Astrophotography With Keith Kirk

Keith will present a collection of stunning space photographs as well as the equipment he uses to capture these images, with time at the end for Q&A.

Join astrophotographer Keith Kirk for an awe-inspiring journey through the silent depths of the cosmos through the exploration of ancient light, vibrant stellar nurseries, and distant galaxies. Through the lens of modern astrophotography, discover how looking up into the heavens connects us to the very origins of the universe. Learn how modern instruments capture photons that began their journey when dinosaurs still walked the Earth. Later in the presentation Keith will cover the core principles of deep-sky imaging, the mechanics of modern digital capture, and practical guidance on how anyone can begin photographing the night sky to connect with the timeless expanse of the universe.

His experience with astrophotography is detailed below: 

“I have been fascinated by the night sky since childhood. At 13, I joined the Amateur Astronomy Association of Pittsburgh, where I developed my skills in telescope making and observational astronomy. By age 16, I had built a 10-inch Newtonian telescope and my own roll-off-roof observatory. I also became an observer at Pittsburgh's Allegheny Observatory, where I used historic refracting telescopes and assisted astronomers with stellar parallax photography.

I studied Astrophysics and later Geophysics, eventually pursuing graduate degrees and a professional career while maintaining my passion for observational astronomy. My interests also expanded to include landscape photography, for which I received awards, and astrophotography, which began in 2000 with the purchase of my first digital camera.

Over the years, advances in cameras, telescopes, software, and imaging techniques have allowed me to combine my lifelong fascination with astronomy and my passion for photography into an ongoing pursuit of astrophotography. “

Keith is a professional scientist with a PhD in Hydrogeology. He spent more than 40 years working as a hydrogeologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, part of the Department of the Interior.