T-4 Countdown started

The Delta IV Heavy is ready to take off carying the Parker Solar Probe.

M8, M10, M11, M12 and M92

Observing a couple of Messier Objects with refractor TLAPO80/480 f/6 and taking pictures with Nikon D7500. Stacking done with DeepskuStacker and editing using CS4.

NGC 6440 and NGC 6445

Both NGC 6440 and NGC 6445 are seen on the picture below. Both very faint objects are taken with Nikon D7500 and TLAPO80/480 f/6.
NGC 6445 is a planetary nebula located about 4500 light years from Earth. The literature refers also to Box Nebula or Little Gem.

Messier M8 Lagoon Nebula

Just after twilight and low above the Southern horizon, I took some pictures of the Lagoon Nebula. This time with the correct working distance of the flattener to the camerasensor.
The nebula is slightly visible and even the Lagoon itself. South of the nebula, globular star cluster NGC6544 is seen.
Pictures are stacked with deepskystacker and editing using CS4.

9h53 launch time of the Delta Heavy IV with Parker Solar Probe

Credit NASA

The Delta Heavy IV rocket is ready to take off the next 20 minutes (9h53 GMT+1). It will take off from the launch complex 37 at  Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, carrying the Parker Solar Probe.

One day to go before Parker Solar Probe lift off

On August 11th 2018, NASA's Parker Solar Probe is planned to start it's journey to the Sun's Corona. It will be the closest approach to the sun in history. And I will be on board :)

Perseids Meteor Shower 2018 - My first pictures using all-sky camera

Around August 9-13 make sure you watch the sky for the Perseids Meteors. During this period space debris form the Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle will be entering the atmosphere creating the Perseids Meteor shower.

The maximum (as many as 60-100 metors/hour) occurs on Monday morning August 13th. look out for a dark place to count for the meteors.

This evening I was able to make some pictures of a couple of meteors using my all-sky camera.