DOCtor Astro Pics

08/03/2026

Wow, what a difference new processing tools make in astrophotography! 🤯
​Here is a side-by-side comparison of the exact same data: 18 hours of integration on the Iris Nebula from April 2023, processed two entirely different ways.
​👈 On the Left: My original processing. This took me several hours of tedious, manual editing after stacking.
👉 On the Right: A brand new edit that took just 30 minutes!
​The right side was processed using game-changing tools like the full suite of XTerminators (Blur, Noise, and Star), Seti Astro Tools, Jürgen Terpe's Toolbox, and Multiscale Adaptive Stretch. Not only did this take a fraction of the time, but the final results are far superior! I find the new tools give a much more natural, less blotchy look, allowing so much more of that finer detail in the cosmic dust to come through.
​What are your favorite processing tools right now? Let me know! 👇
​~DOCtorAstroPics
​

06/03/2026

First clear skies since October, and it feels SO good to have the rig out again! 🔭✨
​Upgraded the setup with a brand new guide scope during the winter downtime, and it is absolutely paying off tonight. The EQ6-R Pro is acting like it's bolted to bedrock—I just hit an unbelievable 0.32" Total RMS guiding in N.I.N.A.! 🤯
​Target for tonight is a deep dive on M81 (Bode's Galaxy) and M82 (the Cigar Galaxy). The raw N.I.N.A. subs and SharpCap live stacks are already looking incredible. Are there massive dust motes on my sensor? Yes. Am I going to worry about them tonight? Absolutely not. That's a problem for tomorrow's flat frames! 😅
​Right now, it’s time to sit back, grab a beer, and let the automation do the heavy lifting while the meridian flip approaches. Cheers to being back under the stars! 🍻🌌
​

02/10/2025

OUT OF THIS WORLD as we peer through our galaxy the Milky-way 🌌👀

Another one from Sunday night and a re-edit on the sky from my previous post on Monday

28th September 2025

Sky x15 30sec frames
Foreground x1 30sec Frame
Canon 550D unmodded not tracked
Tokina 11-16mm f2.8
Lightroom, Sequator, PS and Pixinsight

Full resolution https://adobe.ly/4nBDyfk

29/09/2025

Milky-way rising above Carnfunnock County Park County Antrim 🌌👀

Sure what else would you be doing on a Sunday night before work on Monday and yes Whitesnake/David Coverdale was blasting the whole way home.

28th September 2025

Sky x6 30sec frames
Foreground x1 30sec Frame
Canon 550D unmodded not tracked
Tokina 11-16mm f2.8
Lightroom, Sequator, PS and Pixinsight

12/08/2025

The Soul Nebula

This celestial cloud, also known as Westerhout 5, is a massive star-forming region located about 7,500 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia. I spent over 15 hours capturing light from this magnificent deep-sky object, and I'm thrilled with the final result.
​It's humbling to think about the immense scale of what we're seeing here—new stars being born and cosmic dust illuminated by their light. Hope you enjoy this glimpse into the universe! ✨

I like this one so much I have it printed out in A1 size and Mrs AstroPics has even allowed it in the dinning room 👀🤯🖼️

Link for full resolution https://adobe.ly/4fuOCaE

Capturing info:

Ballynure Village

6.5 hours with Optolong L-eNhance filter in August 2024
9 hours 15 min with Askar Colour Magic C2 in March 2025

Imaging equipment:
ZWO ASI183MC Pro
William Optics Zenithstar 73 iii
2" Optolong L-eNhance filter
2" Askar Colour Magic C2 filter
Skywatcher EQ6R Pro
ZWO EAF
ZWO ASI120MM
30mm f4 guide scope
Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance gen 2
Mele Quieter 2 mini PC
Software
NINA, DSS, Pixinsight

Remember to like, comment and follow

🤓💻📷🔭✨💫🌌

Ballynure Primary School
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
Optolong Filter User
ZWO Astrophotography
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Astrobiscuit
AstroBackyard
BBC Sky at Night Magazine
William Optics
Northern Ireland Amateur Astronomy Society (NIAAS)
First Light Optics
Love Ballyclare
Belfast Live
1st Ballynure Boys Brigade

18/04/2025

Lost in the cosmic ocean, here's my take on the stunning Jellyfish Nebula (IC 443)! ✨ This ghostly remnant of a star's explosive death lies about 5,000 light-years from Earth. Its delicate, flowing structures stretch out over 100 light-years. A truly mesmerizing sight!

This is also my first data capture with my new colour magic c2 filter to isolate the sulphur gas and comb it with my l enhance which isolates Hydrogen-Alpha and Oxygen III gas gave me the opportunity to explore new colour pallets. More time is turely needed to bring more detail out and improve signal to noise ratio, but after a quick edit I had to share.

Link for full resolution https://adobe.ly/4ijdLVD

Capturing info,
Ballynure Village

9 hours with Optolong L-eNhance filter
5 hours with Askar Colour Magic C2

Imaging equipment:
ZWO ASI183MC Pro
William Optics Zenithstar 73 iii
2" Optolong L-eNhance filter
2" Askar Colour Magic C2 filter
Skywatcher EQ6R Pro
ZWO EAF
ZWO ASI120MM
30mm f4 guide scope
Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance gen 2
Mele Quieter 2 mini PC
Software
NINA, DSS, Pixinsight

Remember to like, comment and follow

🤓💻📷🔭✨💫🌌

Ballynure Primary School
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
Optolong Astronomy Filter
ZWO Astrophotography
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Astrobiscuit
BBC Sky at Night Magazine
William Optics
Northern Ireland Amateur Astronomy Society (NIAAS)
First Light Optics
Love Ballyclare
Belfast Live

23/03/2025

Lost in the beauty of the Eastern Veil Nebula. 🌌 It's hard to wrap my head around the fact that this is the aftermath of a star exploding 2,400 light-years away. Every time I capture something like this, I'm reminded of how small we are in the grand scheme of the universe. This nebula, part of the Cygnus Loop, is about 6 times the size of the full moon in our sky! Just...wow. ✨

Link for full resolution https://adobe.ly/4kLDTet

Capturing info,
Ballynure Village August 2024

3 hours 50min total integration time with Optolong L-eNhance filter

Imaging equipment:
ZWO ASI183MC Pro
William Optics Zenithstar 73 iii
2" Optolong L-eNhance filter
Skywatcher EQ6R Pro
ZWO EAF
ZWO ASI120MM
30mm f4 guide scope
Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance gen 2
Mele Quieter 2 mini PC
Software
NINA, DSS, Pixinsight

Remember to like, comment and follow

🤓💻📷🔭✨💫🌌

Ballynure Primary School
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
Optolong Astronomy Filter
ZWO Astrophotography
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Astrobiscuit
BBC Sky at Night Magazine
William Optics
Northern Ireland Amateur Astronomy Society (NIAAS)
Ballynure Village
First Light Optics
Love Ballyclare
Belfast Live

02/03/2025