Flaming Stars

Brett and Nick are joined by Thorne (@ransomobservatory), astrophotographer and US ambassador for Starpoint Australis, to talk dual telescope setups, portable observatories, and the star party circuit from Cherry Springs to West Virginia to Canada. Thorne breaks down how he runs two 8-inch RASAs on one mount to double his integration time, and why he goes after the faintest targets he can find under dark skies. Plus: the etiquette of light at star parties, Brett gets philosophical about the incompleteness of astronomical data, and Nick can't find five-inch inseam gym shorts to show off his new tattoo.

Brett and Nick welcome their first guest, Matt Molitor (@astro_dad86), to talk light pollution from a Chicago rooftop vs. the suburbs, what it's like imaging under truly dark skies at Cherry Springs, and how they all got started in astrophotography with cell phones and DSLRs. Plus: flat Earthers as a "Cosmic, yet Brave," Nick's astrophotography tattoo, and an asteroid that's as close as the moon.

Brett and Nick react to the Artemis II launch, compare it to the Apollo era, and debate whether we'd be on Mars by now if space funding had kept up. Plus: International Dark Sky Week, galaxy season imaging updates, and a cosmic yet brave take on the Billboard charts.

Join Nick and Brett as they explore the fascinating topics of extraterrestrial life, cosmic phenomena, and the mysteries of the universe. This episode delves into astrophotography, the possibility of alien visitors, and the profound questions about our place in the cosmos.

Brett and Nick give a beginner-friendly overview of astrophotography - talking about the weather, planning, gear, imaging, and processing - all while keeping it a conversation, not a course! They discuss their own journeys and workflows in astrophotography and hope to inspire others to look up at the night sky.

In this first episode, Nick and Brett kick off their mission to bring astrophotography into the mainstream. They share how they got started, how their friendship began, and how this podcast came to be, setting the stage for a series built around the beauty and passion of astrophotography and outer space.