SHOOT THE MOON

Andrew McCarthy produces images worthy of the James Webb Telescope from his backyard-with gear that doesn't require a NASA-grade budget.

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AS THE SUN SETS, Andrew McCarthy scans the skies for bad omens: twinkling stars and wispy contrails. But he's not an oracle or mystic. McCarthy is an astrophotographer, and these subtle clues are indicators of a hazy atmosphere that could foil his attempts to take pin-sharp pictures of the cosmos.

From his backyard in Florence, Arizona, McCarthy creates arresting images of distant stars and celestial bodies. He is perhaps best known for his shots of the moon, which capture the intricate details of every crevice and crater. But deep space is his favorite subject-his Instagram feed, @cosmic_background, which has more than half a million followers, crackles with the deep purples and royal blues of nebulae and supernovas.

Taking such ambitious photos requires skill, knowledge, and patience. First, McCarthy must wait for a sky clear of atmospheric haze. "I've spent days without getting a single photo," he says. When conditions are right, he fires off a series of shots in quick succession, which he later stitches into a final image.