Lightpollution and the effects of the City Lights Off

Orion at the sky with City Lights OFF

What is the effect of lightpollution and when a city agrees to put the lights OFF as from midnight. See for comparison the two pictures both showing Orion above the southern horizon, one before and one after midnight. Thanks to the City of Scherpenheuvel-Zichem.

Orion at the sky with City Light ON

Beautiful Sunrise

After a cloudness night a beautiful sunrise @ Langdorp. Settings f/10 27mm ISO250 1/250s.

Jupiter, Mars and Vesta in the morning sky

Beautifull sky this morning with a couple of bright planets above the south-eastern horizon. Jupiter and Mars arising before sunrise and Vesta can be seen using a small scope.

Winterconstellation Orion

It's freezing outside and Orion is shining in the South.

M41 and Orion Nebula M42 withTLAPO804

Messier M42 observed with TLAPO804 and single shot picture - editing completed using CS4.

Messier M41, low above the southern horizon.

Flame Nebula in Orion

This evening I was able to take picture of the Flame Nebula in Orion. The nebula registrated as NGC2024 was observed using my TLAPO80/480. The picture is a single shot of 60s and editing using CS4. If you look very good, you will also recognize the Horsehead nebula.

Bright Sunspot AR2699 Compared with SIDC Drawing

The best contrast and best sharpness was achieved at ISO100 and 1/320s and after editing using CS4. Enlarging the sunspot area gives the result below.

Enlarged & Mirroded

Drawing made by SIDC