NightSky #StarryNight #SkyGazing #SpaceLovers #AstronomyCommunity #Astrophotography #CosmicWonder #MilkyWay #Stellar #ObservingTheSky #Cosmos #Science #PlanetaryParade #Uranus #Neptune #Jupiter #Saturn #Mars #Venus #Stargazers #AstronomyDaily #AstroPhotography #CosmicJourney #Skywatchers #CosmicInspiration #StellarEvents #Astrophiles #SpaceIsAmazing #StarAlignment #PlanetaryConjunction #NightSkies #AstronomyEvents #StargazingCommunity #Exploration #CelestialWonder #SpaceDiscovery #AstroCommunity #GalacticWonder

NGC 253, nicely processed by Thomas Großschmidt also known as the Sculptor Galaxy or the Silver Coin Galaxy, is a large, bright spiral galaxy located in the constellation Sculptor, about 11.4 million light-years from Earth. It is one of the closest and most active star-forming galaxies to the Milky Way, characterized by a central region rich in dust and gas where intense star formation occurs. The LRGB data sets that processed this image are available on Starbase at a 25% Discount. Lum is 12.8 hours, and RGB is 5.4 hours. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eQKRcdyE #astrophotography #astrophoto #astrographia #astrofotografie #astronomy #astro #insightobservatory #astrophotography #astrophoto #astrographia #astrofotografie #astronomy #astro #insightobservatory #space #nightsky #telescope #universe #starrysky #nightphotography #cosmos #outerspace #skygemsremoteobservatories #starbase #deepskychile #utahdesertremoteobservatories

On the largest cosmic scales of all, planet Earth appears to be anything but special. Like hundreds of billions of other planets in our galaxy, we orbit our parent star; like hundreds of billions of solar systems, we revolve around the galaxy; like the majority of galaxies in the Universe, we’re bound together in either a group or cluster of galaxies. And, like most galactic groups and clusters, we’re a small part of a larger structure containing over 100,000 galaxies: a supercluster. Ours is named Laniakea: the Hawaiian word for “immense heaven. Superclusters have been found and charted throughout our observable Universe, where they’re more than ten times as rich as the largest known clusters of galaxies. Unfortunately, owing to the presence of dark energy in the Universe, these superclusters ⁠— including our own ⁠— are only apparent structures. In reality, they’re mere phantasms, in the process of dissolving before our very eyes. The Universe as we know it began some 13.8 billion years ago with the Big Bang. It was filled with matter, antimatter, radiation, etc.; all the particles and fields that we know of today, and possibly even more. From the earliest instants of the hot Big Bang, however, it wasn’t simply a uniform sea of these energetic quanta. Instead, there were tiny imperfections ⁠— at about the 0.003% level ⁠— on all scales, where some regions had slightly more or slightly less matter-and-energy than average. Source: Forbes Aritcle "Our Home Supercluster, Laniakea, Is Dissolving Before Our Eyes" by Ethan Siegel- Senior Contributor #science #nature_perfection #naturephoto #scientist #natureisawesome #muslimah #islamic #AyatoftheDay #Ayaat #nature #naturephotographychallenge�� #photos #photoshoot #quranquotes #naturelovers #naturesbeauty #scientist #natureisawesome #muslimah #ayat #Allah #Quran #naturephotography #muslim #photography #photoofthedays #gratitude #natureiscool #natureisbeautiful #wildlife See less

#thismondayinhistory #Sep9 | Edward Emerson Barnard, an American astronomer, discovered the last moon of Jupiter on 9 September 1892 and named it after Amalthea of Greek mythology. Amalthea is the largest of the inner satellites of Jupiter and is irregularly shaped and reddish in colour. It is thought to consist of porous water ice with unknown amounts of other materials. In 1979, the unmanned Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 space probes obtained the first images of Amalthea to resolve its surface features. In 2006, Amalthea's orbit was refined with measurements from New Horizons. #scientificdiscoveries #advancementsinscience #amalthea #jupiter #moon #moonsofjupiter #photography #digitalphotography #imagedevelopment #galileo #galileoorbiter #highschoolblog #historyblog #history