Welcome! This web site is a combination of astrophotography and inspirational Christian messages. The images within this site were taken from a variety of locations over the years, through a variety of telescopes. My current astrophotography efforts center on using CCD (charge-coupled-device) technology to capture the faint light in our universe. I conduct CCD Imaging activity from two locations – both of which are configured as remote robotic observatories. These are the Sagrada Observatory and the JMSM Observatory - both located in the darks skies of southern New Mexico.
Click on the AstroPhotography links to the left to view various astro-images of my previous CCD Imaging efforts with Galaxies, Nebulae, Star Clusters, and other imaging categories. As this site is updated, more images will be added. In the meantime, I hope that you enjoy viewing the various images contained on this site. As the weather permits, I will add to this collection of God’s Light – presented to you as “technical artistry”.
The current image result is shown here. Feel free to post a comment below. Enjoy! – Mike Sherick
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Featured Images: M52 “Open Cluster” & ngc7635 “The Bubble Nebula”
The Bubble Nebula is a facinating object to image. Trying to capture the structure within the “bubble” has always been a difficult challenge - especially with a small 6″ telescope. Anyway, this is my recent effort on the Bubble Nebua and its “visual companion” Open Cluster M52. The image data was captured recently from my JMSM Observatory here in New Mexico. M52 at 5K Light years, and NGC7735 at 11K light years, are located in the constellation of Cassiopeia. Image data for these were taken with a TMB 152 f8 APO refractor and ST10xme CCD Camera. The imaging exposure sequence for both images was 16 x 300 seconds each RGB using Astrodon Gen I filters. Data acquired with CCD Commander, and processed with CCD Stack and PhotoShop CS4. I hope you enjoy viewing these image results. – Mike Sherick
Las Cruces Time
Absolutely *magnificent* and stunning image again, Mike & Carol! Thanks ever so much for sharing this and all your many *beautiful* celestial phenomena, created at the beginning of time by God–which we mere humans, especially His children, find so awestriking and inspirational! Truly, the words of Psalm 19:1 declare it eloquently: “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork”! It’s such a spectacular blessing that we, your visitors, can enjoy and wonder at the *spectacular* work of your observatories and God’s creation!
Happy Resurrection 2010 and God bless–He is risen!
Joan & Dean
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