Looking back at 2022

It's been a challenging year for my astrophotography hobby due to the abundance of cloudy nights. As a result, I was only able to image 11 deep space objects this year, compared to 44 last year.

While the quality of the images I was able to capture was generally better due to spending longer on each target, it was frustrating to have fewer opportunities to photograph the stars. Astrophotography requires clear, dark skies to get the best results, and the cloudy weather made it difficult to get the conditions I needed.

Despite the challenges, I've tried to make the most of the clear nights that I did have and the cloudy nights in between. Hours spent practicing processing techniques, and even trying out other types of astrophotography. The resulting images may not be as numerous as I would have liked, but I feel overall they show some improvement.

Looking back on the year, I've learned a valuable lesson about the importance of being adaptable and making the most of the opportunities that are available. While I may not have been able to photograph as many deep space objects as I did last year, I've still been able to grow in the hobby and capture some super cool images.

This summer, I delved into solar astrophotography using a Hydrogen-alpha etalon filter.

What's an etalon filter? Simply put, an etalon filter is a type of interference filter that is used to isolate a specific wavelength or range of wavelengths in order to enhance the visibility of certain features on the Sun (in this case). The filter allows me to photograph the chromosphere, a layer of the Sun's atmosphere that is usually not visible to the naked eye.

I've been able to capture images of the Sun that reveal details that I did not think I could capture on my own, such as prominences, sunspots, and coronal mass ejections.

Prominences are large, bright features that extend outward from the Sun's surface and are typically associated with active regions. They are usually visible in hydrogen-alpha light and can last for several days or weeks. Prominences are usually seen as arches or loops that can reach up to hundreds of thousands of kilometers in size. They are formed when magnetic field lines on the Sun's surface become twisted and unstable, causing plasma to be ejected into the solar atmosphere.

Sunspots are dark, cooler regions on the Sun's surface that are associated with strong magnetic fields. They are often found in active regions and can last for several days or weeks. Sunspots are usually visible in white light and appear as dark, irregularly shaped patches on the Sun's surface. They are caused by the concentration of magnetic field lines on the Sun's surface, which inhibits the flow of heat from the interior to the surface, leading to a lower temperature in the sunspot region.

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are large eruptions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun's corona, which can be triggered by activity in active regions. CMEs can be seen in extreme ultraviolet light and are characterized by a bright, diffuse halo around the Sun. They typically occur in conjunction with solar flares and can last for several hours. CMEs can have a significant impact on the Earth's environment, as the plasma and magnetic field can interact with the Earth's own magnetic field and cause geomagnetic storms, which can affect satellite and communication systems and the power grid.

So, this year I have gotten a lot more comfortable in processing techniques for deep space objects, did a bit more lunar and planetary imaging, and discovered solar astrophotography. Not bad in all!

I hope everyone reading this had an enjoyable holiday and I wish you a positive and enriching 2023. Here is to clear skies!