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29 Outstanding Photos Of The Night Sky That Might Make You Look Up, By David Joyce

29 Outstanding Photos Of The Night Sky That Might Make You Look Up, By David Joyce

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Today, we’d like to introduce you to David Joyce, a self-taught astrophotographer from Lexington, Kentucky, known as 'AstroDavido' on Instagram. He captures the universe from his own backyard, working under light-polluted suburban skies. Despite the conditions, he has photographed galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and planets, some of them millions of light-years away. 
Each image is created by stacking hours of exposures taken over many nights. The Andromeda Galaxy alone is 2.5 million light-years away, and its light left before humans existed. A few of David’s images took more than 50 hours of total exposure to capture.
The photographer shared with Bored Panda that what he loves most about astrophotography is that you don’t need to leave your yard to see the universe. Below, you can see some of David’s best images, which he hopes will “make you look up.” 

#1 Caldwell 49 - The Rosette Nebula

Astrophotography of a blue and orange nebula with bright stars in Kentucky backyard
21points

#2 M31 - The Andromeda Galaxy

Astrophotography of Andromeda galaxy shining with stars from Kentucky backyard
20points

#3 Ctb1/Abell 85 - The Garlic Nebula

Vibrant red and blue backyard astrophotography of a large space nebula
18points

#4 Ngc7380 - The Wizard Nebula

Colorful astrophotography of a nebula captured in backyard astrophotography
17points

#5 M92 - Globular Cluster In Hercules

Stunning astrophotography of a bright star cluster taken from Kentucky backyard
17points

#6 M104 - The Sombrero Galaxy

Astrophotography of galaxy captured from Kentucky backyard
15points

#7 Sh2115 W/ Abell 71

Backyard astrophotography showing a vibrant star field and nebula in Kentucky
15points

#8 Ngc6960 - The Witch's Broom Nebula

Vibrant astrophotos of nebula with blue and red gaseous filaments in starry night sky
14points

#9 The Sun In Hydrogen Alpha

High-resolution sun astrophotography with solar activity
14points

#10 The Moon @ 67% With Regulus

Detailed moon astrophotography from Kentucky backyard
14points

#11 Ngc2264 - The Cone Nebula/Christmas Tree Cluster

Detailed view of red and blue nebula in Kentucky backyard astrophotos
14points

#12 M8 - The Lagoon Nebula

Blue and red nebula astrophotography with stars captured from Kentucky backyard
14points

#13 Moon - 10/12/25

Lunar surface close-up captured in stunning backyard astrophotography in Kentucky
13points

#14 Ngc6888 - The Crescent Nebula

Astrophotography of a colorful nebula captured from backyard in Kentucky
13points

#15 M17 - The Swan Nebula / Omega Nebula

Kentucky backyard astrophotography showing a vibrant red and blue nebula cluster
13points

#16 Ngc6543 - The Cat's Eye Nebula

Astrophotos showing bright star surrounded by faint blue nebula and scattered stars
12points

#17 M101 - The Pinwheel Galaxy

Detailed spiral galaxy captured in stunning astrophotos from Kentucky backyard
12points

#18 Ngc1499 - Closeup Of The California Nebula

Close-up of red hydrogen nebula in astrophotos taken from Kentucky backyard
12points

#19 Sh2-170 - The Little Rosette Nebula

Red emission nebula captured in stunning astrophotos from Kentucky backyard
12points

#20 Jupiter W/ Io & Europa

Detailed backyard astrophotography of planet Jupiter with visible cloud bands
12points
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