The epilogue to my Coffee Table Nightscapes photo book project.

It has been a remarkable few decades since I began taking these pictures.  The world, and our understanding of it, have changed.  Space probes and telescopes have beamed back impressive imagery that reveal more and more of our amazing universe.  The pictures I have taken over this time may not be scientifically significant, but I hope they convey a sense of curiosity and wonder at what can be seen in our night sky. 

The tools and techniques for taking these pictures have also changed.  Although I don’t expect an equivalent to the digital revolution we have experienced, there are dramatic advances underway in “computational photography” and other imaging technologies that will provide even more opportunities to make inspiring and beautiful images of the night sky.  I will follow along as far as I can, so that maybe, someday, I will make a sequel to this coffee table book.  Just imagine what another 25 years of nightscapes will bring!

Thor Olson
December 2021

Here is the introduction to my Coffee Table Nightscapes photo book project.

This is a collection of photos taken over the course of 25 years with some stories to accompany them.  I call it “Coffee Table Nightscapes” to indicate that they are my favorites suitable for that artifact of an earlier time, a book of beautiful photographs and touching captions that adorned the low table in the formal space of a home.  This is my contribution to that genre.

A major technological revolution over the last quarter century began when homes really did have coffee tables with books on them.  This revolution changed the way we take pictures.  The transition from film to digital has had an enormous impact on our lives, how we interact and communicate with each other, and how we experience the world. 

Here is the preface to my Coffee Table Nightscapes photo book project

This story begins nearly thirty years ago.  My nine-year-old son asked me to go out to help him identify some constellations for a school project. We drove a few miles to a park where we watched the stars emerge from the twilight. We discovered that the moons of Jupiter could be seen through binoculars, located constellations with familiar zodiac names, and saw the Milky Way splashed across the sky. It was an enchanting experience.

I wondered what else could be seen in the sky.  I had friends with telescopes who were kind enough to let me peer into them to view “deep sky objects” (galaxies and nebulae).  It was fascinating!  The idea of ancient photons being collected by a telescope lens and then focused on my retina made a powerful impression on me and continues to do so even to this day. 

I soon began acquiring my own equipment and immersing myself in the world of amateur astronomy. 

Having been an amateur photographer my entire life, it was not long before I wanted to capture those views on film.  During this time two bright comets appeared in two successive years.  They provided my first photographic targets and begin this collection. My son has grown up and now has sons of his own.   He will likely encounter a similar experience while helping them with school assignments.  Meanwhile I’m still investigating the night sky, attempting to capture its romance and magic through the lens of my camera.  I hope you enjoy my favorites from the first 25 years