One of the most easily recognizable and my favorite constellation, Scorpius traces around an iconic Joshua Tree in Joshua Tree National Park as the Milky Way extends above in this 30-second exposure on September 17, 2022.

The Milky Way is captured from outside the main gate of Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane, VA, on August 31, 2022, in this 2-minute exposure. Click here for another shot as viewed through some trees.

Views of the southern sky and Milky Way Galaxy from outside Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane, Virginia. The constellations of Scorpius, Sagittarius, and Aquila (clockwise from bottom right) are outlined.

I was able to photograph the comet a few times in December 2021 before it began its departure away from Earth and our solar system forever. On this day, it was actually visible to the naked eye for a shot period of time--not that you could tell it was a comet, but it was brighter than the nearby stars as it approached the horizon about an hour after sunset.

I captured this image of the fog rolling in over the trees late on a Saturday night at the Wakefield School in The Plains, VA, while experimenting with the equatorial tracker in anticipation of the Perseid meteors the following week (though, the weather here did not work out for those). Click here for a version with some of the stars labeled.

By this time in month, the comet was getting tougher to see and certainly not providing the visual of just 10 days prior. But, provided this opportunity when shooting from the graveyard at Oak Dale Church in Greenwich, VA.

Again, a few days later, I find one of my favorite spots, the dam at Lake Ashby, to shoot not just the comet, but the International Space Station. This 20-second exposure catches the Station streaking across the sky above NEOWISE. Note added December 27, 2022: How I wish I could go back and do this again knowing what I now know about the best way to shoot the International Space Station and having an equatorial tracker!

A few days later, the comet shifted to being more visible after sunset. This was shot from Rollins Ford Rd.

A few days later, the weather cooperated for the next opportunity. This was one of those few times when I was able to walk out to the designated spot, look in the direction, and there it was. Shot in the early morning from behind The Nokesville School.

Although I was pretty sure I was looking in the right area, it took me a while to find not knowing exactly what I was going to see. This is one of my first images from that morning of the comet that would keep me occupied for the next month. Shot in the early morning hours from Rollins Ford Rd.

Close up view on the first morning.