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Today, we’d like to introduce you to David Joyce, a self-taught astrophotographer from Lexington, Kentucky, known as 'AstroDavido' on Instagram. He captures the universe from his own backyard, working under light-polluted suburban skies. Despite the conditions, he has photographed galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and planets, some of them millions of light-years away. 

Each image is created by stacking hours of exposures taken over many nights. The Andromeda Galaxy alone is 2.5 million light-years away, and its light left before humans existed. A few of David’s images took more than 50 hours of total exposure to capture.

The photographer shared with Bored Panda that what he loves most about astrophotography is that you don’t need to leave your yard to see the universe. Below, you can see some of David’s best images, which he hopes will “make you look up.” 

More info: astrodavido.com | Instagram

#1

Caldwell 49 - The Rosette Nebula

Astrophotography of a blue and orange nebula with bright stars in Kentucky backyard

astro_davido Report

Sven Horlemann
Community Member
1 month ago

That's impressive.

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    #2

    M31 - The Andromeda Galaxy

    Astrophotography of Andromeda galaxy shining with stars from Kentucky backyard

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    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago

    Absolutely stunning!

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    #3

    Ctb1/Abell 85 - The Garlic Nebula

    Vibrant red and blue backyard astrophotography of a large space nebula

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    Cooper Aimers
    Community Member
    1 month ago

    is there by any chance a bread nebula?

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    #4

    Ngc7380 - The Wizard Nebula

    Colorful astrophotography of a nebula captured in backyard astrophotography

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    #5

    M92 - Globular Cluster In Hercules

    Stunning astrophotography of a bright star cluster taken from Kentucky backyard

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    #6

    M104 - The Sombrero Galaxy

    Astrophotography of galaxy captured from Kentucky backyard

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    NonBinaryBard
    Community Member
    1 month ago

    One of my favourites

    #7

    Sh2115 W/ Abell 71

    Backyard astrophotography showing a vibrant star field and nebula in Kentucky

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    #8

    Ngc6960 - The Witch's Broom Nebula

    Vibrant astrophotos of nebula with blue and red gaseous filaments in starry night sky

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    Cooper Aimers
    Community Member
    1 month ago

    "your a wizard harry"

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    #9

    The Sun In Hydrogen Alpha

    High-resolution sun astrophotography with solar activity

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    Sven Horlemann
    Community Member
    1 month ago

    Hot take 😎

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    #10

    The Moon @ 67% With Regulus

    Detailed moon astrophotography from Kentucky backyard

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    1 month ago

    Regulus is the name of the star visible away from the upper right of the moon. 'I decided to give the moon another go last night and tried for some earthshine photos as well but that didn’t work out. While taking my images, I noticed a bright star in the field and had to look it up to find that it was Regulus, one of the brightest stars in the night sky. ' Link follows.

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    #11

    Ngc2264 - The Cone Nebula/Christmas Tree Cluster

    Detailed view of red and blue nebula in Kentucky backyard astrophotos

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    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago

    Lovely.

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    #12

    M8 - The Lagoon Nebula

    Blue and red nebula astrophotography with stars captured from Kentucky backyard

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    #13

    Moon - 10/12/25

    Lunar surface close-up captured in stunning backyard astrophotography in Kentucky

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    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago

    Such detail!

    #14

    Ngc6888 - The Crescent Nebula

    Astrophotography of a colorful nebula captured from backyard in Kentucky

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    #15

    M17 - The Swan Nebula / Omega Nebula

    Kentucky backyard astrophotography showing a vibrant red and blue nebula cluster

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    #16

    Ngc6543 - The Cat's Eye Nebula

    Astrophotos showing bright star surrounded by faint blue nebula and scattered stars

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    #17

    M101 - The Pinwheel Galaxy

    Detailed spiral galaxy captured in stunning astrophotos from Kentucky backyard

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    #18

    Ngc1499 - Closeup Of The California Nebula

    Close-up of red hydrogen nebula in astrophotos taken from Kentucky backyard

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    #19

    Sh2-170 - The Little Rosette Nebula

    Red emission nebula captured in stunning astrophotos from Kentucky backyard

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    #20

    Jupiter W/ Io & Europa

    Detailed backyard astrophotography of planet Jupiter with visible cloud bands

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    #21

    Saturn W/ Dione & Titan

    Backyard astrophotography of Saturn with visible rings and moons in Kentucky

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    #22

    M95 - Barred Spiral Galaxy In Leo

    Spiral galaxy with bright center in astrophotos taken from Kentucky backyard

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    #23

    M82 - The Cigar Galaxy

    Galaxy with red core surrounded by stars in astrophotos from Kentucky backyard

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    #24

    Sh2-114 - The Flying Dragon Nebula

    Red nebula detailed astrophotography captured from Kentucky backyard at night

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    Multa Nocte (she/her 8647)
    Community Member
    Premium
    1 month ago

    I do indeed see a flying dragon!

    #25

    Sh2-54 - The Serpent Nebula

    Red nebula with dense star clusters captured in breathtaking astrophotos from backyard

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    #26

    M12 - The Gumball Globular Cluster

    Star cluster astrophotography from Kentucky backyard

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    #27

    M57 - The Ring Nebula

    Detailed astrophotos of planetary nebula taken from Kentucky backyard

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    #28

    The Sun In Hydrogen Alpha

    Close-up sun astrophotography showing solar prominences

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    NonBinaryBard
    Community Member
    1 month ago

    This is now my new favourite lens

    #29

    Jupiter W/ Io & Europa

    High-resolution backyard astrophotography of Jupiter with visible moon shadows

    astro_davido Report