The Bubble nebula
Steven Bellavia in Mattituck, New York, is a long-time contributor to EarthSky Neighborhood Images. He shares pictures of the whole lot from the moon to Mercury’s tail to attractive deep-sky delights. This week, he shared with us pictures of the Bubble nebula that he took in 2018 and extra just lately in 2023. Within the course of, Steven defined the reply to a query folks typically ask:
Individuals typically ask me why I picture an object once more, if I’ve already taken a photograph of it. It’s a good query. My reply: Issues change … gear, expertise, software program and expertise.
I used to be pleased with my picture of the Bubble nebula in 2018, utilizing the perfect gear, expertise and software program I had on the time. However issues modified. I bought a beefier mount, barely larger telescope and a special digital camera. I even have extra filters with a narrower bandwidth. The information software program now makes use of a number of stars, and the picture seize software program has automation, to enhance effectivity and stop me from making errors. I now have an digital focuser that the picture seize software program instructs to refocus … And the processing software program now has weighted integration, AI deconvolution, AI noise discount, AI star elimination.
2018 vs. 2023
Take a look at the variations within the 2018 and 2023 pictures, under:

Steven stated:
Once I bought into astronomy round 1970, I by no means would have imagined this was potential, from my very own yard, with gear I might afford to personal.
We reside in wonderful instances.
We positive do! Thanks, Steven.
Backside line: Steven Bellavia captured pictures of the Bubble nebula in 2018 and 2023. Right here, he explains why astrophotographers goal the identical object twice and the way gear and extra have improved.