Andromeda Galaxy Complex M31 M32 M110 NGC206

My 4 sessions of the Andromeda Galaxy M31 with M32, M110 and NGC206 are all stacked using APP - AstroPixelProcessor. A total of 254 pictures are used resulting in a time exposure of 3h32m. 

Final editing using CS4.

Setting : Nikon D7500 with TLAPO80/480 f/6. Nikon Raw (Nef) was used by APP to stack the pictures. 

Govert Schilling Live via Youtube

 

Lecture by Govert Schilling is now live via Youtube. 

Forming Sunspot in CaII K, White and Solar Continuum

A combination of white light (ND3.8), Solar Continuum and CaIIK Line. The forming sunspot is clearly visible on all three pictures.

My longest exposure so far

The Andromeda Galaxy M31 was photographed. Total exposure time was 3hours and 32minutes. All together I made 253 pictures taken with setting of 30s and 60s exposure time and different ISO setting.

Setting : Nikon D7500 and TLAPO80/480 f/6. Camera control with DigiCamControl for exposure time >30s. Raw data converted to DNG and stacking using DeepSkyStacker. Final editing using CS4. 

A forming Sunspot

A sunspot is forwing near the edge of the Sun. Pictures made using ND3.8 filter with and without Solar Continuum filer.

Setting : Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5

Halo

Verstuurd vanaf mijn iPhone 11Some high clouds and a halo around the Sun.

Open Starcluster M52 and Bubble Nebula NGC7635

Open Starcluster M52 and Bubble Nebula NGC7635 with Nikon D7500 and TLAPO80/480 f/6.

Setting ISO4000, 30x60s and darks. Cameracontrol using DigiCamControl. Raw data converted to DNG and stacking with DeepSkyStacker. Final editing using CS4 and DeNoise AI.

Andromeda Galaxy M31

My second session of 60x60s exposure time was done in ISO4000. Now I could combine this with my first session (ISO 2500) using DeepSkyStacker. Final editing was done with CS4 and DeNoise AI.

Setting : Nikon D7500 and TLAPO80/480 f/6 : first session 60x60s ISO2500, second session 60x60s ISO4000. Camera control by DigiCamControl. Raw data converted to DNG and stacking using DeepSkyStacker.

Fireworks Galaxy NGC6946

 Fireworks Galaxy or NGC6946 : picture edited using DeNoise AI

Galaxy NGC6946

Galaxy NGC4946 is located in constellation Cepheus and about 25million lightyears away from Earth.

Setting : Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5, ISO4000, 11x60s. DigiCamControl used to control my camera. Raw data converted to DNG and stacked using DeepSkyStacker. Final editing with CS4.

Mars Mapper

An interesting website is Mars Mapper. It shows how the Red Planet shows up in your telescoop. Any date between july 2020 and the spring next year will give you a simulation of Mars.

I used my picture from last night to compare. See the result for yourself :)

Mars

Last night I took some pictures of Mars. Even though the sky was very clear, seeing was not that good. But still, I was able to get to best out of it. See result below and also a copy of Mars Mapper.

Setting : ASI224MC on TAL200K f/8.5. Use of ADC and barlow x2. Frames stacked using AutoStakkert! and final editing with CS4.

Sun CaII K-line

This afternoon I took some pictures of a quit Sun using Baader filter CaII K-line without my solarfilm ND3.8. Doing this I was able to focus much better which resulted in very sharp pictures.

Setting : Nikon D7500 with TAL200K f/8.5; ISO800 and exposure time of 1/50s. Editing using CS4.

Sun in CaII K ND3.8 : first details

Observation of the Sun with Baader Ca II K filter showed some details. I was still practicing and did not expect too much. So this result was far more then I expected. 

Set up : Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5. Baader Ca II K filter, Solarfilm ND3.8, ISO800 and exposure time of 8s. Editing using CS4.

Mars with ASI224MC

A month from today, Mars will be at opposition. Last night I was able to make some pictures of Mars. Right after midnight (local time),  Mars was bright and high in the sky. Pictures were made with ZWO ASI224MC on TAL 200K f/8.5. I used my ADC and Barlow x2. Capturesoftware ASICAP was used and stacking was done with AutoStakkert!. Final editing with CS4.

Andromeda Galaxy M31 TLAPO80/480

This was my first observation since July 30th. My objective was rather making pictures of Mars but due to good seeing conditions I took the opportunity to make some long exposure pictures from Andromeda Galaxy M31.

Setting : Nikon D7500 and TLAPO80/480 f/6; ISO2500, 60x60s and darks. DigiCamControl. was used to manage my camera. Raw pictures converted to DNG and stacked using DeepSkyStacker. Final editing with CS4.

Solarfilm ND3.8 - DIY

In view of Solar CaII K line observations I made a new Solarfilm. My current solarfilm has a safety factor of 100.000 or ND5. As the CaII K line is located in the range of violet more light is needed. So instead of ND5 I will be using ND3.8. 

How to make a solarfilm yourself? See my blog DIY Solarfilm. 

My new Solarfilm ND3.8 8"

Studium Generale Lecture Relativistic Quantum World

This lecture "Relativistic Quantum World" series of ten 1-hour lectures on five evenings will focus on the central concepts of two theories, while keeping mathematics to a minimum. The first part deals with Einstein's theories of special and general relativity, culminating in the recent discovery of gravitational waves. The second part includes the counter-intuitive concepts of quantum mechanics and their interpretation: the relativistic quantum world is fundamentally different from our macroscopic world. On the final evening, we will end with an overview of elementary particle physics and recent discoveries of the LHC collider at CERN.

Timing
Sep 16, 2020 07:30 PM
Sep 23, 2020 07:30 PM
Sep 30, 2020 07:30 PM
Oct 7, 2020 07:30 PM
Oct 14, 2020 07:30 PM

Pint of Science Portugal now Live

Pint of Science version Portugal is now live. Be aware .. 8pm portugal time equals 9pm Brussel time.
See live this link via facebook

First light with Baader CaII K en Solar Continuum Filter

This morning the sky was cloudfree so time to try out the baader filter CaIIK and Solar Continuum filters.

For the try out I used my TAL200K f/8.5 scope with Nikon D7500. Unfortunately I was not able to get the sun into focus. With only a few mm too short. So the pictures are not in focus and can not be used as a reference. After putting all material back in place I found a solution for a next trial and also collegue Walter provided a solid solution to overcome a couple of mm backfocus. 

Beside the focus issue, the CaII K picture is too dark. Total exposure time is about 25s. This is due to the use of a Solar filter ND5. Next try out I will be using my new solar filter ND3.8.

Pint of Science : September 7 - 9 : Astronomy on line from all over Europe

Pint of Science is happening this year on September 7 - 9.

Some interesting astronomy lectures across Europe :

1) Germany : see this link 

2) Belgium : Recycling a Star! : September 8, 19h30

3) Portugal : What do Colors of the Sun tell you? : September 7, 20h00