This website is dedicated to my passion for astrophotography and the heavenly night sky. It is a means throughout which I present and share with you these images and my adventures throught the cosmos. I hope you enjoy your stay and if you did please remember to sign my guest book, I welcome any comments, questions, ideas and suggestions by email to terry@downunderobservatory.com.

All the best & Clear Skies to all you imagers.

One of my latest images has had the honor of being chosen as NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day!!

APOD: 2013 March 4 - IC 1805: The Heart Nebula

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2013 March 4

IC 1805: The Heart Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: Terry Hancock

Explanation: Sprawling across almost 200 light-years, emission nebula IC 1805 is a mix of glowing interstellar gas and dark dust clouds. Derived from its Valentine's-Day-approved shape, its nickname is the Heart Nebula. About 7,500 light-years away in the Perseus spiral arm of our galaxy, stars were born in IC 1805. In fact, near the cosmic heart's center are the massive hot stars of a newborn star cluster also known as Melotte 15, about 1.5 million years young. A little ironically, the Heart Nebula is located in the constellation of the mythical Queen of Aethiopia (Cassiopeia). This deep view of the region around the Heart Nebula spans about two degrees on the sky or about four times the diameter of the Full Moon.

Who I am:

My interest in Astronomy along with photography began some 40 years ago in Australia where my parents bought me my first telescope which was a Tasco 4 ½” Newtonian Reflector on a very crudely made German Equatorial Mount. Even so I had loads of fun, I can still smell that unique odor when I first unpacked it, I was so excited and it provided my very first glimpse of the Moon, the rings of Saturn and Jupiter and in many respects it provided me with more enjoyment than the expensive equipment I now own. I wish to thank my late parents John and Alice for inspiring my childhood dreams in the Night Sky.

Just like the moon, my interest in Astronomy has waxed and waned since. It particularly took a dive while my interests wandered to Barefoot Water Skiing. My first serious telescope purchase was in the early 80’s, a Meade 2080 8” Schmidt Cassegrain, I soon outgrew this and bought a 10” Celestron. Many nights were enjoyed observing the pollution free, dark Southern Night Skies in the warm Australian outback. It was there I first attempted astro-imaging, my very first camera for this purpose was the then very popular Olympus OM1 35mm Single lens Reflex camera. (Can we see why he outgrew this scope?)

My life took a turn and in 2000 I moved to the United States, in 2001 I barely survived an auto accident and it wasn’t until Late December 2007 and probably a hundred or so scopes later when I decided to buy a Meade 12” LX200 from this guy in Long Island New York, I drove over there on Christmas eve during a blizzard, the seller thought I was nuts but since then Andy has become a very dear friend. Soon after the Bat Wing Observatory, copied from Andy’s own observatory was born at its old location in Muskegon, Michigan. My newly found passion in Astro-Photography began. (Many refer to it as a disease and I agree)

Larger images can be seen by clicking the images in the slide show.

Early 2009, my wife, Christyna and I bought a property in the moderately light pollution free town of Bridgeton (Fremont) MI and on the very first day of occupation (I think it might have been the first hour) the foundations were dug and concrete poured soon after for the pier to support my telescope mount and telescopes and the Bat Wing Observatory was re erected and re named the “Down Under Observatory” because of my heritage.

Larger images can be seen by clicking the images in the slide show.

Today the Down Under Observatory houses a TMB 130SS F7 5” Refractor, Astronomy Technologies 8” Ritchey-Chrétien astrograph (my main imaging scopes) and a TMB 80SS F6.3 3” Refractor. These are mounted on a Celestron CGE PRO German Equatorial Mount and Concrete pier. My main imaging camera today is a Canon 5D Mark II DSLR which has been modified for astro-imaging. I love the dark skies at our present location, before we moved here, my wife often mentioned a bowl of dark and clear skies surrounding our property and I was somewhat confused until I saw for myself. We are indeed blessed where we live to have this phenomenon. I hope you enjoy my website and thanks for looking, if you have any questions feel free to drop me a line at terry@downunderobservatory.com

Terry Hancock

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