The Sky Above:
Astrophotographer Jeff Kelly

Jeff Kelly became interested in the wonders of the sky as a child. Born and raised in Rutherford, New Jersey, he recalls times when his brother, John, would take him out to their backyard at night and point to the sky. He showed him the Big Dipper and the North Star. It seemed magical and mysterious. One Christmas, his present was a telescope. This simple device ignited a lifelong interest in astronomy. That first telescope enabled him to discover all kinds of stars, planets, nebulae, asteroids, and galaxies. Over the years, he obtained more sophisticated telescopes, which empowered him to delve deeper into studying the wonders of the sky.

A Life of Adventure

Not many people have visited Hawai'i 50 times. Kelly has. Granted, some of the visits were for business during the course of his 40-year career in electronic communications with ADP. However, each time Kelly was in Hawai'i, he was sure to make time to stargaze—to look up at the wondrous canopy of dark sky and brilliant lights.

Hawai'i is one of the few spots on Earth that still has dark skies unfettered by excessive light pollution. Light pollution is the harsh, glaring light from cities and many suburban areas that cloud the vastness and beauty of the night sky. During his worldwide travels over the years, Kelly discovered a few other locations where the night sky is still clear and unaffected by light pollution.

In the early 1990s, Jeff and his family moved to Sea Girt, where he set up his telescope on the lawn to observe the night sky. After retirement in 2017, he had the luxury of time to explore the sky in even greater depth. His arsenal of tools contain a tripod, mount, telescope, camera, and computer. These tools enable him to capture astrophotographic masterpieces. Kelly put together an awe-inspiring book, “The Sky Above” with his photography.

“My night sky photo album is a visual odyssey that transcends earthly confines, capturing the ethereal beauty that graces the celestial canvas above,” Kelly says.

Looking Up

With the naked eye, an astronomer can view meteor showers, space stations, and enhanced views of the vastness of our universe. Just as we have smartphones today, the astronomy world makes use of smart telescopes and astronomical software with the ability to stack pictures for better clarity and quality. 

Oftentimes, the casual astronomer has a telescope and gets frustrated by not being able to find anything in the sky. Smart telescopes simplify astronomy. You select a deep-sky target on an astronomy app, and the telescope goes to it and starts stacking multiple pictures of it for review or posting on social media. In addition to these devices, astronomy clubs and organizations have popped up all over. There are even “star parties” for those interested in exchanging their discoveries and aspirations.

Another project Kelly is interested in is educating youth about the wonders of the sky above. He looks forward to teaching a “stargazing night” on the Sea Girt boardwalk in conjunction with the Sea Girt Library. Perhaps seeing the North Star and Big Dipper, as he did as a child, will spark an interest in others as they gaze up at the magical canopy above Sea Girt’s sky.

He also speaks about the importance of mindful outdoor lighting. Kelly reminds local residents to be aware of light pollution.

“It’s a simple thing to do. Aim your outdoor lights down to the earth, not up toward the sky,” he says.  “After all, the beauty of the dark skies above Sea Girt is not merely a display of distant stars for us to enjoy, but a reminder of the vastness of the universe.”

Photographs by Jeff Kelly