Astrophotography · Hampshire, UK
The Universe from
My Garden
Exploring the cosmos one photon at a time, from beneath the ancient oaks of the New Forest.
Explore the GalleryAbout
Astrophotography from the New Forest
I'm Thom, an astrophotographer based in Hampshire's New Forest — one of southern England's finest dark‑sky locations. From my Bortle 4 observing site, the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye on clear nights, revealing a depth of sky that few expect to find from a garden in the south of England.
Using DWARF smart telescopes, I capture deep‑sky objects far beyond human vision — distant galaxies millions of light‑years away, glowing supernova remnants, and vast stellar nurseries where new stars are born. My images are captured and processed using DWARFLAB Stellar Studio and Apple Photos.
My work is driven by a passion for connecting ancient astronomical curiosity with modern night‑sky imaging. I aim to show that uncovering the hidden structure of the universe doesn't require a large observatory — just clear skies, patience, and a smart telescope.
Equipment
Smart Telescope Equipment
Compact smart telescope technology making deep-sky imaging accessible from a garden in the New Forest.
DWARF 3
Smart telescope with automated goto, EQ tracking, plate solving, and in-app stacking. 35mm aperture, f/4.3, Sony IMX678 sensor. Three built-in filters: VIS (430–650nm), Astro (430–690nm), and Dual-Band (Hα/Hβ/OIII). Mosaic mode for wide-field captures.
Want to see the universe from your garden? Pick up the DWARF 3 here — the same telescope behind every image in this gallery.
Get the DWARF 3 →
DWARF Mini
Ultra-portable smart telescope weighing just 840g. 30mm aperture, f/5, Sony IMX662 sensor, 1,016mm equivalent focal length. Three built-in filters: Dark-Frame (auto darks), Astro (430–690nm), and Dual-Band (Hα/Hβ/OIII). EQ tracking mode included.
Want a grab-and-go smart scope you can take anywhere? The DWARF Mini delivers impressive results in a genuinely pocket-sized package.
Get the DWARF Mini →
GoPro Hero 12
Time-lapse sequences and star trail photography. Capturing the movement of the night sky over hours from the garden.
Akaso Seemore 200
Thermal camera for infrared viewing of the night sky. Revealing heat signatures and a different perspective on the world above.
Processing
Image stacking and starless processing in DWARFLAB Stellar Studio, with final colour and contrast adjustments in Apple Photos.
New Forest, Hampshire
Imaging from a Bortle 4 site in the heart of the New Forest. Dark enough for the Milky Way, yet accessible enough to image from the garden on any clear night.
Gallery
Deep Sky Image Gallery
Two telescopes, one dark sky. See how the DWARF 3 and DWARF Mini each render the cosmos from the New Forest.
DWARF 3
Deep Sky with the DWARF 3
35mm aperture · f/4.3 · 150mm focal length · EQ tracking · VIS / Astro / Dual-Band filters
The workhorse of the setup. Long integration sessions, narrowband capability, and equatorial tracking make this the go-to for faint nebulae and galaxies from Bortle 4.
DWARF Mini
Grab & Go with the DWARF Mini
30mm aperture · f/5 · 150mm focal length · EQ tracking · Dark-Frame / Astro / Dual-Band filters
The portable companion. Lighter, faster to set up, and ideal for widefield targets and brighter objects. A different perspective on the same dark sky.
Latest from Instagram
Fresh from the Garden
The latest captures, posted as they happen.
Connect
Follow the journey across the night sky
New captures posted regularly. Come along for the ride through the cosmos.