2018-07-27, Eclipse of the moon.

Posted on 28/07/2018 by Jaap

On the very hot (38°C/100°F) summer evening of Friday 27 July, more than 500 visitors had gathered at public observatory Bussloo transforming the observatory into a festival site. Armed with drinks, chairs, telescopes and binoculars, the darkened moon became visible for the first time at 22.05 CET, more than half an hour after the rise of the moon.

With 1h 48m, this lunar eclipse was the longest in duration of the 21th century.

After a first presentation, I looked outside through the back door; there were already more than 100 visitors waiting in line for the next presentation.

Waiting for the moon to rise.

Observers on top of the hill were the first to spot the moon rising through thin clouds.

2018-07-27, 21.02 UT, Moon & Mars. Canon 6D II, Sigma ART 135mm, F/1.8, 0.8sec, ISO1600.

2018-07-28, 21.14 UT. Canon 60D, William Optics FLT98, f=618mm, ISO400, 4sec.

2018-07-28, 21.23 UT.Canon 60D, William Optics FLT98, f=618mm, ISO400, 2sec.

2018-07-28, 21.47 UT. Canon 60D, William Optics FLT98, f=618mm, ISO400, 1sec.

2018-07-28, 22.23 UT. Canon 60D, William Optics FLT98, f=618mm, ISO400, 1/800sec.

2018-06-18, Noctilucent clouds.

Posted on 19/06/2018 by Jaap

First time for me this year. Just before going to sleep I glanced out of the bedroom window: noctilucent clouds. Quickly grabbed the camera and took a couple of shots with the 135mm through the window.

Canon 6Dii, Sigma 135mm ART, F2.0, ISO800, 0.5s.

2018-06-16, Moon and Venus.

Posted on 17/06/2018 by Jaap

First light for the EF 70-300 4-5.6 L usm IS. Canon 6DII, 150mm, F6.3, ISO 1600, 0.5s.

2018-02-23/24, National Stargazing days.

Posted on 25/02/2018 by Jaap

Public Observatory Bussloo received over 500 visitors at the National Stargazing days in the weekend of 23-24 february 2018. Despite the cold eastern wind a lot of families with children visited the observatory to attend short presentations on various astronomical topics or to look through a telescope at the Moon.

Geminids 2017 from La Palma.

Posted on 19/12/2017 by Jaap

Observed the 2017 return of the Geminids from Athos Centro Astronómico at La Palma. Although Europe was severely hampered by the storm Ana we managed to succesfully observe the Geminids in the nights 13/14 and 14/15 december.

Photos Namibia 2017.

Posted on 02/10/2017 by Jaap

First batch of images processed and uploaded. More to come.

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2017-09-15, Milkyway.

Posted on 23/09/2017 by Jaap

During a clear spell at public observatory Bussloo I took a number of shots with my new Canon EOS 6D mark ii. A Canon EF 8-15mm fisheye zoom was used at 15mm. Stack of 10 x 20 seconds at F4 and ISO6400, piggybacked at the observatories AP1100 mount.

2017-09-03, Sun.

Posted on 17/09/2017 by Jaap

After months of little to no activity a nice group of sunspots (AR2674) appeared. In poor seeiing I captured a 1/125s shot from my balcony (overlooking a big tin roof) with a William Optics 61mm, f=360mm telescope and Canon 6Dii ati ISO800.

2017-08-12/13 Perseids

Posted on 16/08/2017 by Jaap

Although the weather looked bad, meteorologists predicted clear spells during the Perseid maximum night 12/13 august. We gathered at public observatory Bussloo at 22.00 preparing for a very humid night waiting for the skies to clear. Around 22.45 most camera’s started imaging a partly cloudy sky. The first meteors were seen. At midnight most of the clouds had disappeared but instead the moon started to rise and illuminate the skies. Between 01.30 and 02.30 we were completely clouded out, but then the clouds finally gave way and we were able to continu well into dawn. Highlight of the night was a -6 Perseid fireball right in my field of view with a persisting train that was visible in binoculars for over 1 minute.

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