One Total Solar Eclipse Changed Everything

My name is Eric Wright and I’m a 39 year old Astro photographer and cybersecurity technician in the Cleveland, Ohio area (United States). I am the current Secretary for the Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society and am responsible for creating and managing their new website ( https://cvas.space/ ) as well.

I’ve always had an interest in space since I was a young child, having read ‘Black Holes and Time Warps’ by Kip Thorne in middle school. Everything kind of came to a head in 2024 with the total solar eclipse. In preparation for the event I took what I knew about streaming during COVID and all of my new professional gear, and started building up my system.

To say I’ve been absolutely flabbergasted by what the night sky has to offer, and all of the local friends I’ve found who have similar interests. I never thought in a million years I would be an officer for the local astronomical society.

I’ve been slowly building my equipment around the ZWO Astrophotography infrastructure. With my camera being the ASI533MC Pro, my guide camera being the ASI120m, the use of the ZWO EFA, and recently purchasing the ZWO EFW and ASIAIR to replace my mini pic. My eyes are on the AM3N to complete the circle.

One of my all time favorite images is the Vulcan nebula and IFN nebulae. I don’t know if you know it, but IFN is reflected gas ABOVE the Milky Way Galaxy which have no stars in them, and they are reflected from the actual light of the milky way. I find this insanely interesting!!

Outside of astronomy my ADHD and I have multiple additional hobbies, including but not limited to beekeeping, playing heavy metal guitar, managing my home cybersecurity lab, writing science fiction, 3D printing, and hosting six other businesses.

Having served in the US Navy when I was younger I was able to experience the stars like never before. There’s nothing more amazing than seeing the reflection of the Milky Way on the ocean as your ship silently glides through the water.

My imaging setup: