In this month’s edition of Stellar People, we had the privilege of interviewing avid amateur astronomer and astro-imager Ethan Dugar. As an SV refractor owner, Ethan takes pride in his imaging abilities and shares a great deal of exciting content with the astro-community. We recently began taking notice of his online presence, as well as his quality images and even received some of his eclipse photos, when he entered them into our contest. Needless to say, we wanted to know more about Ethan and his background in astronomy. With that, let's get right into his story.

Ever since Ethan was a kid, the night sky always held a special place in his heart. He was mesmerized by the stars, and everything related to space. When he was younger, his parents gave him a small Newtonian telescope, a gift that would ignite a lifelong passion. “One memorable night, my dad and I set up the telescope in our backyard, aiming it at what we thought was just a bright star. To our amazement, once we got it in focus, Saturn’s rings came into view, leaving us utterly speechless. That magical moment sparked a sense of wonder that has stayed with me ever since. Unfortunately, that telescope is long gone, and it wasn’t for another 20 years before I picked up another one.” Living out in the country, Ethan often found himself sitting on his porch, gazing up at the night sky, mesmerized by the glow of the Milky Way stretching above. One clear night in September 2022, the idea struck him to dig out an old DSLR camera he had bought from his brother years ago. It had been collecting dust in the closet, but that night, armed with just the kit lens, he started snapping away at the stars. “From that moment on, I was captivated. The ability to capture the beauty of the night sky with my own hands ignited a passion for astro-imaging that has only grown stronger.”

Ethan went on to say that “Initially, the appeal of imaging the night sky existed in the fact that many stellar objects could be captured with relatively simple gear. The more I explored, the more fascinated I became with the possibilities. This curiosity soon led me to invest in a star tracker for longer exposures and a popular 60mm doublet refractor, which provided better reach and image quality compared to my kit lenses.” One of the most exciting aspects of astro-imaging for Ethan early on was sharing his images with his family and close friends. As he gained more confidence, he started sharing his images on Instagram. This platform not only made it easier to share with his loved ones, but also introduced him to a larger audience and a vibrant community of fellow enthusiasts. 

While it was Ethan’s childhood fascination with stars and eventually pursuing a career in aerospace engineering, that laid the foundation for his interest in astro-imaging; it was discovering Nico Carver, Cuiv, and Luke Newbould, among many others on YouTube that opened his eyes to the hobby and taught him everything he needed to get started.

In regard to the thoughts or feelings that accompany him when taking or processing images, Ethan explained the following. “When I’m out taking images of the night sky, a sense of calm and wonder washes over me. Several years ago, my wife was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease that turned our lives upside down. This hobby has been a form of therapy, helping me put my life and family situation into perspective. There’s something profoundly humbling about capturing the beauty and vastness of the universe. It is incredibly rewarding.”

“As a relative newcomer to the hobby, I find joy in imaging a wide variety of objects. Each target holds its own unique charm, and I’m still in the exploratory phase, with every imaging session being a bit of an adventure. In the future, once I’ve upgraded my DSLR to a dedicated mono setup, I’d like to spend time capturing lesser-known or never-imaged objects. The works of Jon Talbot, Bray Falls, Peter Goodhew, Marcel Dreschler, Xavier Strottner and Yann Sainty are a huge inspiration.”

The images Ethan is most proud of are his eclipse photographs. “Capturing an eclipse requires meticulous planning and a deep understanding of imaging techniques. I spent countless hours over several months preparing, learning every detail I could about imaging and processing. The effort paid off when one of my composite images was selected as a Picture of the Month in BBC Sky at Night’s Gallery pages for their June issue, and I validated the hard work and dedication I put into my eclipse photography, making them my most cherished images to date.”

Regarding his favorite astro-imagers, Ethan draws inspiration from the work of countless seasoned veterans and emerging talents. “Each artist brings their unique perspective and creativity to the craft. There’s a wealth of talent and diversity that constantly motivates me. I’m continually awed by the dedication, skill and passion exhibited by others, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow alongside this vibrant community.” 

Ethan’s interest in astro-imaging isn’t tied to a single telescope but rather to the fascinating world of astronomical gear as a whole. “I’m equally captivated by the intricacies of telescopes, including their designs and the physics that make them work. The way different optical designs, such as refractors and reflectors, manipulate light to produce clear, detailed images is fascinating. Understanding how elements like lenses, mirrors and coatings come together to enhance image quality, depends on my appreciation for the craftsmanship involved.”

Ethan first discovered Stellarvue, not long after diving into the hobby. I knew that eventually, I wanted to upgrade my basic equipment to the highest quality I could afford, and I also wanted something made and well-supported in the US. This limited my options, as many high-end manufacturers were either out of my price range or had long waitlists. Stellarvue offered the same level of quality as these top-tier manufacturers, but at a more attainable price. The first night out after receiving my “new to me” SV80-ST2, I knew it was something special. I hopped between different targets spending about an hour on each, and when I processed the images the next day, the improvement was undeniable. Everything from field flatness and illumination to color accuracy was drastically better. In fact, most of those one-hour images surpassed all of my previous work, confirming that I had made the right choice.”

As a beginner in the world of astro-imaging, Ethan is constantly amazed by how much there is to learn and explore. “Although I’m relatively new to the hobby, I’ve been fortunate to have access to a wealth of resources and support networks that have accelerated my learning curve. Platforms like YouTube, social media and online forums have been invaluable, providing a vast repository of tutorials, guides and advice from imagers around the globe. This accessibility has allowed me to quickly grasp the fundamentals, from equipment setup to image processing. However, I recognize that true expertise comes with time and hands-on experience. Each imaging session is an opportunity to expand my skills and knowledge, and I approach it with a sense of curiosity and excitement, knowing there’s always something new to discover and refine.”

Ethan’s biggest piece of advice for those starting out in astro-imaging, is “to be persistent and patient.” “Astrophotography is a rewarding but challenging pursuit, with a steep learning curve that can sometimes feel overwhelming. It’s easy to get discouraged, especially when hours of meticulous planning and data capturing are thwarted by unexpected mistakes or mishaps. Weather conditions and life commitments can also limit imaging opportunities, adding to the frustration. However, perseverance is key. Embrace each setback as a chance to learn and improve. Take the time to understand your equipment, master the fundamentals of image acquisition and processing, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques.”

“One of the most exciting aspects of my astro-imaging journey has been the gradual automation of my setup. Given that I work nights about two hours away from my home, being able to run my rig remotely has been a game-changer. To achieve this, I’ve invested in a Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Advance Gen2 to manage both power and data with remote switching. Additionally, I’ve added a wanderer Astro motorized flat panel into my setup. This has automated the process of capturing flat frames, which are essential for correcting vignetting and dust spots in my images. Automating my setup has not only made the process more convenient but has also allowed me to make the most of every clear night. However, I’m still at the mercy of the weather, which means I often have to take down and set up my equipment as needed. My dream is to one day build a small slide-off roof observatory to permanently house my setup.

We are very grateful for the chance to cover Ethan’s story, as he is an up and comer with a great deal of talent. The time and energy it has taken him to build his skill set is very apparent and only scratches the surface of his potential as an imager. We look forward to seeing more of his work in the future and are certain he will thrive in his endeavors. We hope our audience enjoyed reading about his passion for the hobby as much as we did and encourage those reading this to go give him a follow @rural_astro on Instagram. There you can see his fantastic images and the positive energy he brings to the community. Until next time, keep looking up and clear skies!