Misty Bentz
LightNews LightNews
banner
astronomisty.bsky.social
Misty Bentz
@astronomisty.bsky.social
6K followers 470 following 2K posts
Astronomer and Professor at Georgia State University. She/Her. Big fan of black holes, cats, and cross-stitch. Seestar smart telescope enthusiast. Novice gardener with a penchant for native plants.
Posts Replies Media Videos
astronomisty.bsky.social
Sh2-142, the Wizard Nebula, and open cluster NGC 7380 are located about 8500 light years away in the direction of Cepheus. The red glowing emission nebula is primarily heated by the massive binary star system DH Cephei

5.4hrs, #Seestar S50 🔭🧪
Siril, GraXpert, Starnet, GIMP
A red glowing nebula fills the center of the frame and stands out against a black background dotted with stars. Dust lanes in the nebula make shapes that look like a pointed wizard’s cap on a head and an arm with an outstretched hand.
December 7, 2025 at 8:19 PM
astronomisty.bsky.social
A short break in the clouds allowed me to grab this glamour shot
🔭 #Seestar S50
A clear view of the nearly-full Moon
December 4, 2025 at 4:44 AM
astronomisty.bsky.social
Kind of mesmerizing to watch the clouds drift by 🔭
December 4, 2025 at 2:52 AM
astronomisty.bsky.social
The sky conditions are Not Great for observing tonight 🔭
A full moon behind moderate layers of cloud cover. The tops of a few trees are visible around the bottom and right edges of the image
December 4, 2025 at 2:52 AM
astronomisty.bsky.social
I have exceeded my limit and I just can’t anymore today. Even so, I wanted to share this pretty image of NGC 281, the Pacman Nebula. It’s about 9000 light years away in the direction of Cassiopeia.

5.3 hrs, #Seestar S50 from N. Atlanta suburbs 🔭 🧪
Siril, GraXpert, Starnet, GIMP
A glowing red nebula that somewhat resembles the shape of Pacman, the video game character, is centered on a black background dotted with stars. Dark regions of dust block out the light from the nebula in its center-left region and in a compact blob near the center. Bright blue young stars are clustered within and around the nebula.
December 3, 2025 at 12:35 AM
astronomisty.bsky.social
I stitched a pattern like that some time ago 😂
Finished and framed cross stitch on white fabric that says: Warning This is proof I have the patience to stab something 10,000 times Blue flowers with green leaves are stitched around the words and a tasteful little skull is included in the design.
December 1, 2025 at 12:14 AM
astronomisty.bsky.social
It’s the last day of Nov and we have already had freezing temperatures overnight a few times, but my Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii) is still happily blooming! 🌱 🌺 #nativeplants
More info re. this SE native: www.wildflower.org/plants/resul...
A small shrub with large dark green leaves and small bright red flowers that resemble the shape of a turban
November 30, 2025 at 4:14 PM
astronomisty.bsky.social
Stabby stabby 🧶
Very close shot of stitches on white aida fabric
November 30, 2025 at 1:44 AM
astronomisty.bsky.social
My first attempt with IC 1805, the Heart Nebula, which is about 7500 light years away in the direction of Cassiopeia. Open cluster Melotte 15 at its center contains young stars that are heating the surrounding gas and causing it to glow.

4.1hrs, #Seestar S50 🔭 🧪
Siril, GraXpert, Starnet, GIMP
Centerd on a black background dotted with stars is a red nebula that looks like the outline of a lopsided heart shape on its side, with one lobe larger than the other. A knot of gas and bright blue stars is at its center, and another knot of gas and dust is at its base.
November 29, 2025 at 5:19 PM
astronomisty.bsky.social
Setting up the #Seestar 🔭 and I’m reminded how much I love the effect of the streetlamp on this particular beech tree in the fall
A beech tree with yellow and oraange leaves still clinging to the branches, lit up by a nearby streetlight with dusky sky and bare trees in the background
November 27, 2025 at 10:59 PM
astronomisty.bsky.social
In between rounds of stuffing yourself silly, please enjoy SH 2-157, the Lobster Claw Nebula 🦞
Associated with the young star-forming region Cassiopeia OB2, it’s located about 7000 light years away in the Perseus arm of our Milky Way galaxy.

7.4hrs, #Seestar S50 🔭 🧪
Siril, GraXpert, GIMP, Starnet
Centered on a black background dotted with stars is a red emission nebula shaped rather like a lobster claw
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 PM
astronomisty.bsky.social
Happy Thanksgiving from us to you!
A zygocactus with numerous pink buds and a few full salmon-colored blooms
November 27, 2025 at 2:32 PM
astronomisty.bsky.social
I might not wait until tomorrow to cut into this plum frangipane tart!
It’s just for the two of us and my husband is not a dessert fan anyway, so…
Plum frangipane tart before baking Plum frangipane tart after baking
November 26, 2025 at 9:27 PM
astronomisty.bsky.social
Some progress 🧶 #crossstitch
Cross stitch and embroidery on white sparkly aida cloth. The pattern is on the diagonal, with two bands of cross stitch interspersed with two bands of embroidery. The color starts with light pink and shifts through dark pink to dark orange and then medium orange. The cross stitch motifs are botanical related and the embroidery is lace-like.
November 26, 2025 at 6:11 PM
astronomisty.bsky.social
Some beautiful lava fountains right now! 🌋
screenshot of a lava fountains from the Kilauea web cam
November 26, 2025 at 3:51 AM
astronomisty.bsky.social
All kitties are the cutest kitties 🥰
Coco, a dark gray kitty with golden eyes and a black nose, is peeking out of a tan-colored covered cat bed Scotch, a white and tan kitty with a pink nose, is cuddled up in a light green blanket with soft lighting behind him
November 24, 2025 at 10:39 PM
astronomisty.bsky.social
Good evening Luna
View of a thin crescent moon at dusk through tree branches that are nearly bare for the winter
November 23, 2025 at 11:06 PM
astronomisty.bsky.social
Little friend helped me with a small project in the garden today. 🌱 #bugsky
A green katydid on a black railing
November 22, 2025 at 10:11 PM
astronomisty.bsky.social
Sh 2-188, sometimes called the Shrimp Nebula, is an ancient planetary nebula in Cassiopeia. It appears lopsided because the central star is moving very fast in the direction of the bright arc, compressing & further heating the gas on that side.

5hrs, #Seestar S50 🔭 🧪
Siril, GraXpert, Starnet, GIMP
A small reddish nebula that is curved in nearly a semicircle and somewhat resembles a cooked shrimp is centered on a black background dotted with stars.
November 21, 2025 at 12:53 AM
astronomisty.bsky.social
Sh 2-140 is about 3000 light years away in the direction of Cepheus. An emission nebula, it is heated by young stars. The sharp edge along the bottom of the nebula marks a dark molecular cloud where new stars are forming.

8.2hrs, #Seestar S50 🔭 🧪
Siril, GraXpert, Starnet, GIMP
A pink glowing nebula is centered on a black background dotted with stars. The nebula is sail shaped and has a bright sharp edge along the bottom. Several bright blue stars are embedded in the glowing gas.
November 18, 2025 at 12:21 AM
astronomisty.bsky.social
Most of my garden is going to sleep for the winter, but this sunny little coneflower isn’t quite ready yet! 🌱🌺#bloomscrolling
A perfect orange coneflower with petals that deepen to red at the center where they meet the green cone. Another coneflower blossom is nearby with a larger cone and paler orange petals.
November 16, 2025 at 11:46 PM
astronomisty.bsky.social
Here's a cleaned up image of C/2025 K1 ATLAS 🔭🧪
I was only able to get ~25min before sunrise, but it's a good thing I woke up at 5:30 so I could be sure to see this comet before it heads back to the outer solar system.
#Seestar S50
Software: Siril, GraXpert, Starnet, GIMP
A small golden colored comet is visible against a black background dotted with stars.
November 15, 2025 at 11:25 PM
astronomisty.bsky.social
Not sure why I’m awake, but might as well look at this comet!
C/2025 K1 ATLAS
Apparently this “the other ATLAS”, a new comet from the Oort Cloud making its first (and perhaps only) trip through the inner solar system. 🔭 🧪 #Seestar S50
A small comet with a faint tail appears on a dark background dotted with stars
November 15, 2025 at 11:38 AM
astronomisty.bsky.social
Decided to drive to a darker location with my friend and this was the best we saw tonight. 11:30pm at Allatoona Lake, GA #aurora #northernlights
A blue night sky with a slight wash of pink near the horizon.
November 13, 2025 at 5:56 AM
astronomisty.bsky.social
It’s past my bedtime, so this is the best I’m going to see tonight
12:00am Sandy Springs, GA
#aurora #NorthernLights
Red auroral glow to the north behind several trees, with a blue night sky dotted with stars above
November 12, 2025 at 5:28 AM