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 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.