Bortle 9 Imaging
Imagining Under O'Hare's Flight Path: When Astrophotography Meets Aviation
When I tell people I do astrophotography from the Chicago suburbs, they usually assume I'm exaggerating about the light pollution. Then I mention I'm in a Bortle 9 zone—the brightest classification on the scale—and they start to understand the challenge.
But there's another obstacle I don't often talk about: I live directly under O'Hare International Airport's flight path.
With a recently added runway, commercial jets now fly directly over my house at times, low enough that their landing lights can wash out my camera's sensor. It's not uncommon for me to be in the middle of a one-hour imaging session and have to physically shield my telescope or pause the sequence entirely to avoid capturing a 737 instead of the Pleiades.
Astrophotography from One of the Most Challenging Environments Imaginable
Most astrophotographers worry about clouds, wind, or the occasional car headlights. I'm out here playing whack-a-mole with airplanes while trying to capture galaxies millions of light-years away.
But here's the thing: these aren't excuses—they're constraints that define my approach. Every image on this site was captured within these real-world limits:
Bortle 9 light pollution (the worst on the scale)
O'Hare flight path overhead
Typical Midwest weather (limited clear nights)
One-hour integration limits (cold weather, time constraints)
No travel to dark sites—everything is shot in front of my house
Why This Matters
The vast majority of people interested in astrophotography live in or near cities. They don't have access to Bortle 3 dark sites, and they can't spend all night on a mountaintop. They have jobs, families, and neighbors who don't appreciate red flashlights at 2 AM.
If I can capture the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, or the Pleiades from literally one of the worst possible locations for astrophotography, then anyone can do this from their backyard.
That's the philosophy behind this site: showing what's achievable when you work within your constraints rather than waiting for perfect conditions that may never come.
What's Next
I'll be using this blog to share:
Processing techniques for light-polluted data
Equipment choices for urban imaging
Session reports (successes and failures)
Tips for dealing with... unconventional obstacles
So if you've ever thought, "I can't do astrophotography because I live in the city," I'm here to prove you wrong. One hour at a time. One airplane at a time.
Clear skies (and safe landings),
Pete