2020 was a year of nebulae, galaxies, comets, star clusters, supernovae, and planetary conjunctions. There was little travel due to the pandemic, but the skies were active. I was able to use 2020 to practice and improve my astrophotography; I learned a lot about exposure, processing, and the difficulties of comet and planet imaging.
I have selected a few of my favorites from 2020 below.
Comet Neowise – C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)
My first comet picture is below. Neowise put on an amazing show over the summer. Visible to the naked eye, with binoculars the tail was clear. We made a point to go out and watch this comet multiple mornings and evenings in the summer.
This is my favorite image from 2020. I like the detail that I was able to pull out and I think the Hubble palette gives it a nice look. It was a good capture.
This was significant because it was the closest Jupiter / Saturn conjunction since 1623, and the next one that will be this close is in 60 years. This was also my first attempt at planetary photography. I still have a lot to learn and improve on, but am pleased with how it came out.
M64 Black Eye Galaxy
M64 is not the most spectacular galaxy, but I liked the simplicity. I had not intended to image this one and do not have a separate post on it. I captured the galaxy while waiting for other targets to rise high enough above the horizon. I am glad I did.
M13 Hercules Globular Star Cluster
M13 was another first, this time my first star cluster. I was pleased with the detail, particularly in the center where it is easy to blow out the detail. The colors turned out well and the galaxy NGC6207 is clearly visible in the upper right.
