The Darkroom at the Edge of the Universe

There was a time when photographing a distant galaxy required enormous telescopes, glass photographic plates, exotic chemistry, and almost unimaginable patience. But capturing the light was only half the battle. Sometimes the greatest discoveries were hiding inside the photographs themselves, waiting for someone clever enough to bring them into view.

This week we explore the extraordinary work of David Malin, the photographic scientist whose ingenious darkroom techniques helped transform our view of the universe. Working with massive telescopes at the Anglo-Australian Observatory, Malin developed ways to reveal faint cosmic structures and assemble breathtaking color photographs from black-and-white negatives. His work helped uncover previously unseen features of distant galaxies, including an enormous, ghostly spiral that now bears his name.

We'll also revisit the sometimes miserable world of film astrophotography, from manually guiding telescopes through hours-long exposures to treating photographic film to make it more sensitive to faint light. And we'll consider how Malin's legacy lives on in today's digital cameras, image-stacking software, and remarkable little smart telescopes that can photograph galaxies from our own backyards.

Plus, in our night sky report for November 1–7, 2026: The waning Moon brings darker evenings, Mars and Jupiter brighten the morning sky, Venus returns to the dawn, and Saturn remains a rewarding evening target. We'll also visit some of autumn's finest binocular sights, including the Andromeda Galaxy, the Double Cluster, and the Pleiades.

Connect with us on Bluesky @startrails.bsky.social

If you’re enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee! Also, check out music made for Star Trails on our Bandcamp page!

Podcasting is better with RSS.com! If you’re planning to start your own podcast, use our RSS.com affiliate link for a discount, and to help support Star Trails.