About Me

That's me at Yellowstone National Park! (Great dark skies there by the way!)

When I capture a picture, it's as if I've taken a little piece of the universe and saved it in a special place. When I share that picture with someone else, it's as if I've shared a little piece of myself.

I've always been fascinated by our universe. Ever since I started reading, I would get books about space and astronomy from the library and read. When I was about 10, my Dad bought me a 4.5 inch Newtonian which I used to get a glimpse at Comet Hale-Bopp in 1997. I also got to see the Moon up close as well as Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus. I was completely taken and awe-struck at the idea of pointing a telescope towards the sky and seeing far into space with my own two eyes. Soon, I wanted to take pictures and capture the joy of discovering the universe first hand. I started taking pictures of the sky in 1999 when I took a picture of a total solar eclipse from Romania. Then, I learned how to take pictures of the moon with my Newtonian and a film SLR camera. Every time I finished a roll of film, I couldn't wait to have it developed!

I have since upgraded to a larger scope and digital photography. I now own an 8 inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and digital-SLR camera. I've photographed the Moon, Sun, Planets, Nebulae, Galaxies, Meteors, and much more! I'm always looking for new targets and learning new techniques. My goal is to learn about as well as take more challenging and beautiful images of our fascinating universe.

While by night you'll most certainly find me photographing the heavens, by day I'm a medical student at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon. Medical school is tough, but having astronomy as a hobby helps ease the way.

I hope looking at my pictures will bring you the same joy and satisfaction it brings me! We do live in a wonderful universe!

About Astrophotography

Amateur astrophotography is the art, science, and hobby of taking pictures of the universe. The quality of pictures that amateurs have been able to produce these days can be quite astounding. Technology has also helped amateurs take better pictures easier. It's a challenging hobby to learn, but certainly not impossible for the interested and dedicated. Good luck with your own astophotography adventures and clear skies! If you'd like to learn about making your own space photos, check out the How to Do Astrophotography page.

Publications

• A photo of Aldebaran I took appeared in a BBC online article.


• My photo series of the November 3, 2013 solar eclipse appeared in a UniverseToday.com article.


• Three photos of mine were published in MEA (Middle East Airlines) bimonthly magazine for December 2012 - January 2013 in an article about astronomy in Lebanon.


• My photo of the Quarter Moon appeared in an Astronomy Magazine (Dec. 2012 issue) article. Note you need a subscription to access the article online.


• Lunar Photo of the Day (LPOD): Inverted Moon. Published October 27, 2012.


• My photo of the Quarter Moon appeared in an Astronomy Magazine (Sep. 2012 issue) article. Note you need a subscription to access the article online.


• My photo series of the July 15, 2012 Jupiter Occultation of the Moon appeared in a UniverseToday.com article.


• My photo of the 2004 Venus Transit appeared in a UniverseToday.com article.


• Sky at Night (BBC) - January 2012: My photo of Saturn appeared on the program in minute 22:48

Contact Me

If you'd like to say hi, or for any inquiries or comments, feel free to get in touch with me by e-mail: zzaatari@gmail.com