Agenda:
7:00 - 7:15 General Meeting & Announcements
7:15 - 7:30 Short topic presentation by a club member
7:30 - 7:45 Refreshment break
7:45 - Public Presentation
Speaker: Noah Rashkind
Title: The Art & Science of Astrophotography
Abstract:
Astrophotography offers a unique fusion of science, art, and personal exploration. What began as a simple curiosity with basic gear and minimal processing skills evolved into a passion for capturing the night sky with increasingly complex imaging and post-processing techniques. Along the way, this pursuit transformed into a business called ARTstronomy®, and ultimately into college-level instruction in astrophotography. In this talk, I’ll share my personal journey from beginner to educator, exploring how technological advances have transformed both my own practice and the broader field of astrophotography. We’ll also discuss practical techniques for capturing and producing deep sky images using PixInsight and SIRIL.
About the Speaker:
Noah H. Rashkind is a partner at Lott & Fischer, PL, where he specializes in intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights. He earned dual undergraduate degrees from the University of Florida in Astronomy (B.Sc., Physics minor) and Political Science (B.A.), followed by a J.D. from Stetson University College of Law. He also holds an M.Sc. in Astronomy form the University of Florida and is a Registered Patent Attorney admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
In addition to his legal practice, Noah serves as an adjunct professor in the Department of Astronomy at the University of Florida, where he teaches The Art and Science of Astrophotography, an interdisciplinary course he developed in collaboration with Astronomy Department Chair Elizabeth Lada. A lifelong amateur astronomer, he founded ARTstronomy® (https://ARTstronomy.Pro), a fine-art astrophotography business offering curated prints of deep sky, solar, and planetary objects.
Noah previously served as an Assistant Public Defender, where he gained significant litigation experience. He integrates his background in litigation and scientific training into both his intellectual property practice and his teaching.
Based in Gainesville, Florida, Noah balances a rigorous professional life with passions for astrophotography, ultrarunning, and education. He remains active in public outreach, higher education, and the arts.