When your father is a quantum physicist who specializes in optics, it is not surprising that life will be filled with curiosity and an affinity for the technical. For Sonoita’s Mike King, his father’s inspiration and his own self-described “nerdiness” has led him to the illuminating field of astrophotography—that is, photographing objects in the night sky.
“I collect hobbies,” he explained. By age 11 King was programming computers; by age 14 he was a licensed ham radio operator. He has had a life-long love for photography, shooting often in black and white and developing his own photos prior to moving to digital cameras. His dad, meanwhile, when away from his day job, found pleasure in taking pictures of the night sky. King began to do the same, and this hobby has turned into a passion.
Today, King’s work can be found on Facebook, opening up the heavens to all. “I just want to share these wonders,” he said. “I want to boost people’s interests. When you can see just a little more, it’s just too cool to keep it to yourself.”
For those who think astrophotography requires a huge, expensive telescope along with a fancy computer, think again. There are many brands that have recently exploded onto the scene.
Last year, King’s father bought him a Seestar S30, a compact, lightweight, and easy-to-use telescope that fits into a case the size of a child’s lunchbox. It takes five minutes, King pointed out, to set up. Often, after he has programmed it, King will head back inside and wait for the images to appear on his phone. And, those images are spectacular. Nebulae, galaxies, comets—even the occasional rocket launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base—can be captured while the observer is watching TV.
It all started when King’s father gave him a few pointers several years ago. Now, taking pictures of the heavens is so simple, King laughed, that he takes the Seestar with him when camping. He’s owned larger telescopes, but the “simplicity and usability” of the Seestar has made a huge difference. That means that there are few limits to a steady supply of objects to capture. Asked if he has ever gotten bored, King’s face lit up. “It is always spectacular to see a new sight,” he exclaimed.
His favorite nighttime sight is the Orion Nebula. Not only is it easily seen with the naked eye, but for King, it has special meaning. The first time he readied his Seestar he was speaking on the phone with his father who suggested he turn his gaze toward the incredible star nursery located just below the belt of the Great Hunter.
At the core of King’s love of astrophotography is his connection to, and admiration for his dad. That heartfelt emotion, when wedded to the simplicity of outstanding new technology, is what it is all about. It’s being able to find awe while standing in one’s backyard or while waiting for an image, filled with dazzling color and definition, to download onto one’s phone. Indeed, King demonstrated how easy it was to photograph the sun, adding just a thin filter to his telescope. Within moments, he was able to share it, sunspots and all.
There is something rather indescribable that happens when affection and curiosity and the serendipity within a dark sky come together. For Mike King, it has taken the form of astrophotography. While he describes what he does as “relaxing,” there is clearly more to it than that. All roads seem to have led him here, to this place, where his appreciation of his father and his wish to share the joy and the beauty of the night sky can be simultaneously manifested.