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.

Astronomical Autumn

Today at 4h29 the astronomical autumn starts. September Equinox happens when the plane of Earth's Equator passes through the center of our Sun. For Belgium this happens at 2h29UT, september 23. It rarely happens on september 21, which is the common accepted date for the start of the autumn.  

Helios Meeting 21 September

After two months of summer holliday, Helios came together for their monthly meeting.
An overview was given of Project Alma (Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array).

Other topics the team discussed :

- Open Door Day Royal Meteoroligical Institute of Belgium 11&12 October 2015

- Partial Sun Eclips in Belgium March 20, 2015 : Faroe Islands or local event :)
- Visit of Averbode Abbey in view of 45th Anniverary of Helios (date TBD)
- Workshop Water Rocket Launching (date TBD)
- Solar Activity observed via Radio Astronomy (date TBD)

Noctilucent clouds July 4th

On July 4th, noctilucent clouds could be observed in Belgium. This month the VVS discussed this event in their monthly journal "Heelal".