{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"Photon Photographer","home_page_url":"https://photonphotographer.com","description":"Photon Photographer","author":{"name":"Photon Photographer"},"items":[{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/why-isnt-the-blue-moon-blue","html_content":"

Despite the catchy name, a blue moon has absolutely nothing to do with color. I can assure you the moon stays its usual pearly gray. Instead, the term describes a quirk in our calendar. A lunar cycle takes about 29.5 day...

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/why-isnt-the-blue-moon-blue","title":"Why Isn't The Blue Moon Blue?","summary":"Despite the catchy name, a blue moon has absolutely nothing to do with color. I can assure you the moon stays its usual pearly gray. Instead, the term describes a quirk in our calendar. A lunar cycle takes about 29.5 day...","date_modified":"2026-06-08T12:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/why-your-first-astrophotography-rig-should-be-a-smart-telescope","html_content":"

Skip the Frustration!

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/why-your-first-astrophotography-rig-should-be-a-smart-telescope","title":"Why Your First Astrophotography Rig Should Be a Smart Telescope","summary":"Skip the Frustration!","date_modified":"2026-06-05T15:04:00Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/remote-imaging-the-firebird-nebula","html_content":"

This is a remote capture using a Nikon 200 f/2 astrophotography rig in Chile featuring a belt drive digital focuser, FLI Microline 16200 CCD Camera and 10 Micro GM1000HPs robotic mount with Ha/OIII and SII/OIII filters.

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/remote-imaging-the-firebird-nebula","title":"Remote Imaging The Firebird Nebula","summary":"This is a remote capture using a Nikon 200 f/2 astrophotography rig in Chile featuring a belt drive digital focuser, FLI Microline 16200 CCD Camera and 10 Micro GM1000HPs robotic mount with Ha/OIII and SII/OIII filters.","date_modified":"2026-06-02T12:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/essential-elements-of-an-astrophotography-rig","html_content":"

This infographic provides a detailed, comprehensive breakdown of a typical astrophotography optical train and the essential elements of a high-quality rig, specifically using a refractor telescope for illustration.

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/essential-elements-of-an-astrophotography-rig","title":"Essential Elements Of An Astrophotography Rig","summary":"This infographic provides a detailed, comprehensive breakdown of a typical astrophotography optical train and the essential elements of a high-quality rig, specifically using a refractor telescope for illustration.","date_modified":"2026-05-29T12:00:00Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/what-are-arcminutes-arcseconds","html_content":"

To understand arcminutes and arcseconds, you first have to stop thinking about miles or kilometers and start thinking about angles. Astronomers don't know how \"wide\" a planet is just by looking at it. Astronomers only kn...

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/what-are-arcminutes-arcseconds","title":"What Are Arcminutes & Arcseconds?","summary":"To understand arcminutes and arcseconds, you first have to stop thinking about miles or kilometers and start thinking about angles. Astronomers don't know how \"wide\" a planet is just by looking at it. Astronomers only kn...","date_modified":"2026-05-25T23:05:09Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/dwarf-3-smart-telescope-review","html_content":"

TL;DR

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/dwarf-3-smart-telescope-review","title":"Dwarf 3 Smart Telescope Review","summary":"TL;DR","date_modified":"2026-05-18T14:47:09Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/i-went-down-the-telescope-rabbit-hole","html_content":"

This is just a short blog post - written as a cautionary tale. Astrophotography can be very addictive. It started for me with the Vespera II on the left. Then I added a second smart telescope - the Dwarflab Dwarf 3. All ...

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/i-went-down-the-telescope-rabbit-hole","title":"I Went Down The Telescope Rabbit Hole","summary":"This is just a short blog post - written as a cautionary tale. Astrophotography can be very addictive. It started for me with the Vespera II on the left. Then I added a second smart telescope - the Dwarflab Dwarf 3. All ...","date_modified":"2026-04-29T15:12:58Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/photographing-the-vla-in-new-mexico","html_content":"

The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) is a premier radio astronomy observatory in New Mexico that uses 27 massive antennas to \"see\" the invisible universe. By combining signals from these dishes, astro scientists can...

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/photographing-the-vla-in-new-mexico","title":"Photographing the VLA in New Mexico","summary":"The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) is a premier radio astronomy observatory in New Mexico that uses 27 massive antennas to \"see\" the invisible universe. By combining signals from these dishes, astro scientists can...","date_modified":"2026-04-23T18:04:18Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/creating-dark-frames-for-astrophotography","html_content":"

Creating \"dark sets\" (more commonly known as dark frames) is essential for removing sensor noise, hot pixels, and \"amp glow\" from your astrophotography. For the purposes of this article, I am using a Dwarflab Dwarf 3 sma...

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/creating-dark-frames-for-astrophotography","title":"Creating Dark Frames For Astrophotography","summary":"Creating \"dark sets\" (more commonly known as dark frames) is essential for removing sensor noise, hot pixels, and \"amp glow\" from your astrophotography. For the purposes of this article, I am using a Dwarflab Dwarf 3 sma...","date_modified":"2026-04-15T19:01:03Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/smart-telescope-accessories-that-you-might-really-need","html_content":"

TL;DR: The essential toolkit for smart telescope users should prioritize power management, light pollution mitigation, stability and safe transportation. Key additions like high-capacity power bank stations and specializ...

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/smart-telescope-accessories-that-you-might-really-need","title":"Smart Telescope Accessories That You Might Really Need","summary":"TL;DR: The essential toolkit for smart telescope users should prioritize power management, light pollution mitigation, stability and safe transportation. Key additions like high-capacity power bank stations and specializ...","date_modified":"2026-04-10T23:05:31Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/a-review-of-the-vaonis-vespera-ii-smart-telescope","html_content":"

TL;DR: The Vaonis Vespera II is a revolutionary smart telescope that pairs professional-grade optics with a seamless, automated user experience. While its 8.3MP sensor and mosaic mode produce gallery-quality images of th...

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/a-review-of-the-vaonis-vespera-ii-smart-telescope","title":"A Review Of The Vaonis Vespera II Smart Telescope","summary":"TL;DR: The Vaonis Vespera II is a revolutionary smart telescope that pairs professional-grade optics with a seamless, automated user experience. While its 8.3MP sensor and mosaic mode produce gallery-quality images of th...","date_modified":"2026-04-05T22:56:10Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/the-golden-engine","html_content":"

A Portrait of Our Local Star - The Sun

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/the-golden-engine","title":"The Golden Engine","summary":"A Portrait of Our Local Star - The Sun","date_modified":"2026-04-04T03:30:34Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/astro-photography-target-list","html_content":"

Since we are currently in late March, we are transitioning out of the \"Winter Nebula\" season and into \"Galaxy Season.\" However, the big nebulae of the Summer Milky Way are about to start rising in the early morning hours...

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/astro-photography-target-list","title":"Astro Photography Target List","summary":"Since we are currently in late March, we are transitioning out of the \"Winter Nebula\" season and into \"Galaxy Season.\" However, the big nebulae of the Summer Milky Way are about to start rising in the early morning hours...","date_modified":"2026-03-27T03:41:43Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/orion-nebula-m42","html_content":"

This is my first serious attempt at the Orion Nebula (M42). It is a massive, glowing cloud of dust and gas located 1,344 light-years away. It acts like a giant \"stellar nursery\" where thousands of new stars are born. Vis...

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/orion-nebula-m42","title":"Orion Nebula (M42)","summary":"This is my first serious attempt at the Orion Nebula (M42). It is a massive, glowing cloud of dust and gas located 1,344 light-years away. It acts like a giant \"stellar nursery\" where thousands of new stars are born. Vis...","date_modified":"2026-03-22T03:12:50Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/capturing-the-crimson-glow-of-the-blood-moon","html_content":"

My first serious astro photograph

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/capturing-the-crimson-glow-of-the-blood-moon","title":"Capturing the Crimson Glow Of The Blood Moon","summary":"My first serious astro photograph","date_modified":"2026-03-16T16:11:43Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/saturn-the-solar-system%E2%80%99s-ringed-nightmare-when-we-look-at-satur","html_content":"

When we look at Saturn through a telescope, it looks like a masterpiece. It’s the \"Jewel of the Solar System\"—elegant, golden, and serene. But for a photographer, beauty is often a mask. If you could fly a drone into tha...

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/saturn-the-solar-system%E2%80%99s-ringed-nightmare-when-we-look-at-satur","title":"Saturn: The Solar System’s Ringed NightmareWhen we look at Satur","summary":"When we look at Saturn through a telescope, it looks like a masterpiece. It’s the \"Jewel of the Solar System\"—elegant, golden, and serene. But for a photographer, beauty is often a mask. If you could fly a drone into tha...","date_modified":"2026-03-08T23:46:54Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/on-looking-up-by-chance-at-the-constellations","html_content":"

A poem by Robert Frost

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/on-looking-up-by-chance-at-the-constellations","title":"On Looking Up By Chance at the Constellations ","summary":"A poem by Robert Frost","date_modified":"2026-03-05T16:33:18Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/what-is-a-smart-telescope","html_content":"

Six months ago, I had no idea that smart telescopes existed. I didn't know a thing about them. I also didn't know that I'd end up owning two of them.

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/what-is-a-smart-telescope","title":"What Is A Smart Telescope?","summary":"Six months ago, I had no idea that smart telescopes existed. I didn't know a thing about them. I also didn't know that I'd end up owning two of them.","date_modified":"2026-03-03T12:21:58Z"},{"id":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/understanding-the-bortle-scale-a-photographers-tool","html_content":"

For astrophotography enthusiasts, one crucial element to consider is the Bortle Scale, a nine-level classification that measures how much light pollution might interfere with viewing the stars. Introduced in 2001, this s...

","url":"https://photonphotographer.com/blog/f/understanding-the-bortle-scale-a-photographers-tool","title":"Understanding the Bortle Scale: A Photographer's Tool","summary":"For astrophotography enthusiasts, one crucial element to consider is the Bortle Scale, a nine-level classification that measures how much light pollution might interfere with viewing the stars. Introduced in 2001, this s...","date_modified":"2026-03-02T04:01:26Z"}]}