// Deep Sky Imaging · Solar Events · Planetary

Capturing the
Universe

Ryan Peplin · Astrophotography

▶ Explore Gallery
Scroll
// 02

About

Amateur astrophotographer based in the United States, chasing dark skies and rare celestial events since 2017. From planetary imaging in the backyard to chasing totality across state lines, every image is a personal mission to reveal what the naked eye cannot.

My work spans deep-sky objects, solar events, and planetary imaging — each requiring its own toolkit of patience, calibration frames, and post-processing technique.

2017First Light
2Total Eclipses
18+Targets Imaged
∞Clear Nights Needed
$ whoami
ryan_peplin // astrophotographer

$ cat specializations.txt
——————————————————————————
→ Deep Sky Objects (DSO)
→ Planetary Imaging
→ Solar Event Photography
→ Image Calibration & Stacking
→ HDR Processing

$ cat events.log
——————————————————————————
[2017-08-21] Totality achieved — 2m 40s
[2022-02-07] M42 — 3hr integration
[2024-04-08] Totality achieved — 4m 28s
$ _
// 03

Equipment

Optics
Refractor Telescope
Primary imaging scope for deep-sky and planetary work. Achromatic design for long focal length targets.
Mount
Equatorial Mount
Motorized equatorial tracking for long-exposure deep sky imaging. Essential for sub-arcminute precision.
Camera
DSLR / Mirrorless Body
Modified or stock sensor for capturing broadband light. Used for both solar events and deep sky.
Focusing
Bahtinov Mask
Diffraction mask for achieving precise focus. Produces characteristic spike pattern for star centering.
Solar
Solar Filter
White-light solar filter for safe solar observation and eclipse photography.
Processing
Stacking & Calibration
Dark frames, bias frames, and flat frames applied during integration for reduced noise and vignetting.

// Specific gear details available on request.

// 04

Contact

Let's talk about
the cosmos.

Questions about gear, technique, or just want to swap stories about chasing totality? Always happy to connect with fellow sky watchers.