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Saturn and Neptune at Opposition and Rare Shadow Crossings (Sept 2025)
September brings Saturn’s brightest moment of 2025 as it reaches opposition — and with it, a rare series of Titan’s shadow transits. Visible from Middle Tennessee, these crossings won’t return for another 15 years, making this the perfect time to turn a telescope or camera toward the ringed planet.
NGC 7331 and Supernova 2025rbs: A 22-Hour Astrophotography Project
In late 2025, a supernova appeared in NGC 7331, offering a rare opportunity to capture a stellar explosion beyond our galaxy. This post documents a 22-hour astrophotography project under real conditions, detailing the planning, challenges, and lessons learned while imaging a transient event that will never look the same again.
The Pac-Man Nebula (NGC 281): A Multi-Night Project Under Moonlit Skies
The Pac-Man Nebula is often overlooked, especially under moonlit skies. This post documents a multi-night astrophotography project capturing NGC 281 despite challenging conditions, detailing the decisions, persistence, and lessons learned while extracting meaningful data when the sky wasn’t ideal.
Chasing M63: A Night of Astrophotography Under Smoky Skies
The Sunflower Galaxy doesn’t reveal itself easily. Imaging M63 required long integration and careful processing to uncover faint spiral structure, offering a quiet lesson in patience, subtlety, and working within real-world limits.
My First Step Into Serious Astrophotography: The Beginning of NocturnalLedge
March 2025 marked the moment astrophotography shifted from curiosity to commitment. What began as a first serious attempt under imperfect skies became a year defined by learning—equipment, workflow, patience, and restraint—laying the foundation for everything NocturnalLedge would become.