NATCHEZ — Not many people can say that they spend their nights exploring Saturn’s rings or wandering on the surface of Earth’s moon.

But retired lawn care business owner and astronomy enthusiast Michael Kolb, 47, spends most of his nights doing just that.

Kolb explores celestial objects with a Celestron telescope in his backyard on North Commerce Street in Natchez.

“It’s like you are right there in space,” Kolb said.

He first discovered his interest for astronomy 20 years ago when he first saw the television series “Star Gazers” on PBS.

“I used to watch the show every Sunday, and it showed how people who are not scientists observe stars,” Kolb said.

When he was in his mid-20s, he went to Emerald Mound on the Natchez Trace Parkway to observe Haley’s Comet with his girlfriend.

“It was like watching a free fireworks show, and it was amazing,” Kolb said.

After his experience with Haley’s Comet, he decided to purchase an intermediate level telescope to observe other fascinating areas of outer space.

“Whenever I look at these objects for the first time, it’s like Christmas because it is always something new,” Kolb said.

After drifting into space, Kolb captures images of planets, constellations and star clusters, while planning his next visit to outer space.