Open Cluster M39 and Platais 1

In constellation Cygnus the open cluster M39 and the faint open cluster Platais 1 can be observed. The pictures are taken with Nikon D7500 and refractor TLAPO 80/480 f/6, each picture ISO2000 and 30s exposed. Stacking using deepskystacker and limited editing with CS4.

Globular Cluster Messier M2

Globular Cluster Messier M2 is the most compact cluster in the Messier group. It's located in the constellation Aquarius at a distance of 40.000 lightyears from Earth. The cluster counts more then 1.500.000 stars.
The pictures are taken with Nikon D7500 and refractor TLAPO 80/480 f/6, each ISO800 and 30s. The moon was 83% impacting brightness of the picture. Stacking with deepskystacker and limited editing using CS4.

Messier M17 Swan Nebula

Messier M17, also known as the Swan Nebula or The Omega Nebula is an emission Nebula located about 6000 light years from Earth. It is an action star forming region, the same as M42. M17 can be observerd in the constellation Sagittarius and is part of the Sagitarrius spiral arm of our own galaxy.
The pictures shows the Swan easily. The picture is the result of 18 exposures, stacked using Deepskystacker and editing using CS4.

Helios - ASH Polaris BBQ

Sterrenclubs Helios (Averbode) en ASH Polaris (Herentals) organiseerden een BBQ ter gelegenheid van de maansverduistering op de vliegterreinen van Schaffen. Met een prachtig uitzicht en de warme temperaturen werd het geweldige BBQ.

Ondertussen bezochten we ook het luchtschip (het "varken") dat onze militairen gebruiken voor opleiding van parachutisten.

Daarna werd het iets stiller want de bewolking zorgde ervoor dat de maansverduistering onzichtbaar bleef. Even was er een opflikkering waarbij de rode maan zich bloot gaf, maar het was maar tijdelijk. Dus hadden we voldoende tijd om wat bij te praten en de overgangen van Iridium flares en ISS te observeren.

Moon 87%

Temperatures during the day went up till 31°C, so nights are perfect to cool down and meanwhile taking pictures of the Moon. The Moon is 87% illuminated and the picture was taken using TAL200K with Nikon D7500. Limited editing using CS4.

M17 The Swan Nebula

The sky is bright due to a waxing moon (85%). So it was difficult to make observations of Deep Sky object. Below is a picture of M17, The Swan or Omega Nebula and M18, a open cluster.
No filters are used and no stacking. The single shot is edited using CS4.

Asterism STAR27 the Toadstool

Last night I took some time to search for asterism STAR27 in Delphinus. East of the Dolphin 13 stars make the asterism mushroom or toadstool.