C/2018 Y1 Iwamoto M36 M38 NGC1907 NGC1931

Previous days it was difficult the find comet Iwamoto but as the comet is moving in front of M36 it's more easy.

All in one picture : Comet C/2018 Y1 Iwamoto with open star cluster M36, M38, NGC1907 and NGC1931 in constellation Auriga. Picture is taken with Nikon D7500 on TLAPO80/480 f/6 and setting ISO3200 for 30s. Editing using CS4.

Owl Nebula M97 and Surfboard Galaxy M108

Both the Owl Nebula M97 as the Surfboard Galaxy M108 are located in the constellation Ursa Major. Picture consist of 31 photo's, each 30s exposure and ISO6400.

Leo Triplet M65 M66 and NGC3628

Three spiral Galaxies M65, M66 and NGC3628 in constellation Leo. The three are located at a distance of about 35 million light years from us.
The picture is a result of 46 photo's, each 30s exposure with Nikon D7500 on TLAPO 80/480 f/6. Raw pictures are converted into DNG and stacked using DeepSkyStacker. Final editing with CS4.

C/2018 Y1 Iwamoto and Messier M36

Comet C/2018 Y1 Iwamoto near Open Star Cluster Messier M36 in constellation Auriga.

C/2018 Y1 Iwamoto

Currently comet C/2018 Y1 Iwamoto is travelling through constellation Auriga and north of the open star cluster M36 (pictures will follow later).

The UFO Galaxy NGC 2683

The UFO Galaxy, NGC 2683 is located in the constellation Lynx at a distance of 25 million light years. The picture was taken with Nikon D7500 on TAL200K f/8.5. DeepskyStacker was used to stack the DNG pictures and final editing with CS4. Total exposure is 6 minutes and darks are set.

The "37" Cluster

NGC 2169 or The "37" Cluster is an open star cluster located at a distance of 3600 light years from us.

Flame Nebula NGC2024

East from the belt of constellation Orion you can see the Flame Nebula or NGC2024. This emission nebula is located at a distance of 1350 light years from Earth.
The nebula was exposed for 9 minutes and all pictures stacked (DNG) with DeepskySkacker. Final editing using CS4. The bright star on the picture is Alnitak.

Whirlpool Galaxy M51

An 18 minutes exposure of the Whirlpool Galaxy or Messier M51 located in the constellation Canes Venatici. This distance is about 23million light years.
The picture was taken with Nikon D7500 on TAL200K f/8.5. Deepskystacker is used to stack the pictures including darks. Final editing with CS4. No moon and temperature -1°C.

Moon Waning Gibbous (80%)

The moon (waning gibbous 80%) was low above the horizon right after midnight. So time to finish my observation of deep sky objects as the moon will overshine the sky.

Sun in H-Alpha

This afternoon I took some time to observe the Sun in H-Alpha. No sunspots but some huge filaments could be observed. When comparing the two pictures below you can see how dynamic the filaments are and changing geometry. Both pictures taken with Nikon D7500 on SolarMaxIII 70/400 f/5.7 double stacked. Pictures are converted into DNG and edited using CS4.

Filament, Airplane with Sun in H-Alpha

Some luck... airplane with Filament with Sun in H-Alpha.

Filament on the Sun

This afternoon a huge filament is covering the Sun. This can be seen in H-Alpha. Picture is taken with Nikon D7500 on SolarMax3 d70/400 f/5.7. The insert is taken from the Gong H-Alpha network.

Flame Nebula

Flame Nebula during a waxing gibbous moon (90%). The horsehead nebula is too faint as the moon is shining out the famous nebula.
Picture taken with Nikon D7500 on TLAPO 80/480 f/6 ISO800 and 46 minutes exposure. Stacking with DeepSkyStacker and final editing with CS4.

Supermoon Coming

One day to go for full moon and it will be a Supermoon. Full moon of february will have the closest distance Earth-Moon this year 2019, 356 761 km.

Moon Febrruay 17, UT20h

Jupiter Venus and Saturn in the morning sky

All three planets can be seen in the morning sky. Venus and Saturn are "close" above the eastern horizon, Jupiter almost loacted in the South.

Sun in H-Alpha

No sunspots today and only small prominences on the Sun. On the other hand one big filament on the disk. The picture was taken with Nikon D7500 on SolarMax 70/400  DS BS15 and editing using CS4. The get the picture sharpened, it is set as black/white.

Galaxy NGC 2903

Beautiful galaxy NGC 2903. Only 180s exposure and spiralarms are already seen.

NGC3115 Spindle Galaxy and Millenium Galaxy Catalogue MGC

When looking at my astropicture of NGC3115, the Spindle Galaxy, I saw a blur south of the galaxy. At first I was thinking of a camera fault but when uploading the picture in Astronometry it showed aswell a blur as a result. Interesting in fact, astronometry did not put any reference. So I started searching around and found the NGC3115 galaxy to be associated with two galaxies of which one is MGC-1-26-21, located exactly on the same spot as on my picture. 

What is MGC : this is the Millennium Galaxy Catalogue. 

Astropictures DeepSky Objects

The idea was to photograph comet C/2018 Y1 Iwamoto but I could trace the comet at all. Probably due to the Moon (81%) which was outshining the comet and the fact the comet is already very faint.
So I decided to talk some pictures of some Deep Sky object. They are not perfect due to the Moon. Pictures are taken with TAL200K f/8.5 and Nikon D7500. No darks were taken and pictures are stacked with DeepSkyStacker (format DNG). CS4 was used for final editing.

Observation list

- Messier M46 : Open Star Cluster with Planetary Nebula NGC 2438
- Messier M48 : Open Star Cluster
- Messier M81 : Galaxy
- Messier M65 and M66 : Galaxy
- Messier M67 : Open Star Cluster
- NGC 1545: Open Star Cluster
- Messier M42 :Orion Nebula
- NGC 2903 : Galaxy
- NGC 3115 : Galaxy, with a black hole of 2 billion Sunmasses!

Regulus

 Alpha Leonis or Regulus is a star located about 79 light years from our Sun. The picture was taken with a Bathinov Mask in prepartion of deep sky photography.

Moon Waxing Gibbous 81%

Almost full Moon. Picture taken with Nikon D7500 on TAL200K.

Orion Nebula Messier M42

A clear sky and almost full Moon. So not perfect for deep sky objects, but still I was able to shoot the Orion Nebula Messier M42. The bright nebula was taken using Nikon 7500 on TAL200K. Editing of Jpeg with CS4.

How huge are prominences

This afternoon the Sun was covered with huge prominences. But how huge? I made some calculations and draw Earth next to the large prominence.

Gigantic Filament on the Sun

This afternoon I could observe some huge filaments or prominences. Observations done with SolarMax3 70/400 DS BF15 and pictures taken with Nikon D7500. Limited editing using CS4.

Halo around Moon

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High clouds and thus a nice halo around the Moon

Moon Phase and Libration

All details like the geocentric phase, libration, position angle of the axis, and apparent diameter of the Moon throughout the year 2019, at hourly intervals can be seen via NASA Scientific Visualisation Studio through this link. 

When entering the date and hour, just download the picture is this what you get :

 

What's happening with the camera industry

Not so good news from the camera industry. Decrease continious and mirrorless market is not picking up (yet).

Comet Iwamoto in constellation Leo

This morning a clear sky and perfect to make  wide field picture of Comet C/20118 Y1 Iwamoto. The comet is not visible with the naked eye and even difficult to find in the picture.

Comet C/2018 Y1 Iwamoto

The next days, take a look at the sky and search for Comet C/2018 Y1 Iwamoto. The comet can be seen (using a binocular) near and in the constellation Leo, the Lion. The brightness  or magnitude depends on the the source and varias between 10.75 (The Sky live), 8.5 (Heavens Above) and 6.7 (Bright Comets).  Closest approach is between Feb12 -13.

Credit Heavens-Above

Stars during the Total Lunar Eclipse of Jan 21

Picture taken of the sky around the full moon, during totality of the Total Lunar Eclipse of Jan 21, 2019. Picture taken using Nikon D7500 on TLAPO80/480 f/6 setting ISO200 for 8s. Raw converting to DNG and editing with CS4.

Halo

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At this moment a 22* Halo around the Sun i mn Aarschot.

Weather Summary January 2019

January had 13 days with temperatures falling below 0°C during daytime and the lowest temperature so far of -10,4°C. Rainfall was avg with almost 70l/m2 and avg temperature was 3°C less then last year 2018 but comparable with the years 2014-2017.

BBC Sky at Night : Get stargazing with Back Garden Astronomy Week

Make sure you registrate if you ever wanted to get into astronomy but didn't know where to start?
If so, Back Garden Astronomy Week is the perfect time to get outside and get looking up at the night sky.
From Saturday 2 - Sunday 10 February we’re inviting people with curious minds, families with kids who love space and those who’ve always wanted to get started in stargazing to join our week-long campaign.
Sign up for free and each day we'll send you an email newsletter that will help you discover a new sight every night.
We'll show you how to find some of the beautiful objects visible in the night sky, all of which can be seen from your back garden with just a pair of binoculars.
You'll also receive essential observing tips that beginners need: advice like how to get your eyesight used to the dark, how best to navigate the night sky and which are the best targets to see.

See the website via this link.

Studium Generale Maastricht - Geluid in de Kosmos

Prof. Dr. Katrien Kolenberg van de KU Leuven zal een lezing geven rond het thema "Geluid in de Kosmos". De lezing kadert in de lezingenreeks van Studium Generale van de Universiteit van Maastricht en vindt plaats op donderdag 4 April om 20h00.