NLC

Currently NLC above Averbode (Belgium). Picture taken with iPhone 11

What is polarization? Event Horizon Telescope

The Radboud University Nijmegen made a youtube video explaining the phenomenon of polarization of light. This video, made by "director" Sara Issaoun,  helps understanding the recent picture from the black hole in M87.

All details about the recent image of the magnetic fields around the black hole in M87 can be found on the webpage of the Event Horizon Telescope.

Sun with Sunspot AR2827

This evening the Sun was photographed with two sunspots (of which one is AR2827). The picture is a combination of two pictures : one with baader astrosolar ND3.8, the other with baader astrosolar ND3.8, solar continuum filter (540nm) and IR/UV blocker filter.

The combination was made using CS4 in DNG format.

This was also a general repetition for next week partial solar eclipse.

NGC5566 (ARP286)

A trio galaxy in Virgo : NGC5560, 5566 and 5569 all at a distance of 65 million ly away from Earth. The trio is also known as ARP286

Setting : Nikon D7500 with TAL200K f/8.5. ISO400, exposure time 60x60s with darks, flats, darkflats and bias. Stacking using APP and final editing with CS4.

Mercury is fading away

Mercury is almost invisible and fading away. Venus is getting brighter and moving higher in the sky.

NGC4274 with new setting

NGC4274 is located in Coma Berenices and is about 45 million ly away from Earth. Galaxy NGC4274 was photographed using new settings :
- Low ISO 400 instead of using higher ones I typically use (1600, 3200)

- Total Exposure time 1hour; previous I choose between 30-45minutes

- Exposure time of each picture 60s

- Use of Bias, Darks, Flats and Darkflats 

Instrumentation : Nikon D7500 and TAL200K f/8.5; stacking was done using APP and limited editing with CS4.

Circumzenithal Arc

Yesterday beside a small halo around the Sun I could also observe a circumzenithal arc.