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I’ve been photographing the night sky since 2020, beginning with a photograph of Vega—the star that became my favorite and eventually part of my name. What started as looking up has grown into observational astronomy, telescope work, astrophotography, and a steadily expanding record of the sky above me.
This page is my observing archive: the Moon, stars, planets, constellations, atmospheric phenomena, and whatever else decides to wander through my camera frame.
Moon & Saturn
October 22, 2026 • approximately 7:25 p.m. • ESE
Naked-eye observation + photography + sky-map confirmation.
Vega — Alpha Lyrae
October 22, 2026 • Chester, Virginia
Naked-eye observation + handheld photography
My favorite star, first photographed in 2020.
Vega — Alpha Lyrae
Vega — Alpha Lyrae
November 30, 2020 · Lyra
Telescope observation + handheld phone photography through the eyepiece
My first successful telescope photograph of Vega — and the image that started my long-running fascination with the star. Vega is a blue-white A-type main-sequence star about 25 light-years away and one of the three stars of the Summer Triangle.
This early capture remains special to me because it marks the beginning of my growth in observational astronomy and astrophotography. Vega would later become my favorite star — and eventually, part of my own name.
Sirius — Alpha Canis Majoris
Sirius — Alpha Canis Majoris
October 22, 2026 · Chester, Virginia
Telescope observation + handheld iPhone photography.
This is a naked-eye observation taken with my iPhone 14 Pro Max. I also observed Sirius through my vintage Bushnell Deep Space 420 × 60 mm refractor using a 20 mm Huygens eyepiece. Sirius appeared as an intensely bright point of light, with noticeable scintillation visible directly through the eyepiece as its brightness and color seemed to shimmer through Earth’s atmosphere.
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky and lies about 8.6 light-years from Earth in the constellation Canis Major. This observation was especially memorable because the live shimmer was much more obvious to my eye than it was in the phone capture.
Cepheus / Northern Sky Field
Cepheus / Northern Sky Field
Date: October 22, 2026
Time: approximately 7:57 p.m.
Location: Chester, Virginia
Direction: N–NE
Observation method: Naked-eye observation and handheld phone photography, with sky position verified by star-map app.
Field notes: Cepheus centered in the observed region; Deneb visible nearby in Cygnus, with Cassiopeia also adjacent on the map.
Waxing Gibbous Moon
October 21, 2026 · Chester, Virginia
Telescope observation + handheld iPhone photography through the eyepiece
Captured through my vintage Bushnell Deep Space 420 × 60 mm refractor using a 20 mm Huygens eyepiece. The Moon’s surface showed strong contrast and visible crater detail, especially near the terminator, where the changing angle of sunlight emphasized relief and texture.
This image was photographed by hand through the eyepiece using an Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Vega & Lyra Through Passing Clouds
Vega & Lyra Through Passing Clouds
September 30, 2026 · 7:27 p.m. · Chester, Virginia
Handheld astrophotography · Partly cloudy sky
Vega was the brightest star visible through the clouds that evening, shining clearly even as a band of pale lavender cloud crossed the sky. I also captured the full constellation Lyra, with the cloud layer cutting through the frame and giving the image an almost painted quality.
Waxing Crescent Moon
Waxing Crescent Moon
December 3, 2024 · Chester, Virginia
Naked-eye observation + handheld photography
A slim waxing crescent Moon photographed through bare winter branches in Chester, Virginia. The illuminated crescent stood out sharply against the dim evening sky, creating a strong contrast with the dark tree silhouettes around it.
Full Wolf Moon
Full Wolf Moon
January 6, 2023 · Chester, Virginia
Telescope observation + handheld Android photography through the eyepiece
Observed and photographed through my vintage Bushnell Deep Space refractor, model 78-9512, with a 420 mm focal length and 60 mm aperture, using the original 0.965-inch H20MM 20 mm Huygens eyepiece for approximately 21× magnification. The image was captured by holding my Android phone directly to the eyepiece.
The Full Wolf Moon, the first full Moon of 2023, reached peak illumination at approximately 6:08 p.m. EST on January 6. The telescope view showed the bright lunar disk with visible maria, broad surface shading, and subtle crater detail across the face of the Moon.
Super Flower Blood Moon
Super Flower Blood Moon
May 15, 2022 · Virginia
Telescope observation + handheld Android photography through the eyepiece
Observed during the May 2022 total lunar eclipse, this Super Flower Moon was photographed through my vintage Bushnell Deep Space 420 × 60 mm refractor using the original 20 mm Huygens eyepiece at approximately 21× magnification.
As the eclipse progressed, the Moon began to take on a soft cream and muted copper tone before totality. The image was captured by holding my Android phone directly to the eyepiece.
Full Strawberry Moon
Full Strawberry Moon
June 14, 2022 · Virginia
Telescope observation + handheld phone photography through the eyepiece
Observed and photographed through my vintage Bushnell Deep Space 420 × 60 mm refractor using the original 20 mm Huygens eyepiece at approximately 21× magnification.
The Full Strawberry Moon appeared bright and nearly uniform through the telescope, with darker lunar maria and broad surface shading still visible despite the intense illumination of the full phase. The image was captured by holding my phone directly to the eyepiece.
Full Sturgeon Moon
Full Sturgeon Moon
August 12, 2022 · Virginia
Telescope observation + handheld phone photography through the eyepiece
Observed and photographed through my vintage Bushnell Deep Space 420 × 60 mm refractor using the original 20 mm Huygens eyepiece at approximately 21× magnification.
The Full Sturgeon Moon appeared bright and luminous through the telescope, with broad lunar maria and subtle surface variation still visible despite the strong illumination of the full phase. The image was captured by holding my phone directly to the eyepiece.
Full Beaver Moon
Full Beaver Moon
November 8, 2022 · Virginia
Telescope observation + handheld phone photography through the eyepiece
Observed and photographed through my vintage Bushnell Deep Space 420 × 60 mm refractor using the original 20 mm Huygens eyepiece at approximately 21× magnification.
The Full Beaver Moon showed strong contrast across the lunar maria and lighter highland regions, with broad surface features still visible despite the brightness of the full phase. This image was captured by holding my phone directly to the telescope eyepiece.
Cold Moon — Morning Observation
Cold Moon — Morning Observation
December 8, 2022 · Virginia
Telescope observation + handheld phone photography through the eyepiece
Observed in the morning through my vintage Bushnell Deep Space 420 × 60 mm refractor using the original 20 mm Huygens eyepiece at approximately 21× magnification. The pale blue morning sky gave the Moon a softer appearance, while darker lunar maria and cratered terrain remained visible through the telescope.
Cold Moon — Night Observation
Cold Moon — Night Observation
December 7, 2022 · Virginia
Telescope observation + handheld phone photography through the eyepiece
Observed at night during the December 2022 Cold Moon, also known as the Long Night Moon, through my vintage Bushnell Deep Space 420 × 60 mm refractor using the original 20 mm Huygens eyepiece at approximately 21× magnification. Against the darker sky, the lunar surface showed stronger contrast, with crater detail especially noticeable near the edge of the illuminated disk.
Copyright © 2019 - 2026 Randi-Lyn Miller Gol. All rights reserved.
