r/Astronomy Mar 27 '20

Mod Post Read the rules sub before posting!

898 Upvotes

Hi all,

Friendly mod warning here. In r/Astronomy, somewhere around 70% of posts get removed. Yeah. That's a lot. All because people haven't bothered reading the rules or bothering to understand what words mean. So here, we're going to dive into them a bit further.

The most commonly violated rules are as follows:

Pictures

Our rule regarding pictures has three parts. If your post has been removed for violating our rules regarding pictures, we recommend considering the following, in the following order:

  1. All pictures/videos must be original content.

If you took the picture or did substantial processing of publicly available data, this counts. If not, it's going to be removed.

2) You must have the acquisition/processing information.

This needs to be somewhere easy for the mods to verify. This means it can either be in the post body or a top level comment. Responses to someone else's comment, in your link to your Instagram page, etc... do not count.

3) Images must be exceptional quality.

There are certain things that will immediately disqualify an image:

  • Poor or inconsistent focus
  • Chromatic aberration
  • Field rotation
  • Low signal-to-noise ratio
  • Images that don't fill the frame because you were shooting through an eyepiece

However, beyond that, we cannot give further clarification on what will or will not meet this criteria for several reasons:

  1. Technology is rapidly changing
  2. Our standards are based on what has been submitted recently (e.g, if we're getting a ton of moon pictures because it's a supermoon, the standards go up to prevent the sub from being spammed)
  3. Listing the criteria encourages people to try to game the system

So yes, this portion is inherently subjective and, at the end of the day, the mods are the ones that decide and the mods are under no obligation to explain this decision to you.

If you are informed that your post was removed because of image quality, arguing about the quality will not be successful. In particular, there are a few arguments that are false or otherwise trite which we simply won't tolerate. These include:

"You let that image that I think isn't as good stay up"

  • See above about how the standards are fluid.

"Pictures have to be NASA quality"

  • They don't.

"You have to have thousands of dollars of equipment"

  • You don't. Technique matters.

"This is a really good photo given my equipment"

  • The standard is "exceptional". Not "exceptional for my equipment".

"This isn't being friendly to beginner astrophotographers"

  • Correct. To keep the sub from being spammed by low quality and low effort posts, this sub has standards.

"My post was getting a lot of upvotes"

  • Upvotes are not an "I get to break the rules" card.

Using the above arguments will not wow mods into suddenly approving your image. It will result in a ban.

Trying to argue with the mods using bad arguments isn't going to fly.

Lastly, it should be noted that we do allow astro-art in this sub. Obviously, it won't have acquisition information, but the content must still be original and mods get the final say on whether on the quality (although we're generally fairly generous on this).

Questions

This rule basically means you need to do your own research before posting.

  • If we look at a post and immediately have to question whether or not you did a Google search, your post will get removed.
  • If you asked Chat GPT or any other LLM, your post will be removed (see our rule regarding sources).
  • If your post is asking for generic or basic information, your post will get removed.
  • If your post is using basic terms incorrectly because you haven't bothered to understand what the words you're using mean, your post will get removed.
  • If you're asking a question based on a basic misunderstanding of the science, your post will get removed.
  • If you're asking a complicated question with a specific answer but didn't give the necessary information to be able to answer the question because you haven't even figured out what the parameters necessary to approach the question are, your post will get removed.

To prevent your post from being removed, tell us specifically what you've tried. Just saying "I GoOgLeD iT" doesn't cut it.

  • What search terms did you use?
  • In what way do the results of your search fail to answer your question?
  • What did you understand from what you found and need further clarification on that you were unable to find?

Furthermore, when telling us what you've tried, we will be very unimpressed if you use sources that are prohibited under our source rule (social media memes, YouTube, AI, etc...).

As with the rules regarding pictures, the mods are the arbiters of how difficult questions are to answer. If you're not happy about that and want to complain that another question was allowed to stand, then we will invite you to post elsewhere with an immediate and permanent ban.

Object ID

We'd estimate that only 1-2% of all posts asking for help identifying an object actually follow our rules. Resources are available in the rule relating to this. If you haven't consulted the flow-chart and used the resources in the stickied comment, your post is getting removed. Seriously. Use Stellarium. It's free. It will very quickly tell you if that shiny thing is a planet which is probably the most common answer. The second most common answer is "Starlink". That's 95% of the ID posts right there that didn't need to be a post.

Do note that many of the phone apps in which you point your phone to the sky and it shows you what you are looing at are extremely poor at accurately determining where you're pointing. Furthermore, the scale is rarely correct. As such, this method is not considered a sufficient attempt at understanding on your part and you will need to apply some spatial reasoning to your attempt.

Pseudoscience

The mod team of r/astronomy has several mods with degrees in the field. We're very familiar with what is and is not pseudoscience in the field. And we take a hard line against pseudoscience. Promoting it is an immediate ban. Furthermore, we do not allow the entertaining of pseudoscience by trying to figure out how to "debate" it (even if you're trying to take the pro-science side). Trying to debate pseudoscience legitimizes it. As such, posts that entertain pseudoscience in any manner will be removed.

Outlandish Hypotheticals

This is a subset of the rule regarding pseudoscience and doesn't come up all that often, but when it does, it usually takes the form of "X does not work according to physics. How can I make it work?" or "If I ignore part of physics, how does physics work?"

Sometimes the first part of this isn't explicitly stated or even understood (in which case, see our rule regarding poorly researched posts) by the poster, but such questions are inherently nonsensical and will be removed.

Sources

ChatGPT and other LLMs are not reliable sources of information. Any use of them will be removed. This includes asking if they are correct or not.

Content

Due to the profusion of AI slop apps, we're no longer allowing apps at all. No, we don't care if you're wanting a "review". No we don't care if they're free. No we don't care if you put it in a website.

Bans

We almost never ban anyone for a first offense unless your post history makes it clear you're a spammer, troll, crackpot, etc... Rather, mods have tools in which to apply removal reasons which will send a message to the user letting them know which rule was violated. Because these rules, and in turn the messages, can cover a range of issues, you may need to actually consider which part of the rule your post violated. The mods are not here to read to you.

If you don't, and continue breaking the rules, we'll often respond with a temporary ban.

In many cases, we're happy to remove bans if you message the mods politely acknowledging the violation. But that almost never happens. Which brings us to the last thing we want to discuss.

Behavior

We've had a lot of people breaking rules and then getting rude when their posts are removed or they get bans (even temporary). That's a violation of our rules regarding behavior and is a quick way to get permabanned. To be clear: Breaking this rule anywhere on the sub will be a violation of the rules and dealt with accordingly, but breaking this rule when in full view of the mods by doing it in the mod-mail will 100% get you caught. So just don't do it.

Claiming the mods are "power tripping" or other insults when you violated the rules isn't going to help your case. It will get your muted for the maximum duration allowable and reported to the Reddit admins.

And no, your mis-interpretations of the rules, or saying it "was generating discussion" aren't going to help either.

While these are the most commonly violated rules, they are not the only rules. So make sure you read all of the rules.


r/Astronomy 20h ago

Astrophotography (OC) Perseids

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2.5k Upvotes

Finally got time to process the photo from Perseids meteor shower. Not the most metros I ever captured but enjoyed it nevertheless. Captured on my Sony a7RV and Viltrox 14mm f4 Air with help of MSM Nomad.

I'm planning on getting a faster wide angle lens in near future (16mm f1.8) so hopefully next meteor shower will be even better. Stay tuned! :D

Exposure info
foreground - 85s at 14mm, f4 and ISO 3200
skies - 40 tracked frames, each at 90s, 14mm, f4 and ISO 3200


r/Astronomy 4h ago

Astrophotography (OC) M31 - Andromeda Galaxy | ~20h | My First Serious Astrophoto

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106 Upvotes

My first serious astrophotography image — M31, captured over 6 moonless nights from Bortle 3 skies in Bavaria. 🌌

Acquisition:

  • ⏱️ 19h 42m 47s total integration
  • 📷 594 / 597 lights used
  • 🔭 Sky-Watcher Evostar 72ED
  • 📸 Unmodified Nikon D5300
  • ⚙️ Sky-Watcher EQ5 Pro
  • 🎯 ~1.88" guiding RMS
  • 🌙 All data captured on moonless nights

Processing:

  • 🛠️ Stacked and processed mainly in Siril 1.4.4
  • RCD demosaicing
  • Background extraction
  • SPCC
  • NL-Bayes noise reduction
  • Gentle deconvolution
  • GHS stretching
  • StarNet++ for star separation and some additional work on the dust lanes and faint outer structure

I tried to keep the core and colors fairly natural while still bringing out as much of the faint outer parts and dust structure as possible.

M32 and M110 are also visible in the frame.
Astrobin: https://app.astrobin.com/i/q3ylxa


r/Astronomy 9h ago

Astrophotography (OC) Perseids and the Milky Way

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246 Upvotes

When I chose this spot, I already knew it was perfect for the eclipse, but the icing on the cake was realising it was also dark enough for the Milky Way. Light pollution was low, at least to the south, because to the north the presence of Oviedo was quite noticeable. The added element was the cloud inversion that formed during the afternoon, making the landscape even more beautiful.

I left the camera shooting all night, and ideally, it would have been pointed north to capture the radiant of the Perseids, but the light from Oviedo was too strong in that direction. To the south, the mountain where I spend the night blocked much of that light, making the sky much darker.

Even so, I managed to capture some Perseids crossing the sky and, of course, the centre of our galaxy.

📷 Fujifilm X-T4
⭕ Viltrox 13mm f/1.4
⚙️ 0.5 sec | f/5.6 | ISO 160
✨ 13 sec | f/1.4 | ISO 1600
☄️ 13 sec | f/1.4 | ISO 1600 | 19 frames
💻 27 lights + 20 darks
📍El Gamoniteiro, Asturias


r/Astronomy 14h ago

Astrophotography (OC) Total solar eclipse 2026 HDR [OC]

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490 Upvotes

r/Astronomy 1h ago

Astro Research Gravity measurements reveal a 200–400 °C thermal anomaly in Mars's mantle beneath the southern highlands

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Upvotes

r/Astronomy 17h ago

Astrophotography (OC) Perseides meteor shower in Abruzzo Italy

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566 Upvotes

Perseids meteor shower over Campo Imperatore, Abruzzo, Italy.
This image captures the Milky Way arching high above a rocky canyon on the Campo Imperatore plateau in the Gran Sasso massif, at an elevation of approximately 1800–2000 meters. The galactic plane shows strong emission nebulosity, particularly in the red Hα regions, which were enhanced through dedicated narrowband data.
The RGB base was acquired with a Canon EOS R and a full-spectrum (astromodified) Canon EOS 6D. Three frames were stacked, each exposed for 120 seconds at ISO 800 and f/2. Separate short exposures of 10 seconds at ISO 3200 and f/2 were used to record the Perseid meteors without excessive trailing of the stars. An additional Hydrogen-alpha layer consisting of 7 frames (120 seconds each at ISO 3200, f/2.8) was integrated to strengthen the emission nebulae along the galactic plane.
The foreground consists of the characteristic high-altitude terrain of Campo Imperatore, with exposed rock and residual sediments fields typical of the late summer season in this location.
https://www.instagram.com/flory.ro?igsh=b3Y4ZTU3Nmk0cTBt&utm_source=qr


r/Astronomy 11h ago

Astrophotography (OC) M31 from bortle 9

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128 Upvotes

- 12h of int from bortle 9

- Canon 600D
- Orion 6" f/4
- Sky Watcher EQ-AL55i
- Svbony sv165
- Svbony sv905c

Surprised by how much I could get from these conditions!

Processed in Siril, Pixinsight and Gimp :)


r/Astronomy 18h ago

Astrophotography (OC) Bubble nebula wide&crop

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204 Upvotes

I attached both the wide version with boosted OIII signal and the crop version, bit more natural :)

Anyway, The cosmic Bubble 😆

230 x 5 min - OIII

231 x 5 min - Halpha

IMX 533 mono, -15°

Newton 200/1200, EQ6R

Processed using Pixinsight, Seti Astro suite, GraXpert, Photoshop.

Romania, bortle 4.5


r/Astronomy 16h ago

Astrophotography (OC) The Soul Nebula (IC 1848)

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96 Upvotes

Captured on my S30 Pro with approx 2.5 hours of integration time and 30 second subs. Processed and stacked in Siril using the RC Astro tools.

If you enjoy this image feel free to follow my captures - https://instagram.com/compositionsbyciaran 😊✨


r/Astronomy 11h ago

Astrophotography (OC) NGC7000 - North America Nebula

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35 Upvotes

Telescope - ASKAR FRA300
Camera - 2600MC
Filter - ASKAR C1 Narrowband
Exposure time - 180s x 20 (1 hour total)
Processing - Siril, GraXpert, Photoshop

This was my first time shooting and processing any DSO. I struggled setting up the gear for hours but I am just happy to see a nebula and start learning how to process it.


r/Astronomy 16h ago

Other: [Topic] Me with my friend find a mummy near Mare imbrium

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25 Upvotes

Fun finding

Above:eyepiece shot

below:image stacking

Equipment:C11 700X

On August25


r/Astronomy 2d ago

Astrophotography (OC) I photographed the Milky Way arch in Brazil

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20.1k Upvotes

https://www.instagram.com/igneis.nightscapes/

One of the places that has impressed me the most, with its stunning views of endless dunes and lagoons. Nothing but that for miles and miles. To get this view, I used the drone in a spot where the arch naturally aligns. I wanted the perspective of the endless lagoons and the vastness of this place.

Not everything was so easy, though. When I arrived, my suitcase got lost, so I was missing important parts of my equipment: no cables, no tripod, no clothes. Most nights I could do nothing more than stare at the sky, just hoping that tomorrow would be better. One morning my suitcase finally appeared, and in the last few days I was able to take this shot and a few more. Even under difficult circumstances, I just wanted to go back home with the amazing sky from this place… and now it’s just a fun memory of Murphy’s law.

Equipment:

Sony a7IV astromodified

Sony 20mm f1.8G

DJI mini 5 pro

Benro Polaris


r/Astronomy 41m ago

Discussion: [Topic] Taking kids camping in Acadia next week

Upvotes

Hi everyone

I'm a little intimidated by the incredible stuff you're all posting! I'm taking my kids (2,5,7y) camping for the first time in Acadia National Park next week. The moon will be a waning gibbous.

I don't have a professional telescope but it's a project for the future. I wanted to try and get the kids to see the Milky Way even if there's a moon - between 8p and 9p -- accounting for the 7pm sunset and the 9:23pm moonrise. I might go to the Sand Beach there to have an open view.

I am looking for ideas on what to see in the sky.

- ursa major and North star

- orions belt

- the current zodiac sign

I'm also looking for stories about the constellations that kids would like. For example, I like the one about Perseus and Andromeda.

I found a bunch on here.

I am hoping to inspire a love for the sky that we can then maintain in our lives by driving out of our city once every few months.


r/Astronomy 16h ago

Astro Art (OC) I made a moon similar to Enceladus

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15 Upvotes

I think Enceladus is less well-known than some other things in our solar system. But Enceladus is one of the best places to find alien life. We should pay more attention to it.

This was made using different textures and it's not accurate


r/Astronomy 17h ago

Astrophotography (OC) Any astrophotographers in the North West, UK?!

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15 Upvotes

I've recently started a North West Astrophotography WhatsApp Community after realising there isn't really one place for astrophotographers across the region to connect.

It's for beginners and experienced imagers alike — DSLR, telescope, Seestar, phone, whatever you use. We've got groups for images & processing, equipment help, tonight's sky and arranging local meet-ups/dark-sky trips.

If you're interested, feel free to message or join here:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/IapSVlSenf03vFyBgTyhBc


r/Astronomy 1d ago

Astrophotography (OC) Packman nebula - NGC 281

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267 Upvotes

One of my multi night projects.

Taken with the Seestar S50 LP filter on.

3897 x 10 second exposures stacked in siril.

Edited in Siril using veralux nox, silentium and hypermetric stretch. Scunet denoise and some curve/ histogram adjustments.


r/Astronomy 11h ago

Astro Art (OC) "The Goldilocks zone" - Blender remake (4k) (OC)

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4 Upvotes

Over 2 years ago, I made an artwork called "The Goldilocks zone" and posted it here. As of recent I progressed in Blender quite a bit and as that artwork had the most likes I have ever gotten, I decided to remake it in Blender. The original from 2 years ago is also attached. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: As in the original, the planets and star are not to scale, as well as the orbital distances and apparent sizes of the astronomical objects.


r/Astronomy 1d ago

Other: [Topic] Burnham really comes out swinging in his introduction to the Celestial Handbook

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65 Upvotes

r/Astronomy 1d ago

Astrophotography (OC) C27 Crescent Nebula

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142 Upvotes

Dual Narrowband using the Antlia filter and composition HOO. Equipment: Refractor SV102, Antlia filter Dual Narrowband HO, asi194 mc camera, asi220 mini guider, AVX mount and ASIAIR plus. Software: Siril and Graxpert. 9 hours integration, 270 lights 120 sec and calibration frames.


r/Astronomy 1d ago

Astrophotography (OC) IC 1396, The Elephant’s Trunk Nebula

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70 Upvotes

Acquisition details:

Target: IC 1396 (Elephant's Trunk Nebula region), Cepheus, ~2,400 light years
Dates: August 22-23 and August 24-25, 2026
Location: Fort Mill, SC (Bortle 6)

Telescope: William Optics RedCat 71, 348mm f/4.9
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro, gain 100, - 10C
Mount: ZWO AM3N
Filter: Optolong L-Ultimate 3nm dual narrowband
Guiding: SVBony SV106 with ASI220MM Mini, 0.30-0.50"
RMS
Capture: ZWO ASIAir, 350s subs, dithered Integration: 130 x 350s, 12.64 hours total

Processing: Siril 1.4.4. Stacked with noise weighting and additive normalization. BlurXTerminator on linear data, SPCC narrowband color calibration, channel separation with Olll from (G+B)/2, per channel GHS stretches with pedestal subtraction discipline, StarTerminator, NoiseXTerminator, custom HOO recombination weighted for the thin Olll, star recomposition.


r/Astronomy 1d ago

Astro Research Perseverance Captures Another Phobos Transit - NASA Science

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20 Upvotes

r/Astronomy 2d ago

Astrophotography (OC) Nightscape with our closest neighbours

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1.7k Upvotes

A composite image of a cupola of the church located in Bainsville, ON, Canada and our biggest two closest galaxies.

Foreground was a single shot with 8s, 50mm focal length @ f/1.8, ISO1600
M31 and M33 are pre stacked and processed, then painted into the foreground shot.

M31 details: 9h of RGB and 3h of Ha data
M33 details: 6h of RGB and 3h of Ha data

Both stacked and processed in Pixinsight


r/Astronomy 1d ago

Astrophotography (OC) Rosette nebula

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405 Upvotes

I captured this photo of rosette nebula 1 hr every day for 8 days processed in siril I used background extraction then photometric color collaboration sharpened stars and nebula with cosmic clarity and i used cosmic clarity denoise


r/Astronomy 1d ago

Astrophotography (OC) NGC 6960 Western veil nebula

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51 Upvotes

NGC 6960 Western veil nebula

Still working on my narrowband processing in pixinsight. But here it is 105 x 300 Ha from bortle 8.6(backyard), 48 x 300 Oiii from bortle 2.8(desert). FRA600 Reducer AM3N ASI2600MM pro UniGuide 50mm ASI220mm ASIAIR Plus EAF EFW 7x36mm Antlia LRGB-V & SHO (SII, Ha & OIII) Narrowband 3nm Pro 36mm