Sea Lake Astro Fest: A Deep-Space Side Quest

Sea Lake Astro Fest 2025 turned into one of those deep-space side quests that takes over your whole weekend in the best way possible.

I was lucky enough to help out again this year, MC’ing the talks, running the science Q&A panel, hosting the pub quiz, and volunteering at the Lake Tyrrell public viewing night.

But the real highlight wasn’t the microphone or the schedule, it was watching people experience the night sky together. The curiosity, the first-time telescope reactions, the quiet “wow” moments… that’s what this festival is all about.

Somewhere in between all that, I squeezed in a final astrophotography session with Krista before she headed back to America, one last night of star chasing together after years of shared sky adventures.

Sea Lake Astro Fest isn’t about any one person. It’s about sharing the universe with anyone who shows up with a sense of wonder.

And this year delivered that and more.

#SeaLakeAstroFest #AstroFest #Astrophotography #Stars #NightSky #MilkyWay #DeepSky #DeepSpace #Astronomy #SpacePhotography #AstroPhotography #AstroCommunity #Cosmos #Galaxies #ScienceFestival #ScienceCommunication #STEM #SciComm #SpaceNerd #SpaceLovers #Telescopes #Stargazing #Nebula #AstroLife #ExploreTheUniverse #UniverseToday #Skywatching

https://youtu.be/rFDSStg4mY8

From Vegemite Rockets to Space Robots (IAC 2025)

I went to IAC 2025 thinking it would be a normal space conference. It was not. Within five days I saw a jar of Vegemite that literally went on a rocket, got trapped in an elevator with a disco ball and music, had my AstroBoy shirt turned into art by an astro artist, and accidentally ended up interviewing some of the biggest brains in the space industry.

They shut down an entire street in Sydney for opening night, I climbed through the CSIRO mobile command station like an excited child, met lunar rover designers, and spoke to RMIT students who casually launched a cubesat into orbit.

This was the wildest event I’ve ever been to — and I was NOT prepared.

#IAC2025 #SpaceIndustry #SpaceConference #AerospaceEngineering #NewSpace #CommercialSpace #SpaceTech #SpaceInnovation

#Astronomy #SpaceExploration #SpaceNews #Astrophotography #Stargazing #NASA #ESA #RocketLaunch #SpaceNerd #SpaceCommunity #FutureOfSpace #MoonMission #MarsMission #ScienceYouTube #STEM #Engineering #TechInnovation #BehindTheScenes #Interviews #Vlog #CreatorLife

Organisations

Open Cosmos - https://www.open-cosmos.com/
CSIRO - https://www.csiro.au/en/
Australian Astronomical Optics - https://aao.org.au/
NH Micro - https://www.nhmicro.com/
Southern Launch Space - https://www.southernlaunch.space/
Australian Space Agency - https://www.space.gov.au/
Gilmour Space - https://www.gspace.com/
Stella Engineering - https://stellaengineering.com.au/
Astrea Technologies - https://astrea.com.au/
RMIT University - https://www.rmit.edu.au/
Mawson Rovers - https://mawsonrovers.com/

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/mxIYTAsMOP0

When boredom strikes on a Saturday night… look up!
Track satellites (and space junk!) in real-time with this free site I just discovered.
Perfect for families when the kids “aren’t tired yet”—it keeps them curious and helps them wind down.

Find out more below!

#SpaceNerd #SaturdayNightFun #Satellites #SpaceDebris #BedtimeHack #IttyBitty4Life #familyfun #familytime #coolstuff #space

http://ittybitty4life.com/2025/09/06/saturday-night-fun-track-satellites-in-real-time-with-satellitetracker3d/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

My 3D Printer Thinks I’m an Idiot (Telescope Edition)

I set out to 3D print a simple collimator sleeve for my Takahashi telescope. Easy, right? Wrong. My first three attempts were complete disasters — warped, cracked, and just plain useless. By the time I hit attempt number four, I was questioning my life choices (and my 3D printer’s opinion of me). Watch me fumble through failure after failure in true DIY fashion.

https://youtu.be/sDVQ7yJAoRI

#3DPrinting #Telescope #Takahashi #Makerspace #DIYFails #AstroMaker #3DAstronomy #DIYAstronomy #TelescopeMods #MakerLife #MakersGonnaMake #DIY #PrintFail #FilamentFrenzy #PrintLife #Astronomy #Telescope #Stargazing #Astrophotography #SpaceNerd #NightSky #DeepSky #Observatory #Cosmos #StarParty

Saw the real (relocated) Titan II SLV & launch room, among many other cool things at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. Even the floor tiles are original. Countdown & launch audio and video really made it. Very cool to see.

#spacenerd #tothemoon

This $10 3D Print Saved My $10000 Telescope Setup

My Takahashi telescope and ZWO autofocuser? Not speaking. Totally incompatible. So I did what any overly caffeinated space nerd would do: I fired up the 3D printer and manifested an adapter out of thin air and PLA.

Did it work? Somehow, yes. Did I measure anything properly? No. But now the focuser talks to the telescope like they’re old friends—probably trauma bonded.

One $10 part. One $10000 rig. One dangerously false sense of engineering confidence. 🔧🧠🔭

#3DPrinting #TelescopeHack #Astrophotography #ZWO #Takahashi #SpaceNerd #DIYFix #AdapterBuild #ObservatoryLife #AstronomyGear #EngineeringFails #ScienceVlog #TelescopeSetup #BudgetFix #PrintAndPray #Autofocus #SpaceProblems #TelescopeMount #NightSkyTools

https://youtu.be/Wan3zZivpvc

I had a simple dream: put two giant telescopes on one mount and become a god-tier astrophotographer.

What actually happened: I may have created a gravitational threat to local infrastructure and possibly broke a guide camera I dropped before even powering anything on.

This video has it all — reckless optimism, questionable engineering, emotional damage, and way too many bolts.

Enjoy this tale of ambition, imbalance, and the moment my mount silently begged for mercy. 🔭🧠💥

#Telescope #Astrophotography #ObservatoryLife #SpaceNerd #GuideScope #MountFail #DIYObservatory #AstronomyLife #Celestron #ScopeSetup #DeepSky #RyanTrahanStyle #ScienceVlog #EngineeringGoneWrong #Stargazing #ScopeProblems #Astrogear #TelescopeFails #StarsAndRegret

https://youtu.be/P2RL-4UEYZM