Teen Captures Jaw-Dropping Photo of North America Nebula From His Backyard

A teen has left the internet in awe after sharing incredible photographs of space he took from his backyard.

Rudy Siggs (u/Regular_Ad_4858), a 17-year-old Physics student, who lives in the French Alps, has taken the internet by storm after sharing breathtaking photographs of space captured from his home in Le Bourg d’Oisans on Reddit.

“I’ve been interested in space from a young age, thanks to all the picture books filled with photos of planets and nebulae that I was given.

“I used to think such photos could only be taken by professional observatories and space telescopes, and so I didn’t try to actively pursue my interest until later on in life,” Siggs told Newsweek.

During COVID lockdowns, he finally had the spare time to realize his passion and was gifted a telescope for Christmas. This moment marked the beginning of his journey into astrophotography.

“I took this photo of space from my backyard, with off the shelf equipment,” Siggs shared on Reddit.

The incredible photo is of the Cygnus Wall, a hydrogen region and one of the brightest features of the North America Nebula, a vast cloud of dust and gas. This area showcases the most active star formation within the nebula. The ridge spans approximately 20 light-years and isabout 2,200 light-years from Earth.

How To Photograph Space?

Astrophotography, as Siggs explained, begins with selecting the right object to photograph, influenced by factors like visibility, the apparent size of the object through his telescope, and local sky conditions.

Using virtual planetarium apps like Stellarium, he identifies his target before setting up his equipment.

This process involves assembling and balancing the telescope, aligning it with the north celestial pole, and ensuring it’s ready for the long exposures necessary for capturing the night sky.

Once darkness falls, Siggs carefully positions his telescope, checks the focus, and runs test shots. If satisfied, he programs the session into the onboard computer, allowing the setup to operate autonomously throughout the night.

After gathering enough light data, the final step involves processing the images on his PC to highlight colors and details.

“This processing step shouldn’t be underestimated; it can be as time-consuming and intricate as capturing the images, but it’s very rewarding. This is the part where I start seeing my work pay off,” he said.

For Siggs, three key components are crucial in achieving the perfect shot: a sturdy mount, a quality telescope, and a high-resolution camera.

Another awe-inspiring photo Siggs has taken is of the Eastern Veil Nebula, a stunning feature within the larger Cygnus Loop Nebula complex.

The Cygnus Loop is a vast supernova remnant, the aftermath of a star’s explosive death between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago.

This cataclysmic event sent waves of gas and dust light-years across space, with one of those waves forming the vibrant Eastern Veil Nebula. Its striking colors and sharp contrasts make it a favorite among astrophotographers.

His go-to mount, the HEQ5 Pro from Skywatcher, ensures precise tracking, preventing blur or star trails. He uses a 70mm refractor telescope, which offers a balance between capturing fine details and photographing large areas of the sky.

Recently, he acquired a cooled astronomy camera, ideal for capturing clear images even during hot summer nights. Essential accessories, like a guide scope and an onboard mini-computer, further enhance his setup, allowing him to achieve such remarkable results.

Siggs expressed his gratitude for living in an area with minimal light pollution, which allows him to capture faint celestial objects with relative ease.

Reddit Reacts

The photo received 9,500 upvotes in the thread “r/interestingasfuck”. Redditors were captivated by Siggs’ work, with one user commenting: “That’s pretty awesome. How’s the light pollution in your area?” to which Siggs responded, “Bortle 4, fairly dark! Depends what direction I’m looking in though.”

The Bortle scale is a nine-level scale used to measure night sky brightness.

Other users praised the photo, calling it “absolutely beautiful” and “amazing.”

One commenter even joked: “Pic of you with the scope goes hard! About to drop a science album.”

Some users criticized the young astrophotographer for labelling his expensive equipment as “off the shelf”.

Siggs responded: “What I meant was that it’s readily available consumer equipment, you could quite literally walk into a shop and buy this stuff off the shelf. Granted it’s expensive, but it’s not custom-built like professional observatory equipment would be.”