Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Artemis Moon Flight and Voices of Apollo 11
Now that our Moon is once again at the centre of global attention—driven by the Artemis mission’s journey around it—I feel compelled to share this artwork again.
I was deeply moved when Michael Collins—the Apollo 11 and Gemini 10 astronaut, author, explorer, and artist—tweeted these kind words about my work on 19 April 2021:
https://twitter.com/AstroMCollins/status/1384194949009211393
The news of his passing just nine days later made the moment all the more profound—a deeply emotional experience for me. Out of the blue, I felt an overwhelming urge to create this artwork, and I simply had to begin working on it immediately, in the middle of the night.
The Voices of Apollo 11
are now part of the Moon forever
are now part of the Moon forever
Click for the larger version, 4000 x 4000 pixels.
I downloaded NASA’s original, complete transcript of the Apollo 11 onboard voice communications. The idea was to transform this text into an image of the Moon. After several weeks of intense work at a feverish pace, my tribute was complete. The Moon is now composed entirely of the letters from the Apollo 11 voice transcripts.
This work is also a tribute to the entire Apollo 11 crew: Commander Neil A. Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin E. Aldrin Jr.
Michael Collins was often affectionately referred to as “the loneliest man in history”, as he remained alone in the command module, orbiting the far side of the Moon without radio contact, while his crewmates, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong, became the first humans to set foot on its surface. Michael was also an artist. His iconic photographs taken from lunar orbit are true works of art and form part of humanity’s greatest cultural heritage.
Being an astronomical photographer and visual artist can be a profoundly solitary pursuit. This was especially true during the creation of this piece, as I found myself deeply affected throughout the process. Although I never met him personally, the end of his earthly mission resonated with me far more deeply than I had expected. Creating this photo-based artwork became a way to process the inner storm of thoughts and emotions it stirred.
The Apollo 11 landing site is indicated by two red letters.
4K VIDEO
A one-minute 4K video showcasing the Voices of Apollo 11 artwork. Best experienced in full screen.
“Fly Me to the Moon”
Fly Me to the Moon, recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1964, became closely associated with NASA’s Apollo space programme. A copy of the song was played on a Sony TC-50 portable cassette recorder during the Apollo 10 mission, which orbited the Moon, and again on Apollo 11 prior to the first lunar landing.
Material used for the artwork
Apollo 11 onboard voice transcription
Click to download the PDF-document, 5.5 MB
My photo of the Full Moon
Click for a larger image.
Click for a larger image.
I used my twenty five-year-old photo of the Full Moon to create this text based artwork.
@FORBES
"The Ultimate Tribute To The Fallen Heroes Who Took Us To Moon"
"Metsavainio has created a ‘voices of Apollo 11’ artistic masterpiece to immortalize the mission and its target forever."
Friday, March 27, 2026
Two globular clusters, M3 and M13
The imaging season of 2026 is soon coming to an end here at 65°N. I managed to capture a couple of hours of new data for two northern globular clusters, M3 and M13.
My new processing method reveals extremely faint stars and shows that these clusters have a much larger angular diameter than is usually seen in images of them.
Both LRGB images have a total exposure time of about four and a half hours, captured under heavily light-polluted skies. The primary imaging optics were a Celestron EdgeHD 11", with an additional two hours of data for each target taken using a Celestron EdgeHD 14". Both telescopes were used with a 0.7× reducer.
MESSIER 13
Click for a large image, 2300 x 1800 pixels
Click for a large image, 2300 x 1800 pixels
My previous version of this cluster can be seen HERE
INFO
M13 is located in the constellation Hercules at a distance of about 25,000 light-years. The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules is one of the brightest globular star clusters in the northern sky. Its stars are packed into a spherical formation with a diameter of approximately 150 light-years.
MESSIER 3
Click for a large image, 2300 x 1800 pixels
My previous version of this cluster can be seen HERE
INFO
Messier 3 (also known as M3 or NGC 5272) is a globular cluster in the constellation Canes Venatici.
It is one of the largest and brightest globular clusters, located at a distance of about 33,900 light-years from Earth. M3 has an apparent magnitude of 6.2, making it visible to the naked eye under dark-sky conditions.
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
NEW PHOTO, The Flaming Star Nebula, IC405
This winter has been extremely cloudy up here at 65°N, but I managed to use those few clear moments to capture enough data for a new cosmic artwork from our night sky.
IC405, the Flaming Star Nebula in Auriga, is a beautiful velvet-like emission nebula with a reflection nebula component. I somehow managed to capture good exposures of the reflection component despite my light-polluted conditions.
I decided to create a two-panel horizontal panorama of IC405, and the result is quite dramatic.
The total exposure time is 36 hours, with the data collected between 2024 and 2026.
Flaming Star Nebula, IC405
Please, click for a large image, 1700x3000 pixels
The red emission originates from hydrogen (H-alpha), and in narrowband images the bluish tones are usually produced by ionized oxygen (O III). In this case, however, the blue area in the image is a broadband reflection nebula. This color combination closely represents the nebula’s natural visual appearance.
IC405 in Hubble palette
Please, click for a large image, 1700x3000 pixels
A mapped color image from a light emitted by an ionized elements, sulfur=red, hydrogen=green and oxygen=blue. beside the narrowband data, there are some exposures for the broadband RGB-data to show the reflection nebula component
A closeup
Please, click for a large image, 1700x1700 pixels
Please, click for a large image, 1700x1700 pixels
A closeup from the lower left shows an interesting looking nebula structures
INFO
Rippling dust and gas lanes give the Flaming Star Nebula its name. The colors are a mix of red light and blue light emitted by AE Aurigae but reflected to us by surrounding dust. The two regions are referred to as emission nebula and reflection nebula, respectively. The Flaming Star Nebula, officially known as IC 405, lies about 1500 light years distant, spans about 5 light years, and is visible with a small telescope toward the constellation of the Charioteer (Auriga)
Source, NASA APOD
Source, NASA APOD
Orientation in the Sky
Please, click for a large image, 1700x2000 pixels
Technical details
Processing workflow
Image acquisition, MaximDL v6.5
Stacked and calibrated in CCDStack2.
Deconvolution with a CCDStack2 Positive Constraint, 27 iterations, added at 50% weight
Color combine in PS
Levels and curves in PS
Imaging optics,
Celestron EDGE 14" with 0.7 Focal reducer
Mount,
MesuMount Mark II
Cameras,
Imaging camera Apogee Alta U9000M and Apogee seven slot filter wheel
Guider camera, Lodestar x 2 and SXV-AO Active Optics @ 5hz
filters,
Astrodon 5nm H-alpha, 3nm S-II and 3nm O-III and LRGB
Total exposure time 36h
H-alpha, 72 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 21 h
O-III, 6x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 5
O-III, 6x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 5
S-II, 6 x 1200 s. binned 1x1 = 8h
+
LRGB data. binned 1x1 = 2h
+
LRGB data. binned 1x1 = 2h
Sunday, January 4, 2026
My work selected among the best photographs of 2025
This came as a complete surprise.
My photographic work has been selected for Amateur Photographer’s annual feature The Best Photos of the Year 2025 — a curated selection highlighting outstanding photographic work from across the world and across all genres.
Despite its historic name, Amateur Photographer is one of the oldest and most respected photography magazines in the world, founded in 1884 and still widely read by professional photographers, editors, curators, and serious image-makers internationally. Its annual “Best of the Year” feature is a highly selective editorial choice, not an open competition.
While the feature highlights a single image, it’s worth noting that this recognition comes in the context of a much broader body of work. Over the past years I’ve been developing long-form astronomical projects that combine deep scientific data with artistic interpretation — most recently culminating in the publication of a new 3-D astronomy book created in collaboration with Sir Brian May.
It seems likely that the visibility and coherence of this larger production played a role in bringing my work to the editors’ attention, rather than any single image standing alone.
What makes this recognition especially meaningful to me is that the selection places astronomical imaging alongside documentary, fine art, landscape, portrait, and conceptual photography — evaluated not as a niche technical category, but as photography in its own right.
My work is built on long-term data collection, scientific accuracy, and careful visual interpretation. Seeing it resonate beyond the astronomy community, and being recognised purely on visual and artistic grounds, is both humbling and deeply encouraging.
Many thanks to the editorial team at Amateur Photographer for the selection — and to everyone who continues to follow, support, and engage with my work. The universe still has many stories left to tell.
Stereo Photo of the NGC 1365 Galaxy
Historiallisesta nimestään huolimatta Amateur Photographer on yksi maailman vanhimmista ja arvostetuimmista valokuvauslehdistä. Vuonna 1884 perustettua julkaisua lukevat yhä laajasti ammattivalokuvaajat, kuvatoimittajat, kuraattorit ja vakavasti otettavat kuvan tekijät kansainvälisesti. Lehden vuosittainen Best of the Year -kokonaisuus on tarkoin harkittu toimituksellinen valinta, ei avoin kilpailu.
Vaikka artikkelissa nostetaan esiin yksittäinen kuva, tämä tunnustus liittyy laajempaan ja pitkäjänteiseen tuotantoon. Olen viime vuosien aikana kehittänyt laajoja astronomisia teoskokonaisuuksia, joissa syvällinen tieteellinen data yhdistyy taiteelliseen tulkintaan. Tämä työ on hiljattain huipentunut uuden 3D-astronomiakirjan julkaisuun yhteistyössä Sir Brian Mayn kanssa.
On todennäköistä, että juuri tämän laajemman tuotannon näkyvyys ja kokonaisuus ovat osaltaan tuoneet työni toimituksen huomioon, yksittäisen kuvan sijaan.
Tunnustuksesta tekee minulle erityisen merkityksellisen se, että astronominen kuvantaminen asettuu valinnassa rinnakkain dokumentaarisen, taide-, maisema-, muoto- ja konseptuaalisen valokuvauksen kanssa — ei erikoisena teknisenä lajina, vaan valokuvauksena omassa oikeudessaan.
Työni perustuu pitkäaikaiseen datankeruuseen, tieteelliseen tarkkuuteen ja huolelliseen visuaaliseen tulkintaan. Se, että tämä lähestymistapa resonoi myös tähtikuvauksen ulkopuolella ja saa tunnustusta puhtaasti visuaalisin ja taiteellisin perustein, on sekä nöyräksi tekevä että rohkaiseva kokemus.
Lämpimät kiitokset Amateur Photographer -lehden toimitukselle valinnasta — sekä kaikille, jotka seuraavat, tukevat ja jakavat kiinnostuksensa työhöni. Universumilla on yhä lukemattomia tarinoita kerrottavanaan.
This stereo image of a large barred spiral galaxy was used in the article to represent my work as an astronomical photographer. Note: the dot-like objects in the background are not stars, but countless distant galaxies.
Tämä tuli minulle täytenä yllätyksenä
Valokuvallinen työni on valittu Amateur Photographer -lehden vuosittaiseen The Best Photos of the Year 2025 -kokonaisuuteen, joka on toimituksellisesti kuratoitu katsaus vuoden merkittävimpiin valokuviin eri puolilta maailmaa ja kaikista valokuvauksen genreistä.Historiallisesta nimestään huolimatta Amateur Photographer on yksi maailman vanhimmista ja arvostetuimmista valokuvauslehdistä. Vuonna 1884 perustettua julkaisua lukevat yhä laajasti ammattivalokuvaajat, kuvatoimittajat, kuraattorit ja vakavasti otettavat kuvan tekijät kansainvälisesti. Lehden vuosittainen Best of the Year -kokonaisuus on tarkoin harkittu toimituksellinen valinta, ei avoin kilpailu.
Vaikka artikkelissa nostetaan esiin yksittäinen kuva, tämä tunnustus liittyy laajempaan ja pitkäjänteiseen tuotantoon. Olen viime vuosien aikana kehittänyt laajoja astronomisia teoskokonaisuuksia, joissa syvällinen tieteellinen data yhdistyy taiteelliseen tulkintaan. Tämä työ on hiljattain huipentunut uuden 3D-astronomiakirjan julkaisuun yhteistyössä Sir Brian Mayn kanssa.
On todennäköistä, että juuri tämän laajemman tuotannon näkyvyys ja kokonaisuus ovat osaltaan tuoneet työni toimituksen huomioon, yksittäisen kuvan sijaan.
Tunnustuksesta tekee minulle erityisen merkityksellisen se, että astronominen kuvantaminen asettuu valinnassa rinnakkain dokumentaarisen, taide-, maisema-, muoto- ja konseptuaalisen valokuvauksen kanssa — ei erikoisena teknisenä lajina, vaan valokuvauksena omassa oikeudessaan.
Työni perustuu pitkäaikaiseen datankeruuseen, tieteelliseen tarkkuuteen ja huolelliseen visuaaliseen tulkintaan. Se, että tämä lähestymistapa resonoi myös tähtikuvauksen ulkopuolella ja saa tunnustusta puhtaasti visuaalisin ja taiteellisin perustein, on sekä nöyräksi tekevä että rohkaiseva kokemus.
Lämpimät kiitokset Amateur Photographer -lehden toimitukselle valinnasta — sekä kaikille, jotka seuraavat, tukevat ja jakavat kiinnostuksensa työhöni. Universumilla on yhä lukemattomia tarinoita kerrottavanaan.
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