That's Gilgamesh, legendary king of the city state of Uruk. Back in 2013, I published a book titled Gilgamesh in the 21st Century, in which I used the ancient epic to frame a scientific exploration of mortality. The book cover was designed by renowned Irish artist, Sarah Bracken, whom I am privileged to have as a sister. She used a custom lithograph to produce this wonderful caricature of the old king which was so distinctive that I later used it in the watermarking for the deep space images. We've grown fond of the little guy over the years, so it made sense to incorporate him into our observatory brand.

Absolutely! Choosing the right finish is just as important as the photo itself. I put together a detailed guide that explains the differences between our luminous pearl prints and our stunning metal prints. It also includes details about the options we provide for mounting and displaying our space images.

Check out our complete Print Media & Framing Guide

Thanks so much for your interest! We would absolutely love to share our space goodies with our friends in Europe.

As a small U.S.-based business, selling to the EU requires us to navigate the new VAT (Value Added Tax) registration process, which is quite complex. We are actively working on getting all our VAT numbers and systems in place so we can make sure we're doing everything by the book.

We're hoping to have this sorted out soon and will be sure to make a big announcement when we can officially open up shipping to the EU. The best way to find out is to sign up for our newsletter or follow us on social media!

Absolutely! Sharing the "how-to" of astrophotography and the science behind my images is a huge passion of mine.

I have a long list of video ideas I'm really excited about, including processing tutorials, deep dives on specific celestial objects, and a look at the gear I use in the observatory.

It's a big project to do right, and my main focus this year is getting the website running smoothly. My goal is to start filming and uploading new video content next year. The best way to know when the first one drops is to subscribe to our newsletter!

We're excited to get your order to you! My fine art prints and in-stock items (like books and calendars) usually ship from the observatory within 2-3 business days.

Our branded apparel (T-shirts, caps) and some gift items are custom-made for you by our print-on-demand partners. These items can take a bit longer to create and may ship separately if I don't have them in stock.

For a full breakdown of processing times and shipping estimates, please see our complete Shipping Policy.

We want you to be 100% happy with your purchase. We gladly accept returns for most new, unopened items within 14 days of delivery.

Please note that custom-made items, like our print-on-demand apparel and special-order prints, have different return policies.

You can find all the details and start a return request on our official Return Policy page.

Yes, this is totally normal! To offer the widest range of high-quality products, we ship from different locations.

My personal astrophotography prints and in-stock books often ship directly from my observatory here in California. Our branded apparel and metal/glass prints are made-to-order and ship directly from our professional print partners. This means your T-shirt, photo print or book may arrive in different boxes.

I am so thrilled you're interested in the observatory! Because it's located on my private, residential property, it is not open to the public for visits or tours.

The whole mission of this store and my online presence is to bring the cosmos to you. The best way to "visit" is to subscribe to our newsletter where I share all the images and techniques from the dome!

You bet they are! Every deep space photograph you see on this site is 100% real, captured and processed by me from my backyard in California. These objects are thousands or even millions of light-years away, and it's my passion to bring them to life. You can learn more about the telescopes, cameras, and techniques I use in the News & Info section of our website. You can also browse through my entire image collection, and download full-resolution versions for free! Each entry in our deep space catalog is accompanied by a caption that provides a detailed account of the astronomy behind the image.

What a fantastic idea! I absolutely love hearing what people are excited about in the night sky.

While I can't make any promises—what I can image on any given night depends a lot on the season, the Moon, and the object's position—I am always open to new ideas. It's a huge universe, and it's great to know what you'd like to see me capture next.

If you have a suggestion for a target, or any other specific question, the best way to let me know is by using the form on our Contact Us page. I read every message.

Who knows, your suggestion might just become the next big print in the shop!

That's fantastic! Welcome to one of the most rewarding (and challenging!) hobbies in the world.

My passion for education is a huge reason I started this website. While I'm a one-person business and can't offer personal, one-on-one training, I'm always happy to try and answer a specific question if I can.

I'd also encourage you to check out our News & Info section, where I often post about my techniques and equipment. I'm also planning to add a lot of "how-to" videos to my YouTube channel in the future, which will cover many common beginner questions.

If you have a specific question after checking those out, feel free to send it over via our Contact Us page, and I'll do my best to point you in the right direction!