Welcome to Nocturnal Ledge! I’m Nate, an Army Veteran and current Police Officer. Nocturnal Ledge is my journey of learning astrophotography—a professional pursuit with a dash of humor and plenty of trial and error. Years ago, I started with a small box store telescope, huddling under a blanket on a cold night, squinting through the eyepiece. That’s when it happened: I caught a small, blurry, bright glimpse of Jupiter with a few moons scattered around, and then—barely believing my eyes—the faint hint of the Orion Nebula. I showed my daughters and they were amazed too! It wasn’t perfect, just fuzzy outlines and smudges of light, but it was pure magic. That night hooked me, igniting a passion to chase the stars and capture the cosmos! This journey will be fascinating and wrapped with lots of frustration and determination to learn the art. 

Now, I’m swapping night shifts for starry skies, aiming for precision (and yes, occasionally overshooting the budget—sorry, Stef!). I’m lucky to have Stef along for the ride. She’s a teacher and former EMT, keeping my budget in check. Her “budget face” is the look I get when I start eyeing “just one more accessory.” Stef’s also a self-published author of several books, tagging along to support my passion, offering encouragement, and keeping me grounded when the stars feel just out of focus.