An introduction to Astrophysics

A really good book for astronomy is "An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics". It's written by Bradley Carroll and Dale Ostlie. I bought the second edtion from 2021 and it's published by Cambridge University Press. The textbook has 30 chapters explaining all aspects of Astrophysics and each chapters has a problem section.

To find the solutions of the problems see :

* solution manual https://gradespush.com/shop/introduction-to-modern-astrophysics-2nd-edition-carroll-solutions-manual/

* solutions web https://www.studocu.com/en-us/document/university-of-north-texas/introduction-to-modern-astrophysics/solutions-manual/36337867

MIT Open Learning - Astronomy Courses

Since 2001, MIT (Yes, it's the famous Masschutsetts Institute of Technology) OpenCourseWare has been creating new opportunities for millions of learners and educators, sharing Open Educational Resources (OER) from MIT and helping to lead a global revolution in free access to knowledge.

MIT OpenCourseWare continues to build on this foundation. With a new web platform, ever-growing content, and collaborations across the vibrant open education ecosystem, we're creating a world of more equitable and inclusive education for all.

OCW  (Open Course Ware) is a free and open publication of material from thousands of MIT courses, covering the entire MIT curriculum. That's every MIT department and degree program, ranging from the introductory to the most advanced graduate level. Each OCW course includes a syllabus, some instructional material (such as lecture notes or a reading list), and some learning activities (such as assignments or exams). Many courses also have complete video lectures, free online textbooks, and faculty teaching insights. While some OCW content is custom-created for online use, most of it comes straight from the MIT classroom.

Some available astronomy courses :

- Relativity, Astrophysics, Quantumphysics, Exoplanets, Universe, ... see this link.

Lezing: Einsteintelescoop te UHasselt

Op dinsdag 16 mei organiseert het FWO in samenwerking met EOS in de lokalen van de UHasselt een uiteenzetting over hoe de Einsteintelescoop werkt en wat wetenschappers hopen er mee te ontdekken.

De speciale editie van Eos is deze maand volledig gewijd aan de Einsteintelescoop en de aanschaf er van is een echte aanrader.

Meer informatie van de lezing is hier terug te vinden:

https://www.fwo.be/nl/nieuws/aankondigingen/grijze-cellen-hoe-werkt-de-einsteintelescoop-en-wat-hopen-de-wetenschappers-te-ontdekken/

Inschrijven voor lezing kan via deze link: 

https://www.uhasselt.be/nl/over-uhasselt/agenda/lustrumlezing-en-debat-i-s-m-eos-hoe-werkt-de-einsteintelescoop-en-wat-hopen-de-wetenschappers-te-ontdekken

Some more pictures of Venus-Moon conjuction of April 23

Some more pictures of the Venus-Moon conjuction of April 23, which happened during daytime.

Both pictures taken with Nikon D7500; one withTLAPO80/480 f/6, the other with telelens 18-200mm.

My picture of Mars published in Heelal magazine

One of my pictures of Mars is published in magazine Heelal (Year 68, number 5, May 202, page 10). The article decribes the opposition 2022 of Mars and is written by Dominique Dierick. I'm really proud to be part of this review and to see that my picture is "good" enough for publishment knowing my small aparture of 20cm (8").

See also this link to my post of this Mars observation.

Venus - Mars - Moon

April 25, 2023: The moon high in sky with at the east Mars and at the south west Venus and the Pleiades. 

Moon-Venus Conjunction during daylight - a real challenge!

On page 57 of "De Hemelkalender 2023" (astro calender 2023) we can read that on Sunday April 23, 2023 UT11h30, the Moon and Venus are in conjunction. In the beginning of this year that we agreed to observe this event with our Helios astronomy club. Unfortunately weatherforecast was not good and only the morning would be cloudfree. So the gathering was moved to the morning and 4 members showed up. A binocular, ETX70, refractors and telelens was set up to find the Moon and/or Venus. It's a challenge and really not easy to find the Moon during day time and when the Sun overshines the sky. It took us almost an hour to locate the Moon and Venus. Just in time to take some pictures.

Venus-Mercury in the evening sky

 

Clear skies in April 17 and 18 with the planets Venus and Mercury in the evening sky. Mercury is getting fainter everyday and moving towards the Sun. The apparent distance between Venus and the Pleiades is also increasing when comparing with my previous observations earlies this month.

Setting: Nikon D7500 f/5.6, 40mm, ISO800, 3s exposure time. Editing using CS4.

Fireball on Monday April 17 19h32UT

During twilight UT19h32 of April 17 a very bright fireball was observed which went from 45° North towards NW uptill the horizon.
In total 250 reports were send in via amsmeteors and the meteor was also captured by MIRA (see this link)


Link to my report: https://amsmeteors.org/members/imo_view/report/308827

Venus and Mercury 2,5° above horizon

 

Venus and Mercury low above the western horizon. At UT20h20 (local time 22h20), Mercury was about 2,5° above the horizon. Unfortunately the location was badly light pollutioned, but still the Pleiades, some stars from constellation Taurus and of course Mercury could be captured.

Setting: Nikon D7500 f/5.6 38mm, ISO3200, 3s exposure time
Editing using CS4.

Venus, Pleiades and Mercury

 

Venus near Pleiades and Mercury about 1,5h after sunset. Mercury can be seen low above the horizon (about 4° above the horizon)  and 2 days after greatest elongation.

Setting: Nikon D7500 f/4.5 28mm ISO1600 3s
Limited editing using CS4.

Needle Galaxy NGC4565

The Needle galaxy (NGC4565, Caldwell38) is located in constellation Coma Berenices and about 40 lightyears away from Earth. It's an edge-on spiral galaxy and a member of the Coma I group.

Image was taken on April 3 with the Moon 95% illuminated. These condiations were not ideal and next time I will not take images near the full moon.

Setting: TAL200K f/8.5, ASI2600MC, Guidingscope 50x229 with ASI224MC on EQ8R-Pro

Lights: 31x300s (bin2x2 , -10°C), Flats, Darks and Bias

Software: ASIair Plus, APP, CS4, DeNoise AI

1 Year to go: Total Solar Eclipse April 8 2024

 One year from now, on April 8, 2024, the next total solar eclipse in northern America will be visible. 

See also this link to Total Solar Eclipse 

Full "Pink" Moon

 

Image of the April full moon on April 5; April full moon is also called the "Pink" moon. 

Setting: TAL200K f/8.5, ASI2600MC, Guidingscope 50x229/ with ASI224MC
Software: ASIair Plus, CS4

Venus-Mercury

Twilight of April 3, 2023 (UT19h11) with Venus and Mercury.

Setting: Nikon D7500, 32mm