AAPOD2 Lives!

A couple weeks ago I learned that the website and FB group called AAPODx2 had closed it doors.

For those not familiar, it was a website site, that like it’s big brother APOD run by NASA posted a new astounding astronomy related photograph each day, with one difference, unlike APOD who posted both professional and amateur photos they only posted amateur astro-photographers images.

Yours truly was honored twice with a AAPODX2. I remember how excited I was for this accolade. It meant that someone other than my close friends and family thought I had captured a good astronomy image.

Granted it’s not the coveted APOD where Nasa picks your image, but for me it was pretty damn close and I was in good company, many APOD winners have also won.

So when my good friend and fellow astro-photographer Jason asked me, “why don’t we keep it going?” I jumped at the chance.

So with a new domain name aapod2.com and a new facebook group we start this new and exciting project of giving accolades to other amateur astro-photographers.

The rules are simple but the judging criteria will be tough. We want our AAPOD2 winners to be the very best astro photos on the web.

So just so you know we will be zooming in and they better have round and in focus stars! LOL.

Some might wonder why we do what we do, spending thousands of dollars on equipment, (if my wife reads this of course I’m exaggerating) hours and hours in the middle of nowhere away from the comforts of home just to get away from light pollution, hundreds of hours learning new processing techniques and not to mention the lack of sleep. The answer is, it’s hard to explain or put into words but when everything is working and the image data is downloaded and the stars are round and in focus, there is a sense of accomplishment, a sense of relief, a sense of joy that can’t I get from any other hobby, believe me I have many.

So if your an astro-photographer of just a lover of great space related photos, please join our group, you wont be disappointed.