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.
Friday, December 26, 2025
The last new photo for the year 2025, Sh2-114
This is my final image of the year 2025: The Flying Dragon Nebula, Sharpless 114 (Sh2-114).
Captured with my new 14" Celestron Edge telescope, equipped with a 0.7× reducer and an Apogee ALTA U9000M camera with 12-micron pixels, the system is perfectly matched to my typical seeing conditions. It delivers a resolution of 0.92 arcseconds per pixel.
This image is a good example of how deep I can reach with a relatively modest total exposure time. The target is not an easy one due to its extremely low surface brightness. The total exposure time was 42 hours in H-alpha and 8 hours in O-III.
Seeing conditions were good for most of the time, varying between 1.5 and 2.2 arcseconds FWHM. The data were collected between September and November 2025.
As an interesting bonus, Kn 26, a rare quadrupolar planetary nebula, appears at the far right edge of the image field.
The Flying Dragon, Sharpless 114, and
a Quadrupolar Planetary Nebula
Please, click for a large image, 2000x2000 pixels
The red emission originates from hydrogen (H-alpha), while the bluish tones are produced by ionised oxygen (O III). This colour combination closely represents the nebula’s natural visual appearance.
Note: Kn 26, a rare quadrupolar planetary nebula, is marked with a white ring at the far right edge of the image.
A Closeup
Please, click for a large image
Kn26, a Quadrupolar Planetary Nebula
This rare type of planetary nebula was a welcome bonus in my image.More information about this object can be found in a paper published in 2013:
https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/pdf/2013/03/aa20592-12.pdf
The Flying Dragon in H-alpha emission only
Please, click for a large image, 2000x2000 pixels
Please, click for a large image, 2000x2000 pixels
42 hours of H-alpha light
A Closeup
Please, click for a large image
Please, click for a large image
The Flying Dragon with and without stars
Please, click for a large image, 2000x2000 pixels
Please, click for a large image, 2000x2000 pixels
INFO
Sh2-114 is a complex and unusual HII emission nebula. Its complex, wispy structure is likely the result of winds from hot, massive stars interacting with the magnetic fields in the interstellar medium. But very little is known about it. (Source, https://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im1112.html)
There is a planetary nebula at the same field of view, Lan 384 (Kn 26)
Using existing digital sky surveys, Jacoby et al. (2010) presented Kn 26, a bipolar PN candidate known for a long time as the emission line source Lan 384. Here we present high spatial-resolution optical and near-IR narrow-band images of this nebula, high-dispersion long-slit echelle spectra, and low-resolution spectroscopy. The new data confirm the PN nature of Kn 26 and reveal features typical of bipolar PNe: butterfly morphology, H2 emission, and nitrogen enrichment. A detailed analysis of the morphology and kinematics, however, suggests the possible presence of two pairs of bipolar lobes that would make Kn 26 a new member of the class of quadrupolar PN.
Orientation in the Sky
Please, click for a large image, 2500x3200 pixels
More information about this extensive mosaic can be found here:
https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2022/01/cygnus-mosaic-in-visual-colors.html
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 and 3nm O-III
Total exposure time 50h
H-alpha, 126 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 42 h
O-III, 24x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 8
O-III, 24x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 8
Friday, December 19, 2025
SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT
Location:
Hallituskatu 12 — just beside Oulu City Hall
Hallituskatu 12 — just beside Oulu City Hall
Open daily from 13:00 to 18:00 until 23 December 2025.
The JiiPee.art Showroom will officially open on 9 January 2026.
The JiiPee.art Showroom will officially open on 9 January 2026.
Across two floors and 250 square metres, astronomical art unfolds—an immersive journey through space, light, and time.
Open daily from 13:00 to 18:00 until 23 December 2025.
The JiiPee.art Showroom will officially open on 9 January 2026.
The JiiPee.art Showroom will officially open on 9 January 2026.
Monday, November 24, 2025
Soap Bubble Nebula, Ju 1
This beautiful and symmetric planetary nebula drifts in the constellation Cygnus at a distance of about 4,000 light-years from us.
Ju 1 (PN G075.5+01.7) was discovered in 2007 by amateur astronomer Dave Jurasevich.
With an angular diameter of about 260 arcseconds, the nebula is extremely faint, and its position against a backdrop of diffuse emission made it particularly difficult to detect.
My image of this planetary nebula has a total exposure time of 35 hours — 30 hours in O III and 5 hours in H-alpha — captured over several nights between 20 October and 17 November 2025.
Soap Bubble Nebula
Click for a large image, 1600x1900 pixels
The emission from H-alpha is seen as red, blueish tones are from an emission of ionized oxygen, O-III. This combination is very close to a visual colors of the nebula.
Soap Bubble up close and personal
Click for a large image, 1700x1700 pixels
Soap Bubble in O-III emission only
Click for a large image, 1600x1900 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 and 3nm O-III
Total exposure time 30h
H-alpha, 15 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 5 h
O-III, 90 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 30 h
O-III, 90 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 30 h
Calibrated 1200s Raw-images of H-alpha and O-III
Exposures are calibrated with bias corrected flat frames and unliterary stretched to be visible
Single H-alpha Frame of 20 min exposure.
Single O-III Frame of 20 min exposure
Thursday, November 20, 2025
New book with Sir Brian May is out!
ISLANDS IN INFINITY, GALAXIES 3D
Buy a copy (UK store)
https://shop.londonstereo.com/islands-in-infinity-galaxies-3-d.html
You will be able to purchase the book directly from me as soon as the copies arrive here — in about two weeks or so. I’ll announce the opening of my online book shop both on social media and here.
From left to right: Prof. Ward-Thompson, Sir Brian May and yours truly
Our new book was published at the Museum of Brands in London on Thursday, 13 November 2025.
What a hectic and wonderful experience with the whole book team and a large, enthusiastic audience.
This is the first book in the world that lets readers see the real shapes of galaxies and galaxy groups in true 3D — a completely new way to understand cosmic structures.
VIDEO
Sir Brian May talks about how our collaboration began
Please, click the image to see the video
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Video was taken at 2020, when out first book, Cosmic Clouds 3D was published
Photos and videos from the publication event in London, 13 November 2025
.jpg)
Location: Museum of Brands in London (Photo, J-P Peltoniemi)
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Sir Brian May and J-P at front of media (Photo, J-P Peltoniemi)
A photoshoot just before opening of the event
J-P and Sir Brian May
You can’t experience the photos in true 3D in this video the way the audience did during the live presentation.
Sorry about the image and audio quality — the lighting improves towards the end, during the audience questions.
Sorry about the image and audio quality — the lighting improves towards the end, during the audience questions.
ISLANDS IN INFINITY: GALAXIES 3-D
by Brian May, Professor Derek Ward-Thompson, J-P Metsävainio,
published by The London Stereoscopic Company, 13 November 2025 https://shop.londonstereo.com
Islands in Infinity is the first book to explore galaxies in stereoscopic 3-D. Created by Brian May (PhD in Astronomy), Professor Derek Ward-Thompson (galaxy expert), and astro-photography master J-P Metsävainio, it offers a groundbreaking visual journey through the cosmos, accompanied by compelling narrative.
Featuring more than 200 colour images from the world’s leading land- and space-based telescopes, along with over 80 original artworks, Islands in Infinity delivers a breathtaking 3-D introduction to the formation, nature, evolution, and classification of some of the 200 billion galaxies that fill the observable Universe. The use of stereoscopic technology allows us to see deeper into galaxies and gain insights never before possible.
Readers are taken on an extraordinary voyage through the weird and wonderful shapes of colliding and merging galaxies, witnessing their chaotic transformations. Moving toward the edge of the visible Universe, the book explores how galaxies gather in clusters and superclusters, looking outward—and back in time—toward the dawn of the cosmos and the Big Bang itself.
Each copy comes complete with a Lite OWL Stereoscopic Viewer, designed by Brian May which will bring the images to life in the magic of 3-D.
Sir Brian May says - For the very first time, readers will be able to enjoy stereoscopic renderings of galaxies previously only seen as flat ‘mono’ images. And this, coupled with a text from one of the world’s experts on the evolution of galaxies, will give a uniquely new insight into the Universe as it is now perceived. Moreover, it’s an account understandable and enjoyable by anyone interested in the biggest subject in the Universe - not just astro experts. It will be a gripping read !!
Professor Ward-Thompson says - In this book you will, I hope, find everything you need to understand what galaxies are, how they originated, how they have evolved into many different types of galaxy, and how they interact and give birth to everything we experience on our tiny blue planet inside our Solar System, itself inside our very own Galaxy, the Milky Way.
J-P Metsävainio says - I undertook a major but deeply rewarding task: converting a vast number of galaxies into 3D stereo while ensuring that every detail remained as scientifically accurate as possible. It was truly thrilling to watch these complex structures come to life before my eyes as I saw them in three dimensions for the first time. Galaxy clusters revealed their true nature, with accurate relative distances, and delicate dust lanes appearing to float in front of the galactic discs. I felt as if I were holding the universe in my hands — and I hope readers will share that same eye-opening experience through the pages of this book.
Monday, November 3, 2025
Something new. astronomical 3d-sculpures
I have been an astrophotographer for about thirty years, and for almost as long, I have been converting my photographs into various three-dimensional formats. My 3D images and animations are always based on real astronomical data. The result is an approximation of reality — never a guesswork creation.
I haven’t often published my 3D studies in my blog or on social media, since they usually require a special viewing method, such as Red/Cyan glasses, special viewing methods or stereoscopic displays, to be properly experienced.
Now I have begun working on a new series of physical artworks, where I transform my photographs into tangible 3D forms. In these pieces, viewers can perceive cosmic structures at a glance — the relative distances between stars and galaxies are represented as accurately as possible. It’s like sculpting on a cosmic scale.
Here are a few examples of my first prototypes. I’m using new and intriguing materials to manipulate light — to both reveal and conceal. I am especially fascinated by the idea of large, room-sized cosmic landscapes where the viewer can literally walk into space.
Videos offer some sense of my work, but in real life, even my smallest sculptures contain a sense of infinity. That’s difficult to capture in video, yet it’s there — quietly unfolding before the eyes.
Messier 13, a Globular Cluster
Every star in this 3D-sculpture is from my original photo of M13
Messier 81 galaxy
Cat's Eye Nebula
Jones 1 Planetary Nebula
Sunday, October 26, 2025
ICARUS, a two frame vertical panorama
In this image, I have combined my new shot of the Witch’s Broom Nebula with my recent photo “ICARUS, the Final Flight” to form a two-frame mosaic. I love discovering fresh compositions from well-known targets — in this case, the beautiful Veil Nebula supernova remnant.
A dramatic view to the Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant
Click for a large image, 1500 x 3600 pixels
Click for a large image, 1500 x 3600 pixels
A mapped color image from a light emitted by an ionized elements, sulfur=red, hydrogen=green and oxygen=blue. The resolution of the photo is reduced for the web usage.
Original photo has dimensions of 5500x12000 pixels.
Orientation in the Veil Nebula
Click for a large image, 2000 x 2500 pixels
Click for a large image, 2000 x 2500 pixels
The area of interest is marked as a white rectangle
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
Total exposure time 43h
H-alpha, 9 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 16 h
O-III, 9x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 16h
O-III, 9x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 16h
S-II, 9x 1200 s. binned 1x1 = 11h
Friday, October 24, 2025
ICARUS, the final flight
My latest photo shows a small portion of the Veil Nebula supernova remnant in Cygnus. I have wanted to photograph this tiny, knot-like object for a long time, making it the main character of the composition. I couldn’t find any catalog number for this object — if someone knows it, please drop a comment and I’ll add it here.
After I stacked all the data and saw the full-resolution image for the first time, I had the strange feeling that I had seen this composition before. A moment later I realised what it reminded me of — an old painting of Icarus from Greek mythology.
ICARUS
Click for a large image, 1600 x 2000 pixels
This is how I saw it in my head
ICARUS, orientation in the Veil Nebula
Click for a large image, 2000 x 2500 pixels
The Veil Nebula supernova remnant in constellation Cygnus.
The area of interest is marked as a white rectangle
Click for a large image, 1600 x 2000 pixels
A mapped color image from a light emitted by an ionized elements, sulfur=red, hydrogen=green and oxygen=blue. The resolution of the photo is reduced for the web usage.
This is how I saw it in my head
ICARUS, a full scale closeup
Click for a large image, 1600 x 2000 pixels
Click for a large image, 1600 x 2000 pixels
Click for a large image, 2000 x 2500 pixels
The area of interest is marked as a white rectangle
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
Total exposure time 9h
H-alpha, 9 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 3 h
O-III, 9x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 3h
O-III, 9x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 3h
S-II, 9x 1200 s. binned 1x1 = 3h
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Western Veil nebula, the Witch's Broom
This is my first-light image for the autumn season 2025.
I collected a total of 34 hours of exposure time over a period of about two months for this two-frame mosaic. The seeing conditions were relatively good for my location, with FWHM values ranging between 1.6 and 2.5 throughout the sessions.
Witch's Broom Nebula
Click for a large image, 3500 x 1800 pixels
A mapped color image from a light emitted by an ionized elements, sulfur=red, hydrogen=green and oxygen=blue. The resolution of the photo is reduced for the web usage.A full resolution closeup
Click for a large image, 3500 x 1800 pixels
Witch's Broom Nebula, O-III emission alone
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Witch's Broom Nebula, visual palette
Click for a large image, 3500 x 1800 pixels
The emission from H-alpha and S-II are seen as red, blueish tones are from an emission of ionized oxygen, O-III. This combination is very close to a visual colors of the nebula.
Orientation
The area of interest is marked as a white rectangle
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
Total exposure time 34h
H-alpha, 72 x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 13 h
O-III, 6x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 13
O-III, 6x 1200 s, binned 1x1 = 13
S-II, 6 x 1200 s. binned 1x1 = 8h
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
An artwork for the Art Museum of Oulu
While waiting to get back to imaging, I completed an artwork commissioned by the Art Museum of Oulu.
This is part of the Art Cabinet project, and I was given complete freedom to fill the cabinet with my art.
The cabinet measures 120 × 110 × 65 cm and has two doors in the front and one on the top.
My idea was to evoke a sense of infinity when the doors are opened. To achieve this, I used the blackest paint in the world—Vantablack. I have photographed galaxies over the past 30 years, and I decided to use them to create a 3D representation of infinity.
Here are a couple of pictures, but the video will best show how successful I was.
The Video
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