Nothing strikes me with the same wonder and awe as the beauty and vastness of our universe viewed through a telescope. I have attempted to capture on film and with a CCD many of the objects that can be seen with an amateur size telescope. This web site contains a complete list of my images. The most recent images are separately listed.
The images on this site include images of the June 8, 2004 transit of Venus taken from Mauritius Island in the Indian Ocean, photos of a total eclipse of the Sun taken from Curacao on February 26, 1998, an image of the Tarantula Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud taken in Bolivia on September 2005, photos of the aurora borealis taken in Alaska in March 2003, the dark impact cloud on Jupiter that appeared after a comet or asteroid hit the planet in July 2009, a rare triple shadow transit on Jupiter on March 28, 2004, images of the unusual anti-tail displayed by Comet C/2007 N3 (Lulin) in February 2009, an annular eclipse of the Sun taken in Nevada on May 20, 2012, Comet Hale-Bopp taken from Texas in May 1997, the June 6, 2012 transit of Venus, Comet C/2001 Q4 (NEAT) in May 2004, a grazing transit of Mercury on November 15, 1999, Comet C/2006 A1 (Pojmanski) in March 2006, Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 in April 2006, a total eclipse of the Moon in May 2003, a transit of Mercury on November 8, 2006, as well as many other images. I also have an image of every object in the Messier Catalog. I hope that you will enjoy the images, and perhaps feel some of the same excitement and joy that I have experienced gazing up at the heavens under jet black skies filled with twinkling stars.
My wife Gloria and I were honored to have asteroid 157258 Leach named after us. The asteroid was discovered on Sept. 11, 2004 by David H. Levy, Wendee Wallach-Levy and Tom Glinos.
Click on the thumbnail images below to view images that are grouped according to the type of object.
NGC 1333
If you enjoy the images on this website, and would like to have an opportunity to learn how to create your own images, or would enjoy the opportunity to look through a telescope and see many of these objects with your own eyes, the University of Arizona has a public outreach program at the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter that I highly recommend. You can view and understand the night sky with an expert astronomer to guide you on an adventure under the stars. The SkyCenter has a state-of-the-art 32-inch reflecting telescope dedicated to that program, which is located on Mt. Lemmon at an altitude of 9154 feet. Some of their astronomy camps also include opportunities to observe with the 61-inch Kuiper Telescope. The 61-inch Kuiper Telescope is located on Mt. Bigelow at an altitude of 8230 feet.
When I was young, I always dreamed of finding someone with whom I could share my life in this beautiful universe. This web site is dedicated to my best friend, and my wife, Gloria. When I think of her, I look up at the sky sprinkled with silver stars, and blow a kiss to them for making her come true. She always wondered what I was doing outside in the dark...and now she knows.
I have included a description of the telescopes I used to take the images on this website. I also have lists of images grouped according to the telescope that was used to take the images.
NGC 4565 Galaxy
Create your own beautiful images of celestial wonders by signing up to participate in the University of Arizona public outreach programs at the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter.
Our dark skies are a beautiful natural resource that we should preserve as much as possible against ever encroaching light pollution from our cities and towns. If you are interested in supporting the preservation of our dark skies, please considering joining the International Dark-Sky Association.
Feedback and comments should go to Sid
What's new? To find out, check out the most recent images.
A complete list of Sid's astronomical images.
Copyright 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 by Sid Leach