Another SHO image, this time from the heart of the Milkyway in Sagittarius, NGC 6559 (in the lower left) and friends.
More details at Astrobin.
Continue readingNGC 6559 and Friends
Carina Nebula Centered on Mystic Mountain
One of the drop-dead gorgeous objects in the southern skies is the Great Carina Nebula, NGC 3372, of course. Imaged here in narrowband SHO colors with added RGB stars, using the new IAS remote telescope “Dieter”.
More details at Astrobin.
Continue readingA Tale of Three Black Holes
With #3 recently discovered in the analysis during preparation of Gaia DR4 data, there are now 3 black holes in the Gaia catalog. Or more precise, 3 binary systems consisting of a companion star and a likely stellar-mass black hole.
So I took the opportunity to capture the corresponding starfields with the new IAS remote telescope “Dieter” at Hakos, Namibia. The images only show the companion stars, of course. ;-)
Regarding the BH3 image, at first I wasn’t sure whether I found the right object, as the catalog gives the coordinates RA=19h39m18.7115472s, DEC=+14d55m54.010992s and the read-out in Pixinsight showed ICRS RA=19h39m18.68s, DEC=+14d55m50.3s. But thanks to the discussion with Ulrich Bastian I found out that it is necessary to take into account the large proper motion of the object, which results in almost 4″ deviation in declination. Calculating the current position for 2024.5 with Astropy yields RA=19h39m18.66368537s DEC=+14d55m50.2085012s.
Continue reading10th Anniversary Galaxy
Almost exactly 10 years ago, I photographed the magnificient Pavo Galaxy with the IAS 20 inch AK3, my first object with such a “big scope”. Here’s the result of June 2024, with much more exposure time on the very same telescope. I originally planned to use my QHY268M with the AK3, but this camera is now used at the new IAS remote telescope. So back to the roots with a ASI294MC Pro one-shot-color camera.
Image of the Day 2024-07-07 at Astrobin!
Continue readingFluffy Globular Cluster
The first light of the new IAS remote telescope at Hakos, Namibia. NGC 5139 aka Omega Centauri, the most massive known globular cluster in the Milky Way.
More details at Astrobin.
Continue readingPrawn Nebula
“Second” light of the new IAS remote telescope at Hakos, Namibia, featuring IC 4628, the Prawn Nebula in Scorpius. (Actually taken while on-site in June. ;-)
Details at Astrobin.
Continue readingTerlingua Star Trail
Star trail over the Terlingua Ranch Lodge. This image is a composite of the foreground landscape at dusk and 2 hours of starry night after the Moon set in the wee hours.
Dellbrückentag 2024
Von Baum zu Baum: Stadtteilspaziergang mit Kunst, Literatur, Musik, Tanz und Zauberei am 10. Mai 2024 durch Dellbrück (mit einem kleinen Abstecher nach Bergisch Gladbach).
Stationen: (Rot)Buche — Eiche — Linde — (Ess)Kastanie – Birken
Mehr dazu auf der Webseite des Dellbrückentags.
Alle Bilder hier in der Galerie: Photography > Köln > Dellbrückentag 2024
Continue readingSolar Storm Aurora
You don’t get this often: colorful aurora at 51° latitude, north-east of Cologne, Germany. A strong solar storm is currently impacting Earth.
Das sieht man auch nicht alle Tage: Polarlichter in allen Farben über den ganzen Himmel bei heimischer 51° Breite, nordöstlich von Köln. Ein massiver Sonnensturm trifft gerade auf die Erde.
Continue readingEn Passant – Köln
Spaziergang durch das Naturschutzgebiet Mutzbach im Norden von Dellbrück an der Grenze zu Bergisch Gladbach. Dieser wichtige Wegweiser soll offensichtlich Motoristen und Wanderer wieder auf den richtigen Pfad bringen.