Seagull Nebula – Winter Star Party 2026

This image was captured at the 2026 Winter Star Party in the Florida Keys using my Askar FRA600 with reducer and a ZWO color camera. It consists of 96 x 120-second exposures collected over three nights under those famously steady Keys skies.

The Winter Star Party has been running since 1984 and has become one of the premier star parties in North America. Held each February at Camp Wesumkee in the Florida Keys, it draws amateur and professional astronomers from around the world. The location is legendary for its dark southern horizon, ocean-level seeing, and a strong sense of community. It’s not just about the skies — it’s about the people.

This trip was special for me. I met up with some old friends and made some new ones, sharing scopes, stories, and late-night laughs under the stars. There’s something about imaging beside the ocean at 2 a.m. that bonds people quickly.

This was the image I entered into the Winter Star Party image contest. It didn’t win — and honestly, I didn’t have as much time as I would have liked to process it properly. But I’m still proud of it. Sometimes the real prize is the experience of being there and capturing the photons in the first place.