Raleigh Astronomy Club

Come look at the stars and planets with RAC members! There are a few upcoming opportunites to stargaze with us, so take a look at the calendar on our website for more information. ✨ 🪐 ☄️ 🔭

Thank you to RAC member Ross Beurer for this beautiful shot!
.john_87 with .repost
・・・
M78 (Casper the friendly ghost nebula) is a reflective nebula located 1,600 light years away in the constellation of Orion.

RAC member Jesus Moreno has shared this beautiful photo of M16, the Eagle Nebula, with us for Astrophotography Friday!

“Taken with the L-eXtreme and Antlia ALP-T on a newtonian acting as F4.75 950mm.”

📸 Jesus Moreno

A great crowd this past Friday night! Once a month, RAC members gather at one of three regional sights for an observing session. Participants talk shop, share views, and the enjoy the camaraderie of a friendly group of star gazers. This is just one of the benefits of membership. Take a look at our website for information on how to join the club! 🔭 💫 🪐 ☄️

📸 Lauren Markley

Join RAC members tonight from 8-10pm for some stargazing! Thank you to for hosting us! with .repost
・・・
REMINDER: Stargazing tonight at James Creek Cider House, 8-10 pm….we’re staying open a bit longer than usual to appreciate the dark skies.

is here 3-8 pm, so come early for dinner. We’re so grateful to the members of the club who once again will be here setting up their phenomenal telescopes and zooming in on celestial wonders such as planets, likely Jupiter and Venus, nebulae, double stars, galaxies, etc., maybe even the Beehive (ginger) Cluster, and answering your questions. It’s always amazing to get a glimpse of the wonders beyond the orchard and the day-to-day routine. Come expand your horizons.


nccider

Thank you to RAC member Mark Tandy for sharing this beautiful image!🔭🪐✨

“Attached is a recent image I captured of M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, from my back yard in North Raleigh. This is a combination of data from April 2024 and April 2026. 

Tech details:
Telescope: Astro-Tech AT130EDT
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
Mount: SkyWatcher EQ6-R Pro
Guide scope: ZWO 30mm Mini
Guide camera: ZWO ASI120MM

Exposures: 165 X 120” (2024)
147 x 180” (2026)
Total integration: 12 hours, 51 minutes

Processed in Pixinsight and Photoshop”

📸

Here’s another beautiful Astrophotography Friday image, this time from RAC member Jeffrey Brower. This is the Sombrero Galaxy (M104), shot with a Seestar S30. Thanks for sharing it with us! ✨ 🔭

📸

It’s Astrophotography Friday, so here’s a stunning image from RAC member Jim Perciaccante!

🌟 Object: Triangulum Galaxy (M33)
🔭 Equipment: Stellarvue 140 svt, 2600mm pro, Astronomik filters (R, G, B, Ha, O3)
⏳ Exposure: 7+hrs total: [R,G,B=30x120s, Ha = 30 x 300s, O3, 22 x 300s]
🛠️ Software: Captured using N.I.N.A., processed in PixInsight with additional touches in Photoshop
📍 Location: Huddleston VA (Smith Mtn Lake, Bortle 4) Sept 2025

📸

RAC member Joe Pedit captured this beautiful image of Comet Lemmon last October. Thanks for sharing it with us on Astrophotography Friday! ☄️ 💫 🔭

📷 Joe Pedit