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Andrew McCarthy

@AJamesMcCarthy • 477,470 subscribers

Exploring the universe from a backyard in Arizona. Get my latest print 👇

Shorts

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

62,782 просмотров

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!

816,327 просмотров

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!

109,248 просмотров

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.

3,461,755 просмотров

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

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

566,660 просмотров

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

871,305 просмотров

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

765,994 просмотров

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.

1,788,768 просмотров

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 👀

407,286 просмотров

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)

1,927,813 просмотров

“Y’all want any biscuits?” -Greggy

“Y’all want any biscuits?” -Greggy

80,200 просмотров

Humans for scale

Humans for scale

239,234 просмотров

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 🤣😭

917,221 просмотров

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

208,777 просмотров

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.

371,037 просмотров

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.

82,372 просмотров

Human for scale

Human for scale

218,542 просмотров

Here’s around ~300 photos I took of the historic booster catch sequence, hand aligned and interpolated to make this video. I’m nearly done with the composite photo I’ll be releasing in print, I *think* I’ll be able to go live with it tomorrow.

Here’s around ~300 photos I took of the historic booster catch sequence, hand aligned and interpolated to make this video. I’m nearly done with the composite photo I’ll be releasing in print, I think I’ll be able to go live with it tomorrow.

327,141 просмотров

I don’t think I’ve ever noticed this happen before, but I flew over another plane’s contrail today. I thought it added a bit of depth and context to how fast we were flying!

I don’t think I’ve ever noticed this happen before, but I flew over another plane’s contrail today. I thought it added a bit of depth and context to how fast we were flying!

89,559 просмотров

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.

566,910 просмотров

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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

763,806 просмотров • 11 дней назад

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

110,308 просмотров • 4 дней назад

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

1,333,722 просмотров • 1 месяц назад

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

625,970 просмотров • 1 месяц назад

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

12,737,897 просмотров • 1 год назад

My first time capturing a launch with a telescope. Should I do this again for the next one?

My first time capturing a launch with a telescope. Should I do this again for the next one?

Andrew McCarthy

83,621 просмотров • 7 дней назад

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

362,045 просмотров • 1 месяц назад

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

96,638 просмотров • 9 дней назад

Here’s a short video showing off how I captured a plane in front of the sun, even though they follow less predictable paths than aircraft. The hardest part wasn’t even taking all those photos…

Here’s a short video showing off how I captured a plane in front of the sun, even though they follow less predictable paths than aircraft. The hardest part wasn’t even taking all those photos…

Andrew McCarthy

79,216 просмотров • 16 дней назад

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

2,157,205 просмотров • 1 год назад

Okay last starship video for a bit I promise! I stitched most of my shots from every camera together into a single video (except the one I hand tracked… too jittery 😬) As you can see you can never have too many cameras

Okay last starship video for a bit I promise! I stitched most of my shots from every camera together into a single video (except the one I hand tracked… too jittery 😬) As you can see you can never have too many cameras

Andrew McCarthy

29,852 просмотров • 7 дней назад

Here’s some behind-the-scenes of some of my latest starship videos/photos, with an unseen photo there at the end! Such a privilege to be able to capture these photos!

Here’s some behind-the-scenes of some of my latest starship videos/photos, with an unseen photo there at the end! Such a privilege to be able to capture these photos!

Andrew McCarthy

41,139 просмотров • 10 дней назад

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

3,177,720 просмотров • 2 лет назад

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 просмотров • 1 год назад

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

615,395 просмотров • 6 месяцев назад

Don’t worry, he’s not sad any more

Don’t worry, he’s not sad any more

Andrew McCarthy

573,120 просмотров • 6 месяцев назад

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

412,622 просмотров • 5 месяцев назад

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

1,894,543 просмотров • 2 лет назад

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

1,176,526 просмотров • 1 год назад

You thought I was joking

You thought I was joking

Andrew McCarthy

117,540 просмотров • 1 месяц назад