T-45min Before Launch Crew Dragon

T-45min before launch of the Falcon 9 with Crew Dragon Capsule from the SLC 39A.

Moon

Famous Ghost of Jupiter NGC3242

Earlier on April 21, 2020 I took some pictures of NGC3242, a planetary Nebula, known as the famous Ghost of Jupiter. It's magnitude is 7.3 but it shows up low above the horizon. I could not get the central star as I only could make 2 pictures due to blocking by a tree. The planetary nebula is located in constellation Hydra and about 4800 light years from Earth.

Settting with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5, ISO 6400 and 2x60s exposure time. Stacking and editing with CS4. 

Preparation for Herschel 400

I did complete the PSA (Periodical System for the Amateur Astronomer) earlier this year and I hope to complete the Messier list this summer with only 3 objects to do. 

As I was looking for a next challenge I started to read a book I bought back in 2017 :  Stephen James O'Meara's Herschel 400 Observing Guide. 

My objective is not to get all 400 object done, at least not for now :) But I mad a selection of interesting object. So this is what I will be observing and making pictures :

* 24 Planetary Nebulae

* 38 Double Objects (Galaxies and/or Starcluster) - as within the view field of my TAL200K f/8.5

* 10 Interesting Object eg. Antennae Galaxy

I already have completed the observation of 70 Herschel 400-objects of which most are part of the Messier List and PSA list. 

Start of Astronomical Twilight

As from this week untill the weekend of July 21st, skies will not get fully dark as the Sun will not go below 18° of the Horizon. This is what's called Astronomical Twilight. 

Venus - Mercury Traject May 19-23, 2020

Mercury and Venus at the evening sky during the last 5 days. As weather was good I was able to make pictures of this traject. On May 19, Mercury was South of Venus; on May 23, Mercury was North-West of Venus. 

All pictures taken with Nikon D7500 and Nikon 18-200 lens (95mm). 

Venus - Mercury May 23, 2020

Open and clear sky this evening with Venus and Mercury low above the north-western horizon. Since yesterday, Mercury is now North of Venus.