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paramountobs.bsky.social
Paramount Observatory
@paramountobs.bsky.social
880 followers 180 following 280 posts
Welcome to the Paramount Observatory. This is a private project of Les Girvan to show the active #Astronomy, #Astrophotography, I am doing from #Liverpool #UK.
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paramountobs.bsky.social
Here is my latest capture of #IC434 the brilliant wall of hydrogen gas that creates the backdrop for the famous Horsehead #Nebula. Amazing to think this silhouette is just a massive cloud of dust blocking the light.

​One of my favorite sights in the winter sky.

#Astrophotography
@liverpoolas.org
A deep space photograph of the emission nebula IC 434 in the constellation Orion. A bright wall of red/pink hydrogen gas fills the background. In the center, a dark, distinct pillar of dust rises up, forming the shape of a horse's head (The Horsehead Nebula). To the left, the bright star Alnitak
November 25, 2025 at 3:22 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
Whilst Imaging #M81 & #M82 tonight I am imagining I am on the deck of the #StarshipEnterprise (Star Trek ref) and calculating how long it would take to travel between them!

Since the distance between M81 and M82 is 150,000 light-years, it would take 150,000 years to travel at the speed of light...
A close-up astronomical image of the interacting galaxies M81 (Bode's Galaxy, a large, well-defined spiral galaxy) and M82 (the Cigar Galaxy, an irregular starburst galaxy seen nearly edge-on), which are both visible in the same frame.
November 19, 2025 at 7:43 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
Live Now! The Eastern Veil, This is a classic emission nebula, glows primarily in specific wavelengths of light, notably Hydrogen-alpha and Oxygen III Using the narrowband filter is dramatically improving contrast and allows you to capture detail even from light-polluted areas.

#Astrophotography
A wide-field astrophotograph showing the Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC 6992), a bright, crescent-shaped arc of glowing gas and dust located in the constellation Cygnus. The structure is the colorful remnant of an ancient supernova explosion.
November 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
#M51 Whirlpool Galaxy, my fave! Look at that grand-design spiral structure! This new view comes from reprocessing old data with recent #Siril script updates. The software improvements really bring out the beautiful details. ✨

#Astrophotography #Astronomy #StormHour #MoonHour #ThePhotoHour #lookup
A sharp, detailed image of the M51 Whirlpool Galaxy, a classic grand-design spiral galaxy, viewed face-on. It shows bright blue spiral arms dotted with star-forming regions sweeping out from a yellow core. Its smaller, interacting companion galaxy, NGC 5195, is prominently visible just off the end of one of the arms.
November 19, 2025 at 11:35 AM
paramountobs.bsky.social
🌌 M42 (Orion Nebula) is the closest large stellar nursery to Earth! It's an immense cloud of gas and dust where thousands of new stars are being born. Visible to the naked eye as the fuzzy middle "star" in Orion's sword. Look for the hot Trapezium Cluster at its heart!
#Astronomy #Astrophotography
A vibrant, detailed image of the M42 Orion Nebula, showing its characteristic bright pink and red hydrogen gas glow surrounding a central region of intense blue light. Dark, complex filaments of dust are visible against the glowing gas, highlighting the massive star-forming region.
November 17, 2025 at 5:17 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
🌌 So with clear skies last night spent some time looking at #IC443, the Jellyfish Nebula this gorgeous celestial remnant is the result of a massive star going supernova around 3,000 to 30,000 years ago. It's a cosmic fingerprint of violence and creation happening simultaneously.
#Astrophotography
​Supernova remnant IC 443, the Jellyfish Nebula, showing glowing filaments of gas and dust in the constellation Gemini.
November 17, 2025 at 4:32 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
Short video of the live stacking, enjoy ✨

#Astrophotography #Astronomy #Space #StormHour #MoonHour #ThePhotoHour #lookup
@liverpoolas.org
November 8, 2025 at 8:31 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
Fireworks going off now so I'm live stacking the incredible Western Veil #Nebula (NGC 6960)—the stunning, colorful remnant of a star that exploded 5,000+ years ago.
​It's amazing watching those delicate, wispy details pop into the stack in real-time! ✨

​#Astrophotography
#LiveStacking
#EAA
A deep-sky astrophotograph of the Western Veil Nebula, NGC 6960. The image is a live stack, showing the wispy, ionized gas filaments in vivid red and blue-green against a dark starry background
November 8, 2025 at 8:21 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
Time to make the most of this clear window! Getting ready to capture the breathtaking, vibrant filaments of the Western Veil #Nebula (NGC6960). It's a remnant of a massive star's death, and truly one of the sky's masterpieces.
​What's your favorite nebula? 👇

#Astrophotography
@liverpoolas.org
3 minute narrowband image of the supernova remnant NGC 6960, featuring complex filaments of ionized gas rendered in a vibrant blue-green (Oxygen) and red (Hydrogen) color palette.
November 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
Just out for a walk in the forest today, feels good.
November 6, 2025 at 2:20 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
So have finished processing the 1st nights data of #cometlemmon from 1/11/25 this is created from 190 x 15s images stacked and blended.

Thanks for suggestion from @flyinghabu.bsky.social

enjoy ☄️

#Astrophotography #Astronomy #Space #StormHour #MoonHour #ThePhotoHour #lookup
@liverpoolas.org
Comet lemmon Comet lemmon
November 4, 2025 at 7:12 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
With only a short window to image Comet Lemmon last night and getting frustrated with the lack of clear skies recently, so took a few moments on our own #Moon

#Astrophotography #Astronomy #Space #StormHour #MoonHour #ThePhotoHour #lookup
@liverpoolas.org
The Moon
November 3, 2025 at 3:40 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
View of #cometlemmon tonight, going with 15s subs as suggested by @flyinghabu.bsky.social looking good so far 👍☄️
November 1, 2025 at 6:10 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
Planning for tonight's opportunity to capture #cometlemmon looking like a maximum of 1 hour to capture. Trying to decide on 1 or 2 min exposure? Any suggestions?

@astrobackyard.bsky.social
@liverpoolas.org
@royalastrosoc.bsky.social
November 1, 2025 at 1:20 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
I had a bit of time to process the images of #cometlemmon but only had 17 x 2 min (34 minutes) of data, so the final image is not as detailed as I'd liked. But at least I managed to get some data after months of clouds!

#Astrophotography #StormHour #MoonHour #ThePhotoHour #lookup
@liverpoolas.org
Comet Lemmon
October 31, 2025 at 4:13 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
After so many weeks of cloudy skies, I've got a period of clear skies, so taking my chance to capture #cometlemmon whilst it's high enough for me to capture.

#Astrophotography #Astronomy #Space #StormHour #MoonHour #ThePhotoHour #lookup
@liverpoolas.org
Comet i night sky Single 2 minute sub
October 29, 2025 at 6:10 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
Out for a bit of education tonight and attending the @liverpoolas.org lecture about 'Solar Flares'
October 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
A night away last night, and a nice view from the hotel.

#Astrophotography #Astronomy #Space #StormHour #MoonHour #ThePhotoHour #lookup
@liverpoolas.org
Moon and stars
October 11, 2025 at 2:54 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
Processed data from last night's Eastern Veil Nebula

Telescope: William Optics Z73
Focal Length: 430mm F5.6
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO
Filters: Optolong L-eXtreme
Exposure: 50 x 180s
Gain: 120

#Astrophotography #Astronomy #Space #StormHour #MoonHour #ThePhotoHour #lookup
@liverpoolas.org
Telescope: William Optics Z73 Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO Filters: Optolong L-eXtreme Exposure: 50 x 180s Gain: 120
September 22, 2025 at 5:34 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
The night is going well, so I moved on to the Bubble Nebula. An emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia, about 7,100 to 11,090 light-years away, its distinctive bubble shape created by the powerful stellar wind of a massive, hot, young central star.

#Astrophotography #MoonHour #ThePhotoHour
The bubble Nebula
September 21, 2025 at 11:59 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
Well it's been a while since we've had any clear skies, plus we had a problem with the camera, so it's good to get the #observatory open again.

Tonight I'm imaging NGC 6992, The Eastern Veil nebula.

#Astrophotography #Astronomy #Space #StormHour #MoonHour #ThePhotoHour #lookup
@liverpoolas.org
NGC6992 the eastern veil nebula
September 21, 2025 at 8:23 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
Another interesting 'view' from my visit to Parque de las Ciencias, #Granada #Spain this view from the #ISS coopla definitely my best viewing opportunity 😂

#Astrophotography #Astronomy #Space #StormHour #MoonHour #ThePhotoHour #lookup
@liverpoolas.org
September 18, 2025 at 12:55 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
Completely by surprise found the science museum in Granada www.parqueciencias.com interesting place to visit and even able capture an image of the Moons south pole 😂

#Astrophotography #Astronomy #Space #StormHour #MoonHour #ThePhotoHour #lookup
@liverpoolas.org
September 17, 2025 at 1:48 PM
paramountobs.bsky.social
Phone cameras these days are insane! Captured this shot of the #Andromeda #galaxy, over 2.5 million light-years away, with just my phone. It's a reminder of how vast the universe is and how much we can see with simple tools.

#Astrophotography #Space #MoonHour #ThePhotoHour #lookup
@liverpoolas.org
Yatch at anchor with starry sky including Andromeda galaxy
September 15, 2025 at 9:50 AM
paramountobs.bsky.social
Just nice ✨⛵

#Astrophotography #Astronomy #Space #StormHour #MoonHour #ThePhotoHour #lookup
@liverpoolas.org
A sailing yacht at night at anchor under a starry sky.
September 14, 2025 at 8:27 PM