Art of Science: Capturing the Cosmos

The universe is an immense, complex place, but according to Rob Gross, Ph.D., some of its most stunning visual wonders can be discovered right from South Florida backyards.

Gross is a university instructor at Charles E. Schmidt College of Science at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). During the COVID-19 pandemic, he also became a skilled astrophotography by blending his lifelong passion for the stars with the technical precision of photography.

One of his photographs of the Rosette Nebula recently earned a top honor in FAU’s annual Art of Science photography contest. The winning image is the result of 1,260 individual pictures taken throughout 10.5 hours of total imaging time.

To capture such detail, Gross said he uses a small telescope – about the size of a standard camera zoom lens. By "stacking" hundreds of images, he can filter out the digital "noise" and light pollution that would otherwise obscure the nebula's delicate structures.

“The more and more pictures you take, the better it gets basically,” Gross said. “For me, the process is as much about the math and physics behind the light as it is about the visual result.”

Gross also uses his astrophotography to engage students. While many of his pre-med physics students may initially find the subject daunting, his image of the cosmos piques their interest.

“When I show them the pictures, I can see them really start paying attention,” Gross said. “A lot of them like space ... they're really interested in how that works.”

Through his work in the Art of Science, Gross said he hopes to inspire others to look up and realize that the beauty of the universe is accessible to everyone, from everywhere.

“The universe is sort of an interesting place,” Gross said. “There's a lot of things that can be discovered in your backyard.”