An amazing 4,56 billion light years away!

With Stephan's Quintet I was able to look at an object which is about 210-340 million light years away from Earth? The question at that time : can I see further?

I knew the existance of Quasars but I never thought I could see them with my own telescoop. I found an interesting and very recent article on Sky&Telescoop : Twinkle, Twinkle, Quasi-Star - 12 Quasars for Spring evenings - see this link.

After reading the article I was convinced that I at least should try to find some of the mentioned Quasars. As described, a Quasar, or Quasi-Stellar Object (QSO) is seen as a star but in reality it is a galaxy with a huge black hole at the center. The black hole can have a mass, billions of time more then our sun and outshines it's own galaxy. 

The first Quasar discoverd is 3C 273 located in constellation Virgo. With a magnitude of 12,9 it should be possible to find it with my 8" telescoop. First I enabled the QSO objects in stellarium and I made sure the telescope was perfectly alligned. A bahtinov mask was used to get real sharp pictures. Images were taken and compared with the charts from the article in S&T. And yes, there it was....... 3C 273 located at a distance of 2.5 billion light years away from Earth. And this from my own backgarden, amazing!

Next to Virgo is constellation Leo with Quasar PG1116+215. More difficult to find and after editing I verified my observation using the Simbad Astronomical database. This Quasar PG 1116+215 is about 2,3 billion light years away from Earth.

Next I started searching for Quasar HS 0624+6907 in constellation Camelopardalis. It took me a lot of time and effort to find this Quasor. Finaly, after 180° rotating the image I could spot the Quasar HS 0624+6907 as a very weak "star" with magnitude 14. This Quasar is located at a distance of 4,56 billion light years away from Earth.

To conclude, It's possible to see Quasars yourself using an 8" telescoop and knowing you see objects at a distance of 4,56 billion light years away. Try this at home :)

All pictures taken with Nikon D7500 and TAL 200K/f/8.5. Setting ISO6400 and exposure of 60s each. Stacking with DeepSkyStacker and final editing in CS4. The mount was connected to Stellarium and the camera controlled by DigiCamControl.

Black Eye Galaxy M64

Messier M64, The Black Eye Galaxy is located in constellation Coma Berenices and is about 17 million lightyears away from Earth.
Session taken with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5; setting ISO6400 and 37x60s. DeepSkyStacker was used to stack all pictures (Raw pictures first converted to DNG). Final editing using CS4.
The mount was connected with the PC via Stellarium software; camera was controlled by DigiCamControl Software.

Comet C/2017 T Panstarrs with TAL200K

Picture of Comet C/2017 T2 Panstarrs with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K. Setting ISO3200 and 5x60s exposure time. Stacking with DeepSkyStacker on both start and comet.

Comet C/2019 Y1 with TAL200K

On the evening of April 21, I took a session of 11x60s ISO3200 pictures of Comet C/2019 Y1 (Atlas).  Pictures are stacked using DeepSkyStacker with focus on both the comet and the stars. Final editing with CS4.
The comet is rather bright; for sure when comparing with C/2019 Y which is getting fainter every day.

Comet C/2019 Y4 Desintegrating

Comet C/2019 Y would be a naked eye comet during the month May but early April it was clear that it will not be the case. It was found out that the comet was falling apart. Recent pictures with the 25years old Hubble telescope confirmed the desintegration of the Comet. The picture show different fragments.
As a comparison :) above the picture from Hubble and below my picture of the Comet. Both pictures are  taken on the same day, April 20, 2020.

Whirlpool Galaxy M51 Long Exposure

In the last week I took a series of pictures from the Whirlpool Galaxy, M51. The session from April 10, 20 and 22 are stacked using DeepSkyStacker.
All pictures taken with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5; setting ISO3200 and ISO6400 with a total exposure of 1h34min. This is a new personel record :)

NGC 4656/7

Galaxy NGC 4656/7, also know as the Hockey Stick Galaxy, is located in constellation Canes Ventici and about 40 million lightyears away from Earth.

The picture was taken with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5. Setting : ISO3200 and 21x60s exposure time. Raw data converted to DNG files and stacked using DeepSkyStacker; final editing using CS4.

The setup was done as following :
- mount connected with Stellarium
- camera connected with DigiCamControl software making it possible to realize exposures beyond 30s
- sharpness using bahtinov mask

NGC4302 and NGC4298

Both Galaxies NGC 4302 and NGC 4298 are located in Constellation oma Berenices at a distance of about 55 million lightyears from Earth.
Picture taken with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5 setting ISO3200 - 15x60s
Stacking with DeepSkyStacker and final editing using CS4.

Galaxy M83

Galaxy Messier M83 is located in constellation Hydra and about 15 million lightyears away from Earth. It's very difficult to see as the galaxy is  maximum 9° above the horizon. Observation was made "between " the tree with very limited exposure time. So the result is poor and a dissapointment.
Picture made with Nikon D7500 an TAL200K f/8.5 : setting ISO 3200 and 8x60s exposure time.

Lyrid Meteor Shower April 21-22, 2020

Observation of Lyrid Meteor Shower April 21-22, 2020. Clear sky, moonless and max magnitude with naked eye 5.25-5.4
A total of 21 meteors are observed after midnight (UT22h) and before 4h30 (UT2h30).

Whirlpool Galaxy M51 with TAL200K

A real clearsky and no moon and for the first time I tried to calibrate the darkness. I used some reference stars in constellation Ursa Major and Bootes. Based on this I conclude that the maximum magnitude seen with the naked eye was about 5.25-5.5 Magnitude.

Under these circumstances I made two sessions of M51, Whirlpool Galaxy. One with ISO3200 (90s) and one with ISO6400 (60s). All pictures made with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5. The mount was connected with Stellarium and camera controlled by DigiCamControl.
Raw pictures converted to DNG and stacked using DeepSkyStacker. Final editing with CS4.

Hercules Globular Cluster M13

Messier M13, Hercules Globular Cluster, photographed with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5 and setting ISO6400 and 12x60s. Raw pictures converted to DNG and stacked using DeepSkyStacker. Final editing with CS4.

Comet C/2019 Y4 with TAL200K

Comet C/2019 Y4 yesterday evening April 20, 2020. Picture taken with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5 with setting : ISO 6400, 11x60s exposure time. Raw pictures converted to DNG and stacking using DeepSkyStacker. Stacking was done with comet option.

Lyrid Meteor Shower this night.

It will be a clear sky and thus perfect to watch Lyrid Meteors. The best moment is to wait untill after midnight, wednesday morning. Nights are still dark and it's possible to see 15 meteors/hour.
Good luck :)

Whirlpool Galaxy M51

A combination of two sessions : session of April 21 and April 10 2020. Total exposure 51min. Picture taken with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5. DeepSkyStacker was used to stack the pictures and CS4 for final editing.

The Pinwheel Cluster M36

Messier M36, an open star cluster, and known as the Pinwheel Cluster observed with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5. Setting ISO1600 and 12x60s exposure. Raw pictures converted to DNG and stacked using DeepSkyStacker. Final editing with CS4.

New Comet C/2020 F8 SWAN - Naked eye comet next month May

Only very recently a new comet was discoverd which could be visible with the naked eye somewhere end of May. Currently the comet is only seen in the southern hemisphere but as from mid May the comet is also visible in the northern hemisphere. At that time however very low above the horizon and just after sunset.

It's not clear yet of this comet, C/2020 F8 SWAN, is periodical or not. Latest observations conclude the comet is hyperbolic and thus will be seen only once.

I uploaded the orbit elements of the comet C/2020 F8 SWAN already into Stellarium but as said above, changes are still possible. 

DeepSkyStacker and Comet C/2019 Y4 Atlas April 9th 2020

Setting : fixed comet and stars

Editing comet pictures is not that easy... until my Helios collegue Walter demonstrated this.
First upload and select the pictures and next complete registration, but without stacking. Once this is done, click on each picture and select "comet" sign (right of the picture). Hold shift and select the comet and click the position. Do this for all pictures. Once completed, select stacking and use advanced setting. Click comets and choose "fix" comet or "fix comet and stars".  The difference between both is that with the first setting, the comet will be fixed with stars in the back showing up as startrails. The second setting takes more time and will both fix the comet and stars.

As a result I restacked my pictures from Comet C/2019 Y4 Atlas from April 9th, 2020.

Setting : Comet fixed

Clear Skies

So far the end of March and the beginning of April had many clear skies. It looks that this weekend clouds will appear but as from Sunday onwards clear skies are showing up again...

Review HLK-RM04 Wifi module en draadloze aansturing

Ik was helemaal verkocht nadat ik begin dit jaar via VVSCapella een mooie en goede voorstelling had gezien van hoe je een montering van op afstand kan bedienen. Na de uiteenzetting kwam ik in contact met enkele leden die toelichting gaven bij een goedkope wifi oplossing.

Enkele dagen later nam ik de beslissing voor de aanschaf van een HLK RM04 wifimodule.

Het coronavirus gooide roet in het eten want het pakje werd pas eind maart geleverd. Er werd een adapter met amerikaanse stekker geleverd en een soortgelijke had ik niet direct liggen; deze werd dan online bijbesteld. Eenmaal de module onder stroom stond bleek dat ik geen connectie kon maken met de DB9(f) stekker van mijn montering. Dus opnieuw een bestelling gemaakt en nu van een DB9(m) kabel. Eenmaal alle stekkers en kabels in mijn bezit begon het installatie werk.

Mijn startpunt begint met input van VVScapella, dat een en ander op astroforum hebben gezet: https://www.astroforum.nl/forum/instrumenten/zelfbouw-atm/13h98595-draadloze-goto-met-skysafari-dat-kan-je-zelf

Connectie werd eerst gemaakt met mijn iphone. Hiervoor diende ik wel mijn simkaart en mijn thuiswifi uit te schakelen. Daarna deed ik dit over op met mijn Ipad. Het duurt wel even voor er connectie kan gemaakt worden maar eenmaal dat dit lukt kan ik naar het IP adres gaan. Daar dien ik de gegevens aan te passen voor mijn skywatchter montering en specifiek voor de synscan v4 :
- NetMode:WiFi(AP)-SERIAL(WiFi als Access Point)
- IP Address: 192.168.11.254 (check dit even via je wifi network)
- Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
- Serial configure: 9600,8,n,1 (9600 baud, 8 databits, no parity, 1 stopbit)
- Network Mode: Server
- Local/Remote Port Number: 8000 (of een andere, zolang altijd dezelfde wordt gebruikt)

Nu was het tijd voor het grote werk en werd de synscnan ingeschakeld en werd de synscan via de DB9(m) kabel aan de HLK RM04 module gekoppeld. Maar wat dien ik nu eigenlijk te koppelen?

Aanschaf van mobiele planetaria programma’s?
Juist ja, ik moet een connectie maken via software om van daaruit mijn montering te sturen. Ik koos voor Stellarium Mobile Plus App. Deze betalende App heeft enerzijds de mogelijkheid om connectie te maken met mijn montering en anderzijds heb ik ervaring via de Stellarium PC versie. Na installatie van de app wordt de HLK-RM04 module werd onder stroom gezet, de wifi werd gevonden en gelinkt, de synscan ingeschakeld, de app gestart en ….. niets. 

Kabels en kabels... het was toch draadloos?

Opnieuw dien ik alles door te nemen maar zonder succes. Ik had wel al ergens gelezen dat er mogelijks geknutseld moest worden maar via VVSCapella had men aangegeven dat dit niet nodig was voor de Synscan. Dan maar veder lezen en zo kwam ik terecht bij https://www.webastro.net/forums/topic/135021-piloter-sa-monture-en-wifi-pour-moins-de-10%E2%82%AC/

Deze info gaf aan dat er toch moest geknustseld worden. Ik download daarom eerst de handleiding van mijn synscan en zocht naar details van de DB9 schakeling. Uiteindelijk kwam ik tot de conclusie dat de DB9(f) stekkers volgens figuur 1 met elkaar verbonden dienen te worden. 

Ik overweeg het op te geven en neem nog één poging om de verbinding te maken met een zelf bewerkte 1,5mm draad. De module werd onder stroom gezet, de wifi werd gevonden en gelinkt, de synscan ingeschakeld, beide apps gestart en ….. jawel beide apps geven direct door dat ze geconnecteerd zijn.

Via mijn Ipad slaag ik er alsdus in om op afstand en dus draadloos mijn montering aan te sturen. Een geweldige ervaring en het geeft ook een enorme voldoening na zoveel trial and error.

Review Camare Control Software DigiCamControl

In search of free software controlling my DSLR Nikon D7500 camera I found the following Software DigiCamControl. The software is these days also used for DSLR Webcams.

Why software controlling my DSLR camera?
          - First and most important is realizing longer exposures then standard off line, which is                          typically 30s or you should stay with your equipment all the time.
          - Second is having live view from my laptop making it easy to adjust my mount.
          - Third is saving pictures direct on my PC and not through SD card of DSLR
          - Fourth is having the ability to change setting from my laptop so I don't need to touch the                      camera while installed on my telescope.

Homepage of DigiCameraControl

When reading some reviews, all above requirement would be met. So decission was made to download the software. The software is running with OS Windows 10.

After download, the program was installed and once ready the software was started. Next I made connection between Nikon D7500 and laptop using USB-micro USB cable. Once connection was made the software immediately recognizes my Nikon D7500 camera. Make sure the camera is on!

Live view is working very easy and the astronomy tool is exactly what I was looking for. Set exposure time, amount of pictures you need and start the sequence.

Astrotool screenshot

Pictures, even raw, are shown in the home screen once the picture is made. Zoom 66/100 is possible to see details.

Astrotool 

So  far, all my expectations are forfilled and the software is working well and very stable. One remark, the software does not recognize setting for one shot or mirror Up. So, when changing from one to the other, you should disconnect the camera and reconnect.

Change setting saving pictures

Comet C/2019 Y1 Atlas Manual Stacking

Comet C/2019 Y1 Atlas with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5 setting ISO1600 and 60s exposure time manual stacked using CS4.

Comet C/2017 T2 Panstarrs Manual Stacking

Comet C/2017 T2 Panstarrs is located in Constellation Cassiopeia and about magnitude 8.5. Pictures taken with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5. Setting ISO1600 and 60s exposure time. Manual stacking using CS4.

How to Upload Comets in Stellarium

Last months, several comets can be observed during nightsky. Comets C/2019 Y1, Y4 and C/2017 T2 (Panstarrs) to mention some of them. Since the mentioned comets are not really bright, and certainly not visible with the naked eye, it is difficult to find them. Mostly I'm looking for a bright star nearby and via “The Sky Live” I go for more detail maps. This usually works, but it remains cumbersome. In a conversation with Helios collegue Walter, I addressed this problem and he gave me the tip to look up the comets through Planetarium Software Stellarium. But as it turned out, there are no comets in Stellarium, at least not standard. There is however an option to upload comets. 

How do you proceed? 

Click on plug-ins via the Stellarium control panel (F2). Select "edit solar system" and configure. Then choose solar system and click import from MPC format. Make your choice known by clicking on comets and browse through the database. I use the MPC database. Select "track elements obtained" and then select update existing objects. Now select your favorite comet and add the orbit elements. Close the screens and close Stellarium. 

 After start-up, search for your comet via the search screen. Please note that the format must be correct: so use C/2019 Y4 or P/xxx. I have uploaded the comets above in the described way and I can say that it works beautifully. And since I control my mount with Stellarium, it go straight  to the comet. With good alignment, this is always a "hit".

Comet C/2019 Y4 Atlas falls apart?

A comparison between pictures of Comet C/2019 Y4 (Altas) from March 26 and yesterday, April 10 shows clearly a difference in brightness at the coma sight. Normally it was expected the comet would get brighter. However the last week the comet is getting weaker. This is clearly seen at the pictures. The reason is not 100% clear but the comet could be broken apart.

Comet C/2019 Y1 Atlas with TAL200K

The core of the comet C/2019 Y1 (Atlas) is visible from my pictures, taken yesterday April 10, 2020.
Picture taken with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5 and setting ISO1600, 60s.

Globular Cluster M68

Globular Cluster Messier M68 is located in constellation Hydra and about 33000 light years away from Earth and thus still within our own galaxy, the Milky Way.
The cluster is very difficult to see as it's only 12° above the horizon.
Pictures were made with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5. Setting ISO2000 and 12x45s exposure time. The moon was 92% and very low above the horizon.

Whirlpool Galaxy M51

Just before Moonrise I took some pictures of the Whirlpool Galaxy Messier M51. This galaxy is located in Canes Venatici and about 23 million lightyears from Earth.
Pictures taken with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5 and setting ISO6400 21x60s (total exposure 21minutes). The mount was connected with Stellarium and camera connected with DigiCamControl Software. Raw pictures converted to DNG and stacking using DeepSkyStacker. Final editing with CS4.

Venus with TAL200K

On the evening of April 9th, Venus was observed using TAL200K f/8.5. As Venus is very bright (magnitude -4,2) it's difficult to see the phases of Venus. Using very low exposure time and ISO setting at 100, I was able to photograph current phase of Venus of about 41%.

Messier M82 with TAL200K

Galaxy Messier M82 with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5. Setting ISO3200 and total exposure time of 31 minutes each picture 31x60s. Stacking with DeepSkyStacker and final editing using CS4.
DigiCamControl software used to increase exposure time.

Galaxy Messier M82 is located in constellation Ursa Major and about 12 million lightyears away from Earth.

Comet C/2019 Y4 Atlas with TAL200K Edited

Observation of Comet C/2019 Y4 Atlas with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5. Setting ISO800 and 6 x 120s. No darks and stacking using DeepSkyStacker. Final editing with CS4.
Long exposure was realised using DigiCamControl Software and raw pictures converted to DNG files.

Comet C/2019 Y4 Atlas with TAL200K

This evening, just before Moonrise, I took some pictures of Comet C/2019 Y4 Atlas. Setting with Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5 ISO3200 and exposure time of 120s.
The exposure time was realized by connecting DSLR Nikon with DigiCamControl Software. This was my first time I did use the software. No issues were found and no interferance with Stellarium which was connected to the mount. Below is a jpg file edited with CS4.

Venus Phase

Picture of Yesterday's Venus phase. Setting with Nikon D7500 and TLAPO80/480 f/6 ISO100 1/320s.

ATT Essen Cancelled

The ATT, annual exhibition for amateur astronomers, in Essen (Germany) for May 9th, 2020 is cancelled due to the German Covid-19 measures.

Comet C/2017 T2 Panstarrs with TLAPO80/480

Comet C/2017 T2 Panstarrs with TLAPO80/480 and Nikon D7500. It's the first time I'm observing this comet. And as with C/2019 Y1 Atlas is't also located in constellation Cassiopeia but north if it. Observation made while full moon.

Comet C/2019 Y1 Atlas with TLAPO80/480

Comet C/2019 Y1 Atlas with TLAPO80/480 and Nikon D7500. The first time I'm observing this comet. It's located in constellation Cassiopeia with a magnitude of 8.5.

Comet C/2019 Y4 Atlas with TLAPO80/480

Comet C/2019 Y4 Atlas with TLAPO80/480 and Nikon D7500. Picture was made while full moon. The comet is less bright the last week.

Full Moon

Venus and Pleiades with Bahtinov Mask

April 3, 2020, Venus in the Pleiades. Picture taken during start-up with Bahtinov Mask.

Comet C/2019 Y4 Atlas Animated Gif

On March 31, 202, the comet C/2019 Y4 Atlas was observed with TAL200K f/8.5. Pictures were taken with ZWO224MC. An animated gif was made of two pictures with timediffence of only 4min. This shows the speed of the comet across the sky.
Pictures are tiff files and slightly edited using CS4.

The animation is made using CS4 using "Window Animation" and save as Gif file and no specifics.