These pictures were taken from Mount Diablo, California on the night of July 25, 2025, using a VAONIS Vespera 2 smart telescope.
The Setup on Mount Diablo
The setup for the night included two telescopes, with the Vespera 2 among them, ready to capture the summer sky from one of the Bay Area’s best vantage points.
Lagoon Nebula (M8)
The Lagoon Nebula was captured by stacking 247 exposures for a total exposure time of 2,470 seconds (~41 minutes). Shot at 250mm f/5.0 with the ULD quadruplet lens.
Swan Nebula (M17)
The Swan (Omega) Nebula was captured by stacking 290 exposures for a total exposure time of 2,900 seconds (~48 minutes).
Astrophotography in Urban Environment 