Space Cafe Tokyo, August 2026

The August edition of Space Cafe Tokyo takes on amateur astrophotography and the modern equipment that lets hobbyists photograph nebulae, galaxies, planets, comets and supernovae in detail that was once limited to observatories. The talk covers the tools and techniques involved and how a beginner can start, including from a light-polluted city like Tokyo. The speaker is Dr. Paul E. Cizdziel, Science Advisor at Laurus International School of Science. After a career of more than 35 years in biotechnology business development, 25 of them in Japan, he moved into part-time academic work and is self-taught in astronomy and astrophotography. He runs the Astrophotography Japan YouTube channel, which has over 3,000 subscribers and more than 100 videos on deep sky imaging shot from Yokohama and darker skies elsewhere in Japan. The session runs at Good Heavens British Bar in Shimokitazawa as a space-themed talk with drinks. Doors open at 19:30 and the speaker starts at 20:00. Tickets are sold at the door for 1,500 yen in cash, which covers the first drink.