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Andrew McCarthy

@AJamesMcCarthy • 479,929 subscribers

Exploring the universe from a backyard in Arizona. Get on my email list 👇

Shorts

I was in the middle of shooting my narrowband data on this galaxy when the supernova happened so I was probably one of the first people to photograph it!

I was in the middle of shooting my narrowband data on this galaxy when the supernova happened so I was probably one of the first people to photograph it!

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I spent 3 hours yesterday with my solar telescope pointed at a tall tornado-y looking thing on the sun. This 14-Earths-tall swirling column of plasma was raining moon-sized gobs of incandescent material on the sun. I can't imagine a more hellish place.

I spent 3 hours yesterday with my solar telescope pointed at a tall tornado-y looking thing on the sun. This 14-Earths-tall swirling column of plasma was raining moon-sized gobs of incandescent material on the sun. I can't imagine a more hellish place.

3,461,894 görüntüleme

A tense moment: a watchful Greggors sneaks by the slumbering Bailey

A tense moment: a watchful Greggors sneaks by the slumbering Bailey

566,827 görüntüleme

I can’t believe I’ve gone my whole life without seeing a lightning bug… how are these things real

I can’t believe I’ve gone my whole life without seeing a lightning bug… how are these things real

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Here’s a timelapse I captured of the annular eclipse from Saturday morning. Seeing it like this really helps me visualize the movement of the sun and the moon.

Here’s a timelapse I captured of the annular eclipse from Saturday morning. Seeing it like this really helps me visualize the movement of the sun and the moon.

1,788,853 görüntüleme

He sings his sad song if I don’t give scritches the whole ride

He sings his sad song if I don’t give scritches the whole ride

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Look in the upper arm of this galaxy- you'll see a star appear to blink in and out of existence. That's a supernova! Very recently discovered in m101: the Pinwheel galaxy (which I happened to be shooting when this happened)

Look in the upper arm of this galaxy- you'll see a star appear to blink in and out of existence. That's a supernova! Very recently discovered in m101: the Pinwheel galaxy (which I happened to be shooting when this happened)

1,927,842 görüntüleme

I captured photos of the moon every night for a month to watch how it dances 👀

I captured photos of the moon every night for a month to watch how it dances 👀

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I’m capturing one of the most important moments in the history of spaceflight, and it was *nearly* perfect 🤣😭

I’m capturing one of the most important moments in the history of spaceflight, and it was nearly perfect 🤣😭

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Here’s the raw stack vs processed photo. All of that color was there in the image data, and when brought out it reveals a hidden world of geological curiosity!

Here’s the raw stack vs processed photo. All of that color was there in the image data, and when brought out it reveals a hidden world of geological curiosity!

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Humans for scale

Humans for scale

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Find someone that looks at you the way Gregory looks at catnip-stuffed toys …and then run away before you get thrown around mercilessly

Find someone that looks at you the way Gregory looks at catnip-stuffed toys …and then run away before you get thrown around mercilessly

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“Y’all want any biscuits?” -Greggy

“Y’all want any biscuits?” -Greggy

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My first photo of Andromeda captured over 6 years ago vs my latest. Don't let where you are today discourage you from where you want to be.

My first photo of Andromeda captured over 6 years ago vs my latest. Don't let where you are today discourage you from where you want to be.

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The best sleeps happen in boxes full of trash Volume up for activation noise

The best sleeps happen in boxes full of trash Volume up for activation noise

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The quality of these prints is insane. Looks like you could feel the texture if you run your hands across it Super high dpi so you can look closely and see more features, even on larger prints! Get yours at the link in my bio, all proceeds are going to UT MD Anderson.

The quality of these prints is insane. Looks like you could feel the texture if you run your hands across it Super high dpi so you can look closely and see more features, even on larger prints! Get yours at the link in my bio, all proceeds are going to UT MD Anderson.

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Human for scale

Human for scale

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As I was working on my 2022 recap, I came across this timelapse video I captured but never shared. It’s probably the smoothest timelapse of Jupiter’s rotation I’ve ever done, captured with an 11” telescope.

As I was working on my 2022 recap, I came across this timelapse video I captured but never shared. It’s probably the smoothest timelapse of Jupiter’s rotation I’ve ever done, captured with an 11” telescope.

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It's legitimately incredible what we can observe happening on sun. This is a timelapse of a flaring active region I captured from my backyard. You can see how energy shifts across the atmosphere in the form of loops of plasma, guided by the powerful magnetic field.

It's legitimately incredible what we can observe happening on sun. This is a timelapse of a flaring active region I captured from my backyard. You can see how energy shifts across the atmosphere in the form of loops of plasma, guided by the powerful magnetic field.

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Videos

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This feels like a scene out of a sci-fi movie but it’s just my drive to work this morning

This feels like a scene out of a sci-fi movie but it’s just my drive to work this morning

Andrew McCarthy

1,798,870 görüntüleme • 3 gün önce

Here’s the time-lapse I promised you from yesterday’s solar activity. Complete with Earth to scale and a bonus of the sun’s rotation. This is easily one of my cleanest time-lapses I’ve managed over such a long period. Enjoy!

Here’s the time-lapse I promised you from yesterday’s solar activity. Complete with Earth to scale and a bonus of the sun’s rotation. This is easily one of my cleanest time-lapses I’ve managed over such a long period. Enjoy!

Andrew McCarthy

12,738,611 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

I never get tired of watching the movement of our sun. Captured using a modified telescope from my backyard

I never get tired of watching the movement of our sun. Captured using a modified telescope from my backyard

Andrew McCarthy

1,336,225 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

This is probably the best look at the shockwaves I’ve seen from the latest Starship flight. Captured from a GoPro I clamped onto a proper camera to record simultaneous video. (I’ll show you the photo the better camera took in the reply)

This is probably the best look at the shockwaves I’ve seen from the latest Starship flight. Captured from a GoPro I clamped onto a proper camera to record simultaneous video. (I’ll show you the photo the better camera took in the reply)

Andrew McCarthy

777,603 görüntüleme • 1 ay önce

Don’t ask me what I do for a living unless you want me to not shut up about space for the rest of our conversation

Don’t ask me what I do for a living unless you want me to not shut up about space for the rest of our conversation

Andrew McCarthy

64,187 görüntüleme • 7 gün önce

Proud to share my latest project: a 65 hour exposure of the shockwave from a supernova. You’re seeing it rip through other star systems. Any planets within 10LY of the star would have been destroyed! I knew it would be fascinating. I didn’t know it would be so beautiful.

Proud to share my latest project: a 65 hour exposure of the shockwave from a supernova. You’re seeing it rip through other star systems. Any planets within 10LY of the star would have been destroyed! I knew it would be fascinating. I didn’t know it would be so beautiful.

Andrew McCarthy

119,559 görüntüleme • 16 gün önce

Despite fighting malfunctioning equipment, I captured one of my most surreal videos ever. That’s the moon crossing in front of the sun. You can see mountains on the lunar limb as it transits the chromosphere. Captured using a specially modified telescope from Utah in 2023.

Despite fighting malfunctioning equipment, I captured one of my most surreal videos ever. That’s the moon crossing in front of the sun. You can see mountains on the lunar limb as it transits the chromosphere. Captured using a specially modified telescope from Utah in 2023.

Andrew McCarthy

627,274 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

I'm thrilled to share this unique collaboration with Artemis Il astronaut Reid Wiseman. Artemis II was a unique opportunity to get high-quality imagery of the moon, and Reid was gracious enough to capture some special image sets for me during the lunar flyby.

I'm thrilled to share this unique collaboration with Artemis Il astronaut Reid Wiseman. Artemis II was a unique opportunity to get high-quality imagery of the moon, and Reid was gracious enough to capture some special image sets for me during the lunar flyby.

Andrew McCarthy

363,863 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

Just got done watching Mars slip behind the moon. This is a real-time view through my 12” telescope. So cool.

Just got done watching Mars slip behind the moon. This is a real-time view through my 12” telescope. So cool.

Andrew McCarthy

2,157,300 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

I used a modified telescope to capture high-speed video of the eclipse at a long focal length. Seeing the lumpy mountains of the moon against a backdrop of churning plasma is incredibly surreal. (I hope you weren't sick of eclipse posts 😜)

I used a modified telescope to capture high-speed video of the eclipse at a long focal length. Seeing the lumpy mountains of the moon against a backdrop of churning plasma is incredibly surreal. (I hope you weren't sick of eclipse posts 😜)

Andrew McCarthy

3,178,157 görüntüleme • 2 yıl önce

I rented a $17k lens to photograph the recent starship launch in detail. When I aligned and stitched all the photos I took together, it made a unique video showing the entire event from launch to catch. I hope to ride on Starship one day.

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I rented a $17k lens to photograph the recent starship launch in detail. When I aligned and stitched all the photos I took together, it made a unique video showing the entire event from launch to catch. I hope to ride on Starship one day.

Andrew McCarthy

1,767,182 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

The moment I captured something incredible on Saturday. These reactions were completely unscripted, just the sheer awe of the moment. I still can’t believe it’s real See what I’m reacting to tomorrow morning- I’ll send email subscribers the first look. Signup link in the reply!

The moment I captured something incredible on Saturday. These reactions were completely unscripted, just the sheer awe of the moment. I still can’t believe it’s real See what I’m reacting to tomorrow morning- I’ll send email subscribers the first look. Signup link in the reply!

Andrew McCarthy

615,595 görüntüleme • 8 ay önce

In case you needed an existential crisis today, here’s footage of the sun I captured using a modified telescope that shows flares erupting that are larger than our entire planet

In case you needed an existential crisis today, here’s footage of the sun I captured using a modified telescope that shows flares erupting that are larger than our entire planet

Andrew McCarthy

95,667 görüntüleme • 1 ay önce

Don’t worry, he’s not sad any more

Don’t worry, he’s not sad any more

Andrew McCarthy

573,120 görüntüleme • 8 ay önce

The sun is fascinating to watch. This timelapse was recorded using a modified telescope designed to safely observe the solar chromosphere, captured over a period of several hours from my backyard in Arizona. The entire Earth would be a small dot at this distance of ~93M miles.

The sun is fascinating to watch. This timelapse was recorded using a modified telescope designed to safely observe the solar chromosphere, captured over a period of several hours from my backyard in Arizona. The entire Earth would be a small dot at this distance of ~93M miles.

Andrew McCarthy

113,708 görüntüleme • 1 ay önce

Zooming into my latest gigapixel moon photo. Created using around 150,000 individual images and two cameras/telescopes to get the most obscenely detailed image I could. Zoom in yourself using the link in the second post.

Zooming into my latest gigapixel moon photo. Created using around 150,000 individual images and two cameras/telescopes to get the most obscenely detailed image I could. Zoom in yourself using the link in the second post.

Andrew McCarthy

1,894,598 görüntüleme • 2 yıl önce

Pleased to share my 2025 recap! I'm so proud of everything that went down this year, it was the most chaotic year of my life but by far the most rewarding. Thank you for all your support in 2025, none of this would have been possible without you. What was your favorite shot?

Pleased to share my 2025 recap! I'm so proud of everything that went down this year, it was the most chaotic year of my life but by far the most rewarding. Thank you for all your support in 2025, none of this would have been possible without you. What was your favorite shot?

Andrew McCarthy

413,315 görüntüleme • 6 ay önce

Reviewing these monstrous moon images up close is key to making sure they look good in print. This one gets my seal of approval. Look at all the hidden details 👀 This goes out to my email and X subscribers Wednesday. It’s more than just a detailed moon photo.

Reviewing these monstrous moon images up close is key to making sure they look good in print. This one gets my seal of approval. Look at all the hidden details 👀 This goes out to my email and X subscribers Wednesday. It’s more than just a detailed moon photo.

Andrew McCarthy

1,924,451 görüntüleme • 2 yıl önce

The footage I got from this launch is unreal. This is 350 of 3500 photos hand stabilized showing the hot staging sequence. There's so much happening in this video every time I watch it I notice something different. Bravo SpaceX team! Tons more content coming, including prints!

The footage I got from this launch is unreal. This is 350 of 3500 photos hand stabilized showing the hot staging sequence. There's so much happening in this video every time I watch it I notice something different. Bravo SpaceX team! Tons more content coming, including prints!

Andrew McCarthy

1,176,866 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

Here’s some behind the scenes of my photo of Starship’s engines. I can’t imagine how intense it would be to stand there ~600 feet from ignition.

Here’s some behind the scenes of my photo of Starship’s engines. I can’t imagine how intense it would be to stand there ~600 feet from ignition.

Andrew McCarthy

98,015 görüntüleme • 1 ay önce