Rich Wilbourn
@astrorich.bsky.social
Retired project manager living in Houston, Texas. Nature photographer, amateur astronomer, birder, music lover, movie fan, animal lover, Progressive in a Red State, happily married, grandfather.
All photos are my own unless otherwise stated.
All photos are my own unless otherwise stated.
The Bubble Nebula
10,000 light years away in the constellation Cassiopeia.
#stars #nebula #astrophotography
10,000 light years away in the constellation Cassiopeia.
#stars #nebula #astrophotography
October 28, 2025 at 5:06 PM
The Bubble Nebula
10,000 light years away in the constellation Cassiopeia.
#stars #nebula #astrophotography
10,000 light years away in the constellation Cassiopeia.
#stars #nebula #astrophotography
Announcing the discovery of the Possum Nebula tucked in between the North America and Pelican nebula. The search is on for the Raccoon Nebula. #stars #humor #milkyway #funny #astronomy
September 14, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Announcing the discovery of the Possum Nebula tucked in between the North America and Pelican nebula. The search is on for the Raccoon Nebula. #stars #humor #milkyway #funny #astronomy
The Iris Nebula
A blue reflection nebula surrounded by dark nebula in the northern Milky Way. I shot 80 five minute exposures over two nights under dark skies to capture this beautiful portion of our galaxy.
#stars #space #nebula #astrophotography
A blue reflection nebula surrounded by dark nebula in the northern Milky Way. I shot 80 five minute exposures over two nights under dark skies to capture this beautiful portion of our galaxy.
#stars #space #nebula #astrophotography
July 29, 2025 at 11:09 PM
The Iris Nebula
A blue reflection nebula surrounded by dark nebula in the northern Milky Way. I shot 80 five minute exposures over two nights under dark skies to capture this beautiful portion of our galaxy.
#stars #space #nebula #astrophotography
A blue reflection nebula surrounded by dark nebula in the northern Milky Way. I shot 80 five minute exposures over two nights under dark skies to capture this beautiful portion of our galaxy.
#stars #space #nebula #astrophotography
The Eastern Veil Nebula.
Part of a supernova that exploded thousands of years ago in the constellation Cygnus. In this false-color image, red shows hydrogen gas and green/blue shows oxygen.
#stars #astrophotography #nebula #veilnebula #space
Part of a supernova that exploded thousands of years ago in the constellation Cygnus. In this false-color image, red shows hydrogen gas and green/blue shows oxygen.
#stars #astrophotography #nebula #veilnebula #space
July 28, 2025 at 9:42 PM
The Eastern Veil Nebula.
Part of a supernova that exploded thousands of years ago in the constellation Cygnus. In this false-color image, red shows hydrogen gas and green/blue shows oxygen.
#stars #astrophotography #nebula #veilnebula #space
Part of a supernova that exploded thousands of years ago in the constellation Cygnus. In this false-color image, red shows hydrogen gas and green/blue shows oxygen.
#stars #astrophotography #nebula #veilnebula #space
Rho Ophiuchi
This region of the summer Milky Way has it all - red emission nebula, blue reflection nebula, dark nebula and a globular cluster. 2 1/2 hours of total integration time. Five minute exposures.
#stars #nebula #astrophotography #milkyway #rhoophiuchi
This region of the summer Milky Way has it all - red emission nebula, blue reflection nebula, dark nebula and a globular cluster. 2 1/2 hours of total integration time. Five minute exposures.
#stars #nebula #astrophotography #milkyway #rhoophiuchi
June 30, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Rho Ophiuchi
This region of the summer Milky Way has it all - red emission nebula, blue reflection nebula, dark nebula and a globular cluster. 2 1/2 hours of total integration time. Five minute exposures.
#stars #nebula #astrophotography #milkyway #rhoophiuchi
This region of the summer Milky Way has it all - red emission nebula, blue reflection nebula, dark nebula and a globular cluster. 2 1/2 hours of total integration time. Five minute exposures.
#stars #nebula #astrophotography #milkyway #rhoophiuchi
Storm
A few more dramatic images of storm clouds from my astrophotography trip to the Texas Hill Country a while back. Sometimes the most beautiful “nebula” are closer to Earth.
#photography #storms #clouds #nature #thumderstorms
A few more dramatic images of storm clouds from my astrophotography trip to the Texas Hill Country a while back. Sometimes the most beautiful “nebula” are closer to Earth.
#photography #storms #clouds #nature #thumderstorms
June 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Storm
A few more dramatic images of storm clouds from my astrophotography trip to the Texas Hill Country a while back. Sometimes the most beautiful “nebula” are closer to Earth.
#photography #storms #clouds #nature #thumderstorms
A few more dramatic images of storm clouds from my astrophotography trip to the Texas Hill Country a while back. Sometimes the most beautiful “nebula” are closer to Earth.
#photography #storms #clouds #nature #thumderstorms
Hill Country Storm
An astrophotography trip last year began with a spectacular thunderstorm. We even spotted a small tornado that formed briefly.
#photography #nature #storms #lightening
An astrophotography trip last year began with a spectacular thunderstorm. We even spotted a small tornado that formed briefly.
#photography #nature #storms #lightening
June 8, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Hill Country Storm
An astrophotography trip last year began with a spectacular thunderstorm. We even spotted a small tornado that formed briefly.
#photography #nature #storms #lightening
An astrophotography trip last year began with a spectacular thunderstorm. We even spotted a small tornado that formed briefly.
#photography #nature #storms #lightening
New Wings
Here’s one of the great blue heron chicks from earlier this year testing out his new wings.
#birds #photography #greatblueheron #nature
Here’s one of the great blue heron chicks from earlier this year testing out his new wings.
#birds #photography #greatblueheron #nature
June 4, 2025 at 9:40 PM
New Wings
Here’s one of the great blue heron chicks from earlier this year testing out his new wings.
#birds #photography #greatblueheron #nature
Here’s one of the great blue heron chicks from earlier this year testing out his new wings.
#birds #photography #greatblueheron #nature
The Needle Galaxy NGC4565
A dramatic and beautiful edge-on galaxy at roughly 40 million light years distance. Note the other galaxies nearby.
#stars #astrophotography #galaxies
A dramatic and beautiful edge-on galaxy at roughly 40 million light years distance. Note the other galaxies nearby.
#stars #astrophotography #galaxies
April 24, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The Needle Galaxy NGC4565
A dramatic and beautiful edge-on galaxy at roughly 40 million light years distance. Note the other galaxies nearby.
#stars #astrophotography #galaxies
A dramatic and beautiful edge-on galaxy at roughly 40 million light years distance. Note the other galaxies nearby.
#stars #astrophotography #galaxies
The Orion Nebula
I created this image from 103 ten second exposures (about 17 minutes total).
#stars #astrophotography #Orion #photography
I created this image from 103 ten second exposures (about 17 minutes total).
#stars #astrophotography #Orion #photography
April 18, 2025 at 8:18 PM
The Orion Nebula
I created this image from 103 ten second exposures (about 17 minutes total).
#stars #astrophotography #Orion #photography
I created this image from 103 ten second exposures (about 17 minutes total).
#stars #astrophotography #Orion #photography
Ancient Starlight
While processing my picture of the three galaxies in Leo, I spotted a couple of small, fuzzy objects that are other galaxies. To my surprise, the one labeled IC2729 is documented at a distance of 1.06 BILLION light years!
#stars #astrophotography #galaxies
While processing my picture of the three galaxies in Leo, I spotted a couple of small, fuzzy objects that are other galaxies. To my surprise, the one labeled IC2729 is documented at a distance of 1.06 BILLION light years!
#stars #astrophotography #galaxies
April 3, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Ancient Starlight
While processing my picture of the three galaxies in Leo, I spotted a couple of small, fuzzy objects that are other galaxies. To my surprise, the one labeled IC2729 is documented at a distance of 1.06 BILLION light years!
#stars #astrophotography #galaxies
While processing my picture of the three galaxies in Leo, I spotted a couple of small, fuzzy objects that are other galaxies. To my surprise, the one labeled IC2729 is documented at a distance of 1.06 BILLION light years!
#stars #astrophotography #galaxies
Three Galaxies in Leo
M65, M66 and NGC3628. Approximately 35 million light years away.
#stars #astrophotography #galaxies
M65, M66 and NGC3628. Approximately 35 million light years away.
#stars #astrophotography #galaxies
April 2, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Three Galaxies in Leo
M65, M66 and NGC3628. Approximately 35 million light years away.
#stars #astrophotography #galaxies
M65, M66 and NGC3628. Approximately 35 million light years away.
#stars #astrophotography #galaxies
Snowy Egret Gaze
The herons and egrets put on a tremendous amount of showy feathers during mating season which makes them really fun to photograph. #birds #wildlifephotography #outdoor #egrets
The herons and egrets put on a tremendous amount of showy feathers during mating season which makes them really fun to photograph. #birds #wildlifephotography #outdoor #egrets
April 1, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Snowy Egret Gaze
The herons and egrets put on a tremendous amount of showy feathers during mating season which makes them really fun to photograph. #birds #wildlifephotography #outdoor #egrets
The herons and egrets put on a tremendous amount of showy feathers during mating season which makes them really fun to photograph. #birds #wildlifephotography #outdoor #egrets
Galaxy M83
15 million light years away in the constellation Hydra. A rotating mass of 40 billion stars and billions of planets essentially quarantined from us due to sheer distance. Is anyone or anything looking back?
#stars #astrophotography #astronomy
15 million light years away in the constellation Hydra. A rotating mass of 40 billion stars and billions of planets essentially quarantined from us due to sheer distance. Is anyone or anything looking back?
#stars #astrophotography #astronomy
March 30, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Galaxy M83
15 million light years away in the constellation Hydra. A rotating mass of 40 billion stars and billions of planets essentially quarantined from us due to sheer distance. Is anyone or anything looking back?
#stars #astrophotography #astronomy
15 million light years away in the constellation Hydra. A rotating mass of 40 billion stars and billions of planets essentially quarantined from us due to sheer distance. Is anyone or anything looking back?
#stars #astrophotography #astronomy
Flying Solo
A lone roseate spoonbill returning to its nest as a foggy twilight closes in. Taken at the Houston Audubon Smith Oaks Rookery at High Island, Texas.
#birds #photography #wildlifephotography
A lone roseate spoonbill returning to its nest as a foggy twilight closes in. Taken at the Houston Audubon Smith Oaks Rookery at High Island, Texas.
#birds #photography #wildlifephotography
March 19, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Flying Solo
A lone roseate spoonbill returning to its nest as a foggy twilight closes in. Taken at the Houston Audubon Smith Oaks Rookery at High Island, Texas.
#birds #photography #wildlifephotography
A lone roseate spoonbill returning to its nest as a foggy twilight closes in. Taken at the Houston Audubon Smith Oaks Rookery at High Island, Texas.
#birds #photography #wildlifephotography
March 14, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Cantankerous Spoonbills
There’s always a dispute among the spoonbills during nesting season. Prime locations are in short supply as are sticks and other building materials. Somehow it all works out.
#birds #wildlifephotography #nature #highislandtexas
There’s always a dispute among the spoonbills during nesting season. Prime locations are in short supply as are sticks and other building materials. Somehow it all works out.
#birds #wildlifephotography #nature #highislandtexas
March 10, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Cantankerous Spoonbills
There’s always a dispute among the spoonbills during nesting season. Prime locations are in short supply as are sticks and other building materials. Somehow it all works out.
#birds #wildlifephotography #nature #highislandtexas
There’s always a dispute among the spoonbills during nesting season. Prime locations are in short supply as are sticks and other building materials. Somehow it all works out.
#birds #wildlifephotography #nature #highislandtexas
Mating Season is Here
A pair of great white egrets show off their mating feathers. Already paired up, they’re working on their nest where a couple of turquoise colored eggs will turn into a set of fuzzy dinosaur-like chicks,
#birds #wildlifephotography #photography #nature
A pair of great white egrets show off their mating feathers. Already paired up, they’re working on their nest where a couple of turquoise colored eggs will turn into a set of fuzzy dinosaur-like chicks,
#birds #wildlifephotography #photography #nature
March 10, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Mating Season is Here
A pair of great white egrets show off their mating feathers. Already paired up, they’re working on their nest where a couple of turquoise colored eggs will turn into a set of fuzzy dinosaur-like chicks,
#birds #wildlifephotography #photography #nature
A pair of great white egrets show off their mating feathers. Already paired up, they’re working on their nest where a couple of turquoise colored eggs will turn into a set of fuzzy dinosaur-like chicks,
#birds #wildlifephotography #photography #nature
The Rookery
One of my favorite places to see wildlife on the Texas Gulf Coast - the Houston Audubon Society’s Smith Oaks Rookery at High Island. The white ones are great egrets. There are plenty of roseate spoonbills and cormorants too. Sound ON for this one.
#birds #wildlifephotography
One of my favorite places to see wildlife on the Texas Gulf Coast - the Houston Audubon Society’s Smith Oaks Rookery at High Island. The white ones are great egrets. There are plenty of roseate spoonbills and cormorants too. Sound ON for this one.
#birds #wildlifephotography
March 10, 2025 at 3:04 PM
The Rookery
One of my favorite places to see wildlife on the Texas Gulf Coast - the Houston Audubon Society’s Smith Oaks Rookery at High Island. The white ones are great egrets. There are plenty of roseate spoonbills and cormorants too. Sound ON for this one.
#birds #wildlifephotography
One of my favorite places to see wildlife on the Texas Gulf Coast - the Houston Audubon Society’s Smith Oaks Rookery at High Island. The white ones are great egrets. There are plenty of roseate spoonbills and cormorants too. Sound ON for this one.
#birds #wildlifephotography
The Veil Nebula in Cygnus
Part of an arc of gas that’s the remnant of an exploded star. 1500 to 2500 light years away.
#stars #astrophotography #photography #milkyway #nebula #astronomy
Part of an arc of gas that’s the remnant of an exploded star. 1500 to 2500 light years away.
#stars #astrophotography #photography #milkyway #nebula #astronomy
February 25, 2025 at 11:29 PM
The Veil Nebula in Cygnus
Part of an arc of gas that’s the remnant of an exploded star. 1500 to 2500 light years away.
#stars #astrophotography #photography #milkyway #nebula #astronomy
Part of an arc of gas that’s the remnant of an exploded star. 1500 to 2500 light years away.
#stars #astrophotography #photography #milkyway #nebula #astronomy
Happy Valentines Day
#birds #photography #wildlifephotography #nature #greatblueherons #herons #valentinesday
#birds #photography #wildlifephotography #nature #greatblueherons #herons #valentinesday
February 14, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Happy Valentines Day
#birds #photography #wildlifephotography #nature #greatblueherons #herons #valentinesday
#birds #photography #wildlifephotography #nature #greatblueherons #herons #valentinesday