Island Skies Astro is my way of sharing the night sky as I see it from here on the Big Island. Astronomy has been an interest of mine since I was very young, but moving to Hawaii rekindled that interest in a way I did not expect. Learning about traditional Polynesian celestial navigation played a meaningful role in that return. Understanding how navigators used the stars to cross the ocean brought my attention back to the sky and encouraged me to learn more again. This spark brought me back to astronomy and observing, and later to astrophotography and creating this site.
The photos you will find here, including nebulae, galaxies, comets, the moon, and planets, are my way of showing what I am able to capture from home. Along with the images, I am creating a series of articles that offer more context about what you are seeing. My goal is to make these articles accessible, scientifically accurate, and genuinely interesting. I hope this site gives you a place where the images draw you in and the explanations help everything make a little more sense.
Equipment I Use
Deep Sky (Nebula and Galaxies)
- Celestron C8 telescope with a f/6.3 focal reducer
- iOptron CEM40 mount
- Controller: ZWO ASI Air Plus
- Main Camera:ZWO ASI 294 MC Pro
- Guide Camera: ZWO ASI 174MM Mini
- Filters: UV/IR and Narrowband (L-Extreme)
- Software: PixInsight, Photoshop
Planetary
- Celestron C8 telescope
- iOptron CEM40 mount
- Planetary Camera: ZWO ASI 678 MC
- Filters: UV/IR
- Software: FireCapture, Autostakkert, WaveSharp, Photoshop
Other Interests
When I am not photographing the night sky I enjoy exploring the island and snorkeling with my wife, which has become one of our favorite ways to spend time together. I also practice free diving and appreciate the quiet focus it requires. At home I am learning to play slack key Hawaiian guitar, and I spend time reading, especially science books and science fiction.