For anyone into night sky photography Tasmania is a joy. As well as regular displays of the southern aurora, the dark skies of Tasmania mean many distant objects can be sought out relatively easily.

Night Sky Photography Tasmania. The spring sky – from left – the Seven Sisters (Pleiades); Taurus; Orion; Canis Major rise over Hobart

The Orionids Meteor Shower

My main aim heading out last night was to witness the Orionids meteor display. I have never made the time to get outdoors for a meteor shower, but with such a stunningly clear night last night I made up my mind to head out at around midnight, given the best of the show was expected to be from around 1:00 onwards.

Orionids October 2014 Tasmania, or more correctly – “an” orionid! (bottom, left of centre)

Night Sky Photography Tasmania

While waiting for Orion to rise, I did some deeper sky images. Having heard that a comet was again in our skies I was interested to see just what, if anything, I would capture with my humble 200 mm and astro tracer. I was quite happy to find I had indeed captured a distinct greenish glow, not dissimilar to Comet Lemmon a couple of years ago, but nowhere near as spectacular as a previous Comet Panstarrs from around the same time.

Night Sky Photography Comet Panstarrs Tasmania

Spring is also the only time of year we here in Tasmania have a chance at spotting the Andromeda Galaxy. The shot above was taken through the glow of Hobart, so a darker location would yield even better results!

Night Sky Photography Andromeda Galaxy Tasmania

Given the subject of the night was the Orionids, I also fired off a few shots of the famous Orion Nebula, and Orions belt including the harder to image Horsehead Nebula.

Night sky photography Tasmania – The Orion Nebula

Night Sky Photography Tasmania Orions Belt

So in the end the orionids meteor display was a complete fizzer, but the night was far from wasted 🙂 For those wanting to explore the southern skies more, check out “Astroblog” which contains invaluable information about what can be seen in the night sky from week to week.