I’ve been watching space debris issues for years, and the numbers are getting scary. Everyone is talking about the Kessler Effect. Let me break this down in a way that shows just how serious this has become. Right now, tracking systems watch about 47,000 objects circling Earth – double what we saw in 2013. Here’s the really concerning part: only about 25% of these are working satellites. The rest? Just dangerous junk floating around up there. You might wonder what makes this such a big deal. Well, it comes down to something called the Kessler effect – basically a chain… Continue reading

The 2017 total solar eclipse, as seen from Clarksville Tennessee, was captured with my telescope and camera. In only a few months, on April 8, 2024, an awe-inspiring total solar eclipse will be visible from an area that spans from Mexico to Canada’s east coast. To make the most of this incredible experience, it is important to plan ahead. When the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun, a total solar eclipse occurs. People who come to the “path of totality” will see the sun gradually covered by the moon, shrinking it to a sliver and then completely… Continue reading

‍I have always been fascinated by the many mysteries of the universe, that is one of the driving reasons I became an amateur astronomer. One of the most intriguing phenomena that I have encountered is the Wolf-Rayet star. These stars are some of the most massive and luminous objects in the universe, yet they are also some of the most enigmatic. In this article, I will attempt to pass on a little of the mystery and grandeur that fascinates me so much. Introduction to Wolf-Rayet Stars Wolf-Rayet stars are a type of massive stars that are named after their discoverers,… Continue reading

I have been busy expanding my Youtube page at https://www.youtube.com/c/AllanHall creating a ton of new content in my renovated video studio. Current work includes quick start guides, product reviews, and general information/tutorials. You should come by the channel and take a look! Some of my new videos include: With a huge list of titles currently in the works you are sure to find interesting ones for you. Check them out and let me know what you think. If you have any suggestions, or a topic you would like to see covered, leave me a comment and let me know. I… Continue reading

Do you have a story, how-to, review, or just something fun to share about astronomy/astrophotography with our thousands of visitors every month? Want to tell everyone about the furry little critter that visited you at the dark site, what you think of the new version of Pixinsight, how you captured that tiny slice of a young moon, or how much fun you had the other night doing the Messier binocular challenge? Now you can! Simply visit https://allans-stuff.com/user-submissions/ and fill out the form. I will read it, and assuming it is the awesome article I know it will be, I’ll approve… Continue reading