Embark on a cosmic odyssey with Ron Brecher, a virtuoso of the night sky, whose transformation from an amateur stargazer to an astrophotography maestro is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Clutching the telescope that started it all, Ron shares the celestial moments that propelled him from admiring the stars to immortalizing them through his lens. He opens up about the pivotal role played by Terrence Dickinson's "Night Watch" in his journey and the exhilarating leap he took with his DSLR to capture the heavens. The addition of a personal observatory didn't just enhance Ron's stellar pursuits—it skyrocketed them. Our voyage doesn't stop there; we also navigate the starlit nexus where astrophotography meets science communication. Rob Webb @lastminuteastronomer challenges you with trivia that spans the historical tapestry of astrophotography, from its first moonlit photo to the earliest spectral studies of stars. Alongside the thrill of discovery, we traverse Ron's evolution into an astrophotography educator, imparting the nuances of software like PixInsight and the transformative effect of virtual teaching spurred by global upheavals. Sharing the cosmos has never been more engaging or essential. As we set our telescopes towards the future, we ponder the advancements on the horizon for astrophotography—where equipment refinement meets the dawn of artificial intelligence in image processing. Reflecting on our own gear odyssey, I emphasize the vital importance of finding the tools that resonate with your passion. We explore how innovations like automated in-camera stacking and AI enhancements are reshaping our quest to photograph the universe. Ron and I, your fellow star chasers, affirm the profound joy found in the hands-on pursuit of astrophotography, balancing technical mastery with the simple pleasure of gazing into the vastness above. Join us, and be inspired to etch your own starry legacy. Here is a link to the podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2034016/14315015 Here is a link to the blog post: https://www.cosmossafari.com/post/astrophotography-as-a-gateway-to-science-communication-with-ron-brecher Thumbnail Art Credit: Ron "Astro Doc" Brecher You can find Ron Brecher at https://astrodoc.ca/ Masters of PixInsight Workshops: www.mastersofpixinsight.com Find Dave “Cosmos Safari” www.cosmossafari.com @cosmossafari on YouTube - @CosmosSafari Instagram - www.instagram.com/cosmossafari Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thecosmossafari/ X - https://twitter.com/CosmosSafari TikTok Find Rob the “Last Minute Astronomer” @lastminuteastronomer on YouTube - @LastMinuteAstronomer Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lastminuteastronomer/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094679331665

Summary: Dave and Rob let the dust settle on the OSIRIS-REx mission and discuss its origins, launch, flight, return, and current status. As of recording on November 9th, 2023 the return mission succeeded, but the sample was stuck inside the collection chamber Sources Spaceflight 101 The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft Beyond Earth A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration, 1958-2016, Asif A. Siddiqi. https://www.nasa.gov/history/history-publications-and-resources/nasa-history-series/beyond-earth/ NASA Acronyms https://science.nasa.gov/acronyms/ https://science.nasa.gov/mission/osiris-rex/in-depth/ https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/ Lockheed Martin https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/osiris-rex.html Space.com https://www.space.com/33776-osiris-rex.html Asteroid Mission https://www.asteroidmission.org/ NASA Eyes on Asteroids https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/asteroids/#/home Find Dave “Cosmos Safari” www.cosmossafari.com @cosmossafari on YouTube Instagram Facebook X TikTok Find Rob the “Last Minute Astronomer” @lastminuteastronomer on YouTube Instagram Facebook Disclaimer: If you click any of the links below I will receive a small commission that helps to support my channel. It costs you nothing, but means the world to me. Woodland Hills Camera and Telescope Affiliate Links:

In this episode, we interview Gordon Telepun, the maker of the popular Solar Eclipse Timer App, and discuss his new book, "How to Enjoy, Observe, and Photograph a Total Solar Eclipse" as well as some of his background as a five-time solar eclipse observer and astrophotographer. The book, unlike others available, focuses on the moment-by-moment events that one should prepare for in sequence throughout the day of a Total Solar Eclipse. Gordon's experience as a plastic surgeon has provided him with the unique ability to take complex ideas and put them into terms that are understandable by the general public. This skill is obvious throughout the book and our discussion. Check out the audio version of this podcast on the Cosmos Safari Podcast on your favorite Podcast Software! https://www.cosmossafari.com/podcast/episode/7ba96e00/s1-e4-how-to-enjoy-observe-and-photograph-a-total-solar-eclipse-with-gordon-telepun Disclaimer: If you click any of the links below I will receive a small commission that helps to support my channel. It costs you nothing, but means the world to me. Woodland Hills Camera and Telescope Affiliate Links: All Products - Please support the channel - https://bit.ly/3MWsvwT #podcast #astronomy #space #solareclipse #totalsolareclipse

Audio-only version of the Podcast available on most major Podcast Apps https://www.buzzsprout.com/2034016/12774894-the-future-of-astrophotography-live-stacking-with-richard-wright 00:00 Introduction 02:15 Welcoming Richard 03:00 The Future of Astrophotography 07:30 Are long exposures still needed? 10:29 Does focal ratio matter? 12:00 Using Alt/Az mounts and Dobs for Astrophotography 16:19 How are images stored during live stacking? 17:42 What new technology is responsible for these new techniques? 22:00 As Cameras Improve Exposure Duration goes Down. 28:05 Narrowband Short Exposures - LIVE STACK 32:43 Camera Chips- Commercial vs. Consumer grade 34:06 Is CCD dead? 36:37 Is LIVE stacking able to be used to do science? 38:31 CPU's vs GPU's for Live Stacking and Realtime AI Processing 43:00 Small Computers 47:13 Northeast Astro-Imaging Conference 51:55 Closing Statements In this episode of the Cosmos Safari Podcast, I speak with Richard Wright. Richard is a veteran astrophotography with over 20 years experience in the astronomy community as the programmer of the famous SkyX software by Software Bisque. Richard also is a contributing editor of Sky and Telescope Magazine, and produces beautiful astrophotography that is revered throughout the astronomy community. Disclaimer: If you click any of the links below I will receive a small commission that helps to support my channel. It costs you nothing, but means the world to me. Woodland Hills Camera and Telescope Affiliate Links: All Products - Please support the channel - https://bit.ly/3MWsvwT

Dr. Brandt: https://personal.psu.edu/wnb3/ Dr. Niel Brandt is the Verne M. Willaman Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics, and Professor of Physics at The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Brandt is joining us today to speak specifically about his outreach through summer teacher workshops as well as his primary research interests which include: The growth of supermassive black holes over cosmic time Black-hole vs. galaxy connections Deep cosmological multi-wavelength surveys Supermassive black-hole winds and feedback into galaxies Sample-based studies of active galactic nuclei Extreme active galactic nuclei as tools X-ray astronomy and high-energy astrophysics Deep, wide, and fast cosmic surveys This summer’s workshop “The Lives and Deaths of Stars” will be held on July 17-21st at The Pennsylvania State University. https://sites.psu.edu/psiwa/ 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:03 Penn State Teacher Workshops with Niel 00:15:22 Do black holes move and should I be scared of them? 00:18:00 In what ways will the James Webb Space Telescope help you in your research? 00:22:01 JWST Micrometeorite Impact 00:22:55 Gravity Waves 00:25:18 NASA Spinoffs 00:29:55 Stellar Evolution Disclaimer: If you click any of the links below I will receive a small commission that helps to support my channel. It costs you nothing, but means the world to me. Woodland Hills Camera and Telescope Affiliate Links: All Products - Please support the channel - https://bit.ly/3MWsvwT

In this video co-hosts Dave Farina and Rob Webb dive into the James Webb Space Telescope which has made a huge splash in the astronomy world over the last month. Dave and Rob discuss what makes them excited about the telescope, and discuss some of the science that JWST is built to conduct. Disclaimer: If you click any of the links below I will receive a small commission that helps to support my channel. It costs you nothing, but means the world to me. Woodland Hills Camera and Telescope Affiliate Links: All Products - Please support the channel - https://bit.ly/3MWsvwT

#nasa #space #science In our very first episode of the Cosmos Safari podcast, hosts Dave Farina and Rob Webb dive into NASA's Artemis program that will return humans back to the moon for the first time in over 50 years, and eventually to Mars! Learn more about this awesome NASA mission and explore the possibilities that future human space travel makes possible. The first lunar landings inspired an entire generation to look beyond the Earth and imagine endless possibilities. Technologies created to meet the demands of these missions have shaped our modern world in almost every way, and the Artemis program will likely reap similar unforeseen benefits as well. These NASA Spinoff technologies may very well change the world as we know it. Disclaimer: If you click any of the links below I will receive a small commission that helps to support my channel. It costs you nothing, but means the world to me. Woodland Hills Camera and Telescope Affiliate Links: All Products - Please support the channel - https://bit.ly/3MWsvwT