I’m not an expert astrophotographer, nor do I claim to be. I’m just a regular guy who’s always been fascinated by the vast expanse of the universe. The telescope I use is special to me because it’s the first thing I bought with my salary as an intern. Back then, I didn’t know much about telescopes, but I knew one thing – I wanted to gaze at the stars and planets, and maybe, just maybe, take a few cool photos along the way.
The Moon is one of my favourite targets. In the photo below, you can see its craters and shadows, though it looks even sharper through the telescope. The shadows along its horizon really bring those details to life.
Another favourite of mine is Saturn. Although my photos of Saturn are a bit blurry, I can still make out its famous rings.
This is where I started to think about upgrading my telescope (maybe that’s what I’ll get with my next paycheck!). Even so, there’s something magical about seeing Saturn, rings and all, with your own eyes.
I had one of my proudest astrophotography moments when I managed to capture the Orion Nebula. It was a bit of a lucky moment, honestly. I’ve only seen it once, and although my photo came out blurry, just knowing that I managed to capture it is a big win for me.
Over time, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Jupiter and its moons, Vega shining brightly, and even catching glimpses of tiny planets and wandering satellites. Each time I see something new.
Unfortunately, stargazing isn’t always easy in the city because of light pollution. Where I live, the best time to catch clear skies is in July to October when rain clears the air. Still, light pollution has gotten worse over the years. Studies show the Earth’s night sky is now twice as bright as it was a decade ago, and future generations might see only 30% of the stars we can see today.
The universe is expanding, and many distant stars will eventually drift out of view, so the night sky we enjoy now won’t be around forever.
Must Read: The Night Sky Deserve Your Attention
I might not have the best gear or the sharpest photos, but stargazing brings me so much joy. If you’ve ever thought about it, I highly recommend giving it a try—you never know what cosmic wonders you might find!
Happy stargazing! 🌌
Have you ever wondered why it seems like journalists or news anchors today aren't asking…
I'm so excited to share this incredible interview that Colleen did with my co-author Deepak…
Have you ever heard someone say, "Kids these days are so soft?" It's a phrase…
Have you ever heard of a single cabbage feeding 275 people? No? Well, let me…
When I was in school, we were always taught that planning is essential for every…
Secrets are all around us. Though, it's a general idea that keeping secrets is bad,…
View Comments
These photos are really cool, Ritish. I also enjoy star gazing and personally, there's no other hobby that gives me so much peace.
If possible, would you mind sharing any tips for the identification of stars and the selection of telescopes?
Thanks so much, there’s nothing like stargazing to bring some peace. For star identification, I’d suggest downloading a star-tracking app like Stellarium. It’s super helpful and shows you everything from star locations to upcoming celestial events around you.
As for telescopes, if you’re just starting out, I’d recommend checking out beginner options like the Celestron Powerseeker or Pie Matrix. They’re great for getting into it
But yeah, patience is key! As they say, "Good things happen to those who wait."
Thank you for your suggestions, Ritish. I wish you an even more fascinating stellar journey!
Thanks for the kind wishes. I'm definitely excited for more stellar adventures. Hope you get to enjoy the night sky too.
These are very good shots!
Thanks so much, Tamara 💫
Beautiful pictures Ritish. Have you seen our second moon yet, just curious as they say you need a telescope to see it. Thanks for sharing these.
Thank you!
And sadly, I haven’t had the luck of spotting that mini-moon yet. I’ve tried, but I think I might need a much more advanced telescope or maybe even a better location.
Good luck.
Thanks mate 🙌
Great pictures, Ritish. They make me wonder how you shoot those pictures. I've used Orion's belt to make sure I was going the right direction.
I’ve used it a bunch of times myself to get oriented. I also rely on star-tracking apps to help guide me. Once you get the hang of where to point the telescope, it becomes a lot easier.
😊 I’m happy you liked the pictures.
Wow, Ritish! These are amazing!!! Thanks so much for sharing! 💕
I’m really happy you liked them, Cindy 💫❤️
Astronomy is one of the most interesting aspects of science. Great captures!
Thanks a lot! 😊And honestly, science is everything to me, so exploring the universe through my telescope is just the best.
Ritish bhai, Aapne toh chand par pahuchne waali baat dil par le li...😂😂
Aap pakka jaaoge, wahan, ek din. Mujhe lag rha hai...
I saw a satellite moving in the sky, in this morning.
When we're kid, we mistakenly recognised them as falling stars... which are different.
Geography starts with the first chapter on the solar system.
I was curious, to know the universe... always.
Your achievement makes me feel jealous..lol...😂...
main kyun pichhe rah gya?
But thank you so much for sharing.
These photos makes me happy. This is your unique achievement, that's why you are sharing...
and I appreciate your efforts..👏🏼👏🏼
I wish you explore and know more.
I also think exploring planets, stars and the univers...is a boring task. I have much more important things to do in life.
That's why I limit my interest in this field.
But thanks for sharing, as always.
You did something different, something unique...which many bloggers aren't thinking and planning here...
I'm overwhelmed by reading this posts... and I'm continuously writing...
I need to stop here.
Wonderful!👍🏼
You’ve got me smiling 😄 Reaching the moon might be a stretch, but I’m enjoying the view from my telescope for now.
And yeah, I remember those days too. Good times!
No need to feel jealous, man—there’s always time to dive into astronomy if you want. It's definitely not boring for me, it's more of a chill, patience thing, but I get it if you've got other important stuff going on.
I’m really glad these photos made you happy 🙏🏼
Happy Diwali, in advance..🪔
Happy Diwali, Loku 🪔
I shared this to two school teacher, some friends and on my WhatsApp status.
That's so nice of you! I hope this really insist others to explore the wonders of our existence.