Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan Atlas with anti tail

Yesterday evening I planned my trip after investigating the weather forecast using different models. Only two of the models forecasted the same weather : alaro and meteoblue. West of Brussels was the best chance of having a clear sky. This morning weather forecast changed but at noon conditions became better again. So I took my chance a drove to Denderleeuw were I met with my colleague Walter. After a drink and a small snack we drove south towards Nederhasselt, near Ninove. 

In an open field with a 270° view and no clouds this was our chance to see Comet C/2023 Tsuchinshan Atlas. Only at UT17h43 we could spot the comet using my camera. As from then, it went better and better and we were able to see the comet with the naked eye and a tail of 20°. Using the camera the anti tail was visible aswell. 

It was worth doing the trip and both were very satisfied!

Nightscape with Venus

Nightscape with Venus. The objective was to find the Comet A3 but without any result. Venus was bright a enough and with the trees in front a beautiful nightscape. 

 

Lecture Thomas Hertog - On the origin of time.

Together with Helios colleague Walter we went for the first time to Tabloo in Dessel; which is in the backyard of the Graspop Metal Festival area. This rather new visitor center is the visitor and meeting centre in dessel about radioactivity, radioactive waste management and research into nuclear applications. Thomas Hertog took us on a whirling space journey. In between the black holes and the cosmic holograms, he also tells about his special friendship with Stephen Hawking, with whom he worked on an innovative theory about the origin of the universe.

Selfie with Thomas Hertog

Selfie with Jean-Marie and Walter 

Helium D3 Line with Sol'Ex

Imaging the Sun in HeI D3 line with Sol'Ex Pro. Editing using JSolex and CS4.

Saturn Tilting Ring

The image shows how the rings of Saturn are closing. It also shows my imaging skills.

Sun September 21, 2024 CaIIK, H-alpha, H-beta and FeI(c)

Imaging the Sun with my Sol'Ex pro. It's getting better and better. The sawtooth is almost gone with the use of my EQ8 mount. Some images have it slightly but was due to seeing conditions. Not only is the Sol'ex more robust, finding the different spectrallines is also getting faster: H-alfa, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, CaIIH and K, Sodium (Na D1 & D2), Helium D3, MgI b1, b2, b4, FeI(c). 

Setting: Sol'Ex pro on TLAPO60/360 and ASI290MM

Filter : Herschel Wedge

Software: SharpCap, Inti, CS4

Saturn Stack with IR742nm filter

Imaging Saturn with TAL200K f/8.5 with barlow x2 and ADC. This brings effective focal point to f/25.68. This time I used a bandpass filter IR742nm. The result was stacked with image taken with IR/UV blocker. The result shows much more details.

Setting:

Scope: TAL200K @f/25, ASI224MC on EQ8

Camera: ASI224MC

ADC, IR/UV blocker, IR742nm

Software: SharpCap4, AstroSurface, Winjupos, Stellarium, CS4