Dean's Astrophotography

Capturing the 110 Messier objects and beyond from Carlsbad, CA.

View Gallery The Marathon Story

110

Messier Objects

1 Year

Marathon Goal

EdgeHD 8

Primary Optic

2021

Project Launch

M97: Owl Nebula

Planetary Nebula

A faint planetary nebula located in Ursa Major. Captured with the EdgeHD 800.

🔭 EdgeHD 8 • 📸 ASI2600MM

M31: Andromeda

Galaxy

Our nearest galactic neighbor. Shot from Joshua Tree for maximum detail.

🔭 SW80ED • 📸 ASI071MC

The Photographic Messier Marathon

In 2021, I set a challenge: to complete a photographic marathon of all 110 Messier objects within a single year. Unlike a visual marathon which happens in one night, a photographic marathon requires capturing enough signal for every object as they rotate through the seasons.

Starting on January 17th, 2021, and finishing by October, the project pushed me to master acquisition software like N.I.N.A and processing in PixInsight...