Eclipse August 21, 2017

The eclipse of 21 august 2017 in the US will be a unique opportunity to experience a total solar eclipse combined with a visit to the US.

Interesting websites : see usefull links on this blog 

Visiting the Royal Observatory

Yesterday we made a trip to Ukkel near Brussels for visiting the Royal Observartory and the KMI Royal Weather Instute. Workshops for children and well explained experiments made this Open door day a real learning event.

Beside astronomy also information about seismology, spectroscopy, diffusion, aurora's, Gaia, interferometry, absorption, emission, meteo radars, solar-terrestrial centre of excellence and many more...

Launching of a Weather balloon. The balloon is filled with Hydrogen and will explode on a height of about 30km.

One of the many telescopes which are not in use or even not functioning any more. The use of observatory in Chili are taken over the current instrumentarium.

Royal Observatory Open doors

The fiftieth anniversary of the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA), open the IASB, the RMI and the Royal Observatory their doors on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th October.

See also this website.

Astronomy Picture

Check out this awesome image from Astronomy Picture of the Day!

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap140930.html

Active Sun with sunspots

This sunny afternoon the sun could be seen with sunspots 2172, 2173 and 2175.

Primary Mirror

Time to clean the primary mirror of my 12" Telescoop. This is always a difficult and sensitive activity but necessary. After re-installing the mirror the telescoop is collimated and ready for use.

Moon and Saturn

Both pictures from the Moon and Saturn are taken couple of hours before Saturn will disapear behind the Moon near Hawaii.

The Moon is only 12% illuminated and is as low as 5 degrees above the horizon (18h16 UT)

Picture of Saturn, east from the Moon and as close as 1 degree. Later this night Saurn will be disapearing behind the Moon. This will be seen near Hawii.