Latest news with #astrophotography
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
AlUla becomes global summer hotspot for photographers, astronomy lovers
RIYADH: AlUla is increasingly recognized as a top summer spot for photography and astronomy lovers, according to a Saudi Press Agency report. Its clear, low-light skies and striking landscapes make it an ideal setting for night photography and stargazing. (SPA) Sites like Al-Gharameel Nature Reserve and the Arch Rock formation, along with other desert landmarks, draw photographers from across the Kingdom and abroad, who capture night scenes featuring stars, galaxies, and dramatic rocky terrain against the sunset, the SPA added. AlUla Manara, managed by the Royal Commission for AlUla, serves as a hub for astronomy enthusiasts, offering workshops, observation programs, and public events that promote interest in space and night photography. (SPA) DarkSky International recently designated AlUla Manara and Al-Gharameel Nature Reserve as the first Dark Sky Park in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region, recognizing efforts to reduce light pollution and promote astro-tourism. Photographers from several countries praised AlUla's natural setting and facilities, noting its strong potential as a global astrophotography destination, the SPA reported. Tourism initiatives in AlUla include night camping, guided tours, and activities that connect visitors with nature and the cosmos, offering a complete experience under the stars.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Science
- Khaleej Times
Look: Jaw-dropping nebula spotted in UAE skies, 5,000 light-years away from Earth
In a stunning astronomical spectacle, a nebula was spotted in UAE skies by photographers of the Emirates Astronomy Society (EAS) in the eastern mountainous regions of the country. The Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888), also known as Caldwell 27-Sharpless 105, is located in the Cygnus constellation, approximately 5,000 light-years from Earth. The nebula was observed and photographed in high resolution, according to Tamim Al Tamimi, a member of the society and an astronomical photographer. While speaking to WAM, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Emirates Astronomy Society, revealed the nebula was formed by strong winds from a Wolf-Rayet star, WR 136, which collided with the material ejected by the star during its red giant phase. This large gas bubble of ionized hydrogen and oxygen is formed and appears in fine detail when imaged using narrow-field techniques. The observations took place over 10 hours using H-alpha and O3 filters, with the image processed according to the scientific color mode HOO, which clearly shows the chemical differences within the nebula. The images were captured with a cooled ZWO ASI183MM Pro camera using the Explore Scientific 152mm David H. Levy Comet Hunter Maksutov-Newtonian telescope on an iOptron HAE43 mount, with ASIAir Plus guidance, while final processing was performed using PixInsight and Photoshop, Jarwan added. In an important feat for UAE astronomers, the sighting highlights the commitment of Emirati astrophotographers to observing and photographing deep-sky objects despite the climatic challenges in mountainous or desert regions, where night time temperatures during the photographing period sometimes reach between 36 and 40 degrees Celsius.
Fast Company
2 days ago
- Fast Company
Meet Picastro, the Instagram alternative for astrophotographers
For those who've had enough of scrolling AI slop, meet Picastro: an Instagram app for astrophotography. Picastro is a dedicated, mobile-first platform built for amateurs and pros who capture images of the night sky. Launched late last year by Tom McCrorie, an amateur astrophotographer, the platform was designed to give celestial images the space and pixels they deserve—and to offer users a break from bots, algorithms, and shoddy AI-generated content. The platform supports JPEG files up to 120 megabytes, allowing for high-resolution uploads and manual zooming, so every detail can be appreciated as nature intended. For reference, Instagram currently supports up to eight megabytes before photos are automatically compressed. Uploaded images can be tagged with a 'StarCard,' a field where photographers share key information about their shot—from telescope type and camera model to filters used and ISO settings. Instead of relying on an algorithm or recommendation engine to decide which images get seen, users vote on their favorite photos by using a system of stars and trophies. The images with the most votes rise to the top, and each week and month the top-voted entries are highlighted as 'Image of the Week' or 'Image of the Month.' There's also a social aspect. Users can connect through 'StarCamps'—subgroups within the platform based on different skills, equipment brands, celestial targets, or experience levels. The app offers a free plan, Curiosity, but full access requires a subscription. Paid plans—Titan, Callisto, and Ganymede—range from about $5 to $10 per month and allow for more uploads and larger file sizes. If you ever need a reminder that social media is fake and we live on a floating rock, just download the app and have a scroll.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Orion constellation glows red in gorgeous deep space photo
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Miguel Claro is a professional photographer, author and science communicator based in Lisbon, Portugal, who creates spectacular images of the night sky. As a European Southern Observatory Photo Ambassador and member of The World At Night and the official astrophotographer of the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, he specializes in astronomical "Skyscapes" that connect both Earth and the night sky. This deep view of the Orion Constellation glows in reddish hues thanks to a filtered view of hydrogen alpha emission, a type of light emitted by hydrogen atoms. The large, intricate semi-circle around the three stars that make up Orion's belt is known as Barnard's Loop (Sh2-276), a nebula about 1,600 light-years away that itself spans some 300 light-years across. Barnard's Loop is part of the even bigger Orion molecular cloud complex, made up of dust, hydrogen and helium, and is the birthplace of stars. I always wanted to make an image like this one that shows all the beautiful reddish hydrogen that surrounds one of the most spectacular and colorful regions of the entire night sky as seen from Earth. This cloud contains known wonders like M42, Horse Head, LDN 1622, the large Lambda Orionis Ring and the bluish (OIII) Witch Head Nebula, close to Rigel star. I had my set up for this shot (Samyang 35mm f1.8 with Poseidon C Pro) available and prepared for two months before Orion cooperated. This image was a bit challenging to capture, due to uncooperative weather and the fact that the Orion constellation was beginning to set early along the western horizon. I only had 40 minutes available for each clear night between February and March 2025 as seen from the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve in Portugal, so collecting the seven hours of data in total for this image took many nights. Had I taken it in the beginning of winter, I could have taken it in one night. I hope you enjoy the result. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and if you want to support my work as an independent artist, you can buy one of my images as a print and a piece of art or a wall decor for your sweet home! Explore the size options and different types available on my Print gallery. Meanwhile, you can sign-up my newsletter to get early access of future releases.
Fast Company
23-06-2025
- Science
- Fast Company
Vera Rubin Observatory reveals jaw-dropping first images from world's largest telescope
This morning, the world's largest telescope revealed its first-ever images of space—and they're pretty jaw-dropping. The images come courtesy of the NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, a scientific facility funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. Located at the summit of Cerro Pachón in Chile, the facility is the product of more than 20 years of work. Its space camera—embedded in the hulking Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) —is about the size of a small car and includes a sensor array of three billion pixels, the most sensors ever used in a telescope camera. According to a press release from the Rubin Observatory, it's expected to generate an 'ultrawide, ultra-high-definition time-lapse record of the Universe.' 'It will bring the sky to life with a treasure trove of billions of scientific discoveries,' the release reads. 'The images will reveal asteroids and comets, pulsating stars, supernova explosions, far-off galaxies and perhaps cosmic phenomena that no one has seen before.' 'The most efficient Solar System discovery machine ever built' In just its first 10-hour test observation, unveiled today, the LSST managed to capture images which include millions of galaxies and Milky Way stars, as well as more than 2,000 never-before-seen asteroids within our Solar System. Taken together, the photos illustrate a technicolor view of space at a mind-boggling scale—but the 10 million galaxies photographed by the LSST represent only 0.05% of the roughly 20 billion galaxies that the camera is expected to record within the next decade. The primary goal of the LSST is to complete a 10-year survey of the Southern hemisphere sky, capturing hundreds of images and around 20 terabytes of data per night throughout that period. Per the Rubin Observatory, this massive influx of data will make the LSST 'the most efficient and effective Solar System discovery machine ever built.' All of the captured data will be made available online, allowing astronomers across the globe to access countless new findings without physical access to the telescope. The LSST is designed to advance four main areas of study: Understanding the nature of dark matter and dark energy; creating an inventory of the Solar System; mapping the Milky Way; and exploring the transient optical sky, i.e. studying objects that move or change in brightness. Experts predict that, given its capacity to identify millions of unseen asteroids, comets, and interstellar objects, the camera could even help protect the planet by spotting objects on a trajectory toward the Earth or Moon. 'NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory will capture more information about our Universe than all optical telescopes throughout history combined,' Brian Stone, chief of staff at the National Science Foundation, said in a press release. 'Through this remarkable scientific facility, we will explore many cosmic mysteries, including the dark matter and dark energy that permeate the Universe.'
