Russ Scritchfield

Russ Scritchfield

Contributor

Russ, a dedicated family man and passionate astrophotographer, has been capturing the wonders of the cosmos for years. Married with three children, Russ finds a balance between his family life and his deep-rooted love for exploring the night sky through his lens.


All articles by Russ Scritchfield

Recent posts from Russ


Astro image processing software update Tria Image Pro 4 released

Software

Astro image processing software update Tria Image Pro 4 released


  • Thursday, September 4, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

Astro Image Processing Software Update: Tria Image Pro 4.0 introduces faster FFTs, powerful blind deconvolution with SeDDaRA, and advanced tools for astrophotography, medical imaging, and more....


WR 102 image by Richard Harris displayed at the INTUITIVE Planetarium

Astrophotography

WR 102 image by Richard Harris displayed at the INTUITIVE Planetarium


  • Wednesday, September 3, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

WR 102 image by Richard Harris displayed at the INTUITIVE Planetarium in the U.S. Space & Rocket Center highlights the hottest known star in our universe. Captured at Ozark Hills Observatory, this stunning astrophoto inspires audiences to explore the...


Spanish Eclipse Trio

Events

Spanish Eclipse Trio


  • Friday, August 22, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

Observers and astrophotographers are preparing for a rare sequence of three solar eclipses from 2026 to 2028, with the Spanish Eclipse Trio offering two total and one annular event visible from Spain, making it a once-in-a-lifetime European celestial...


Solar weather forecast AI model unveiled

Solar

Solar weather forecast AI model unveiled


  • Wednesday, August 20, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

IBM and NASA unveiled Surya, the first open-source AI model for solar weather. Trained on nine years of data, it can predict solar flares two hours in advance, helping protect satellites, power grids, and astronauts while advancing space resilience....


Hidden Hollow Star Party 2025

Events

Hidden Hollow Star Party 2025


  • Monday, August 18, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

Even if your telescope is still in the box, spending a fall weekend at the Hidden Hollow Star Party 2025 is a simple way to experience deep sky observing, meet other stargazers, and enjoy a laid-back event in the woods of Ohio....


DIY flat panel

Accessories

DIY flat panel


  • Thursday, August 14, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

Many amateur astronomers are discovering that building a DIY flat panel is an affordable and effective way to automate flat frame calibration, integrating seamlessly into ASCOM workflows with just an ESP32, a MOSFET, and a standard LED tracing light....


Sigma 17-40mm art lens put to the test

Cameras

Sigma 17-40mm art lens put to the test


  • Tuesday, August 12, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

Despite a few corner imperfections wide open, the lens impresses with prime-like resolution, especially when the Sigma 17-40mm art lens put to the test revealed pinpoint stars and low coma at F2.8, solidifying its role in low-light photography kits....


Peach State Star Gaze 2025

Events

Peach State Star Gaze 2025


  • Monday, August 11, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

A week of observing, camping, and astronomy talks returns to Georgia as the 31st annual Peach State Star Gaze 2025 brings amateur astronomers together at Deerlick Astronomy Village from October 19-26 for dark skies, gear demos, and community....


Complex planetary nebula traced by Webb

Astronomy

Complex planetary nebula traced by Webb


  • Saturday, August 9, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

While surveying the remnants of ancient stellar death, astronomers were captivated by a complex planetary nebula traced by Webb, revealing intricate filamentary structures and shock fronts that challenge existing models of stellar evolution....


IDAS Dusk to Dawn filter

Filters

IDAS Dusk to Dawn filter


  • Thursday, August 7, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

Whether you're chasing faint comets or pulling structure from dusty nebulae, the IDAS Dusk to Dawn filter delivers impressive multi-bandpass performance across visible and infrared wavelengths, making it a top pick for flexible, all-sky imaging sessi...


Helio highlights

Astronomy

Helio highlights


  • Thursday, August 7, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

NASA’s 2025 Helio highlights covers solar risks to Artemis Moon missions, past storms like 1972, monitoring by NASA and NOAA, and how the Moon’s surface records the Sun’s history, while stressing astronaut protection from unpredictable space weather....


Hopper e-finder push to solution

Accessories

Hopper e-finder push to solution


  • Thursday, August 7, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

A new accessory for visual observers from Clear Skies Astro was recently announced, the Hopper e-finder push to solution blends smart camera technology with real-time plate solving to create an effortless way to center any deep sky object in seconds....


Astronomy Now publication changes owners

Astronomy

Astronomy Now publication changes owners


  • Tuesday, August 5, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

Following three decades of dedicated leadership by Steven Young, Astronomy Now publication changes owners as Dr. Stuart Clark and Dr. Emily Baldwin take the helm, promising a revitalized direction with new features and deeper community involvement....


All Sky Map

Astronomy

All Sky Map


  • Monday, August 4, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

At just under $20, the All Sky Map is not only a well-crafted product, but a passion project brought to life with care and precision. For new observers, it offers a solid introduction to celestial navigation. For seasoned stargazers, it’s a reliable,...


Sky-Watcher HAC125DX Mini astrograph

Telescopes

Sky-Watcher HAC125DX Mini astrograph


  • Thursday, July 31, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

Perfect for wide-field imaging on the go, the ultra-fast f/2 optics and portable design make the Sky-Watcher HAC125DX Mini astrograph an ideal choice for capturing deep sky targets quickly without sacrificing image quality or convenience....


Star eating black hole spotted by Hubble and Chandra

Astronomy

Star eating black hole spotted by Hubble and Chandra


  • Wednesday, July 30, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

Astronomers studying the outskirts of galaxy NGC 6099 have uncovered new evidence of a rare intermediate-mass black hole, with a star eating black hole spotted by Hubble and Chandra as a highlight of their multiwavelength investigation into tidal dis...


Dual channel dew controller

Accessories

Dual channel dew controller


  • Monday, July 28, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

Combined with R-Sky’s lineup of dew heater options and accessories, including telescope covers and observing hoods, their dual channel dew controller provides a complete, efficient solution for managing moisture and protecting optics during long obse...


Telescopes and ice cream - whats your flavor of stargazing

Telescopes

Telescopes and ice cream - whats your flavor of stargazing


  • Saturday, July 26, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

Celestron recently shared a fun perspective on their blog: exploring the night sky can be as personal as choosing dessert. In their comparison of telescopes and ice cream - whats your flavor of stargazing, you’ll see how different observing styles m...


Argon III filter for the miniCAM8

Filters

Argon III filter for the miniCAM8


  • Wednesday, July 23, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

If you're aiming to capture rare emission lines using specialized filters, the Argon III filter for the miniCAM8 is up to the task. QHY demonstrates how today’s affordable filter technology makes it possible to reveal intricate nebula structures - ca...


So a pair of SRBC APO 32mm binoculars walks in to a bar

Binoculars

So a pair of SRBC APO 32mm binoculars walks in to a bar


  • Saturday, July 19, 2025
  • By Russ Scritchfield

Users can step beyond the limits of conventional optics, enjoying an extraordinary wide-angle experience where SRBC APO 32mm Binoculars becomes not just a product name but a symbol of immersive, joyful discovery....