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5 Simple Ways to See and Photograph the Lunar Eclipse and the Opposition of Mars

July 13 2018, Marcus Schenk

Attention all lovers of nature, amateur astronomers and night owls: the night of the 27th of July, 2018 will be totally different. In this particular night, we will experience the Opposition of Mars and a rare Total Lunar Eclipse in Europe! It is sure to be a midnight Summer dream, in the middle of warm temperatures and mystical experiences.

In this article, you will learn about, that which you can use to observe and photograph the Total Lunar Eclipse and Mars.

Another interesting point: currently, there are a number of other planets to see. Now is the perfect opportunity to jump into Astronomy. You will be rewarded with a fireworks show of planets. Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn are waiting for you to rediscover them!

As the night slowly falls, the Moon will rise in the southeast. Our satellite will look unusual and simultaneously fascinating. Almost completely eclipsed, it will rise higher and higher. The “blood Moon”, which evoked fears and superstitions of death and destruction in earlier times, will be visible for us to witness with our knowledge and science in a relaxing manner and with a smile.

The highlight of this year: at a length of 1 hour and 44 minutes of totality, we will get to enjoy the longest Lunar Eclipse of the century! More information about this event is available below.

Now you can read on to learn about the 5 ways and effective products, to observe the Moon and the Planets. Let’s go!

1. Discover the Sky with Binoculars

The lunar eclipse is visible with the naked eye, but with a pair of binoculars, the Moon in the Earth’s shadow becomes an especially intense experience. For an great observation, we recommend the Omegon Binoculars Nightstar 20×80. These binos are a great alternative to a telescope or as an entry into Astronomy. They are bright and something that you can always carry with you. Just point the binos to the sky or mount them on a tripod. Then you will see the Moon in all its glory and innumerable craters. It is amazing with both eyes, as if you were there. But there is more. You can can even view Jupiter and its moons as well as starclusters, such as the Pleiades or the Andromeda Galaxy.

The Omegon Binoculars 20×80

2. Getting closer with a telescope

Much like a mega zoom into the cosmos: A telescope allows you to see real detail. Observe the entire Moon, singular lunar craters, Jupiter, or Saturn with its massive system of rings. However you want. The possibilities are endless! With a greater magnification, only available with telescopes, you will be able to see Mars for the planet that it is and not just the red “star” in the night sky. The Omegon AC 70/700 AZ-2 is the most budget-friendly entry point. With a 70mm aperture, it collects 100 times more light than the naked eye. The eyepieces enable a 35x and 70x magnification, or in combination with a barlow lense up to 140x. More details and more resolution is available in the Omegon AC 90/1000 EQ-2. The telescope is our tip for entry into lunar and planetary observing. With a 90mm aperture, you will be able to see many details, such as the cloud bands on Jupiter or the polar caps on Mars.

The Omegon AC 90/1000 EQ-2 – Recommendation for entry into Astronomy

3. The simplest way to your own astrophotos

A photo of the lunar eclipse? It’s possible with the simplest tools.

With a telescope, the path to your own photos is just a small step. The best camera for such a task is right in your pocket: your smartphone! Pick up a Smartphone adapter, which will keep your phone perfectly positioned above the eyepiece. We also offer the more budget-friendly Omegon Smartphone Adapter, which demands a bit of finesse or the Omegon Easypic Universal. This smartphone adapter is a self-centering and easy-to-use device. It only takes one minute and you will already have taken your own lunar photo.

Omegon Easypic Universal Smartphone adapter

4. The right eyepiece is decisive, when it comes to details

With eyepieces, you often must separate the wheat from the chaff. An eyepiece is essentially an extended arm of the telescope’s optic and you should put a lot of stock into selection, just as you would with a telescope itself. A good tip would be to replace old or standard eyepieces with high quality ones, which can provide you with a significantly better image. Excellent crispness and great contrast can be found in the Omegon LE Planetry Eyepieces for all 1,25“. The customer reviews range from “just fantastic” to “you cannot believe it”.

The Family of Omegon LE Planetary Eyepieces

5. Color filters for better contrast

Much like a chain, the planets of Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars will appear to us in a line, and all after darkness has fallen, during the most comfortable time of year. The constellation of planets is so rare, that now is the time to jump into astronomy. Amateurs can easily pinpoint the planets and see details of each. Polar caps and other structures on Mars, or the big red dot on Jupiter become more visible with the appropriate color filters. Placed into the eyepiece, filters can lead to an epiphany for any motivated observer. The Omegon Color filter set features the most important ones for all planets. Other contrast filters or our Lunar Filter are also a helpful inclusion to your collection.

Color filter set with 6 color filters

Other information about the Total Lunar Eclipse and the Mars Opposition is available here:

Infographic: Total Lunar Eclipse on the 27th of June 2018

Mars Opposition 2018: How to Observe Mars and its Details

Tags: Opposition of Mars, Omegon, Filter, Smartphone-Adapter, telescope, Telescope Accessories, Eyepiece, Binocular, Lunar Eclipse
Posted in Observations »

ScopeDome: Educational observatory for a Romanian secondary school

May 22 2018, Marcus Schenk

Virgin forests, vast landscapes and fantastic views. And right in the middle of it: a brand-new observatory for a school. Our latest dome project takes us to Romania to the town of Baia Mare.

This mining town is situated in the north of Romania on the edge of the East Carpathian Mountains. To find out why this observatory is so special to us, read this article.

The dream project: Observatories

Astroshop along with ScopeDome GmbH built a 3-m observatory upon a secondary school. This school is to serve as an example, considering school observatories are rare in the country. Romania is still comparably poor, and schools don’t usually have money for this kind of project.

But this is what we’re particularly proud of: Our Romanian colleague, Raul, took part personally in this observatory, was a supporter and one of the sponsors. The project finally became a reality.

3-m ScopeDome on the roof

The dome is placed on the school building perfectly framed on an observation platform. The panoramic view is amazing. The observatory will be operational soon and will easily enable the school pupils to become familiar with astronomy. Laying, hopefully, the foundation for a life-long fascination with the Universe.

The internal workings of the observatory

While a few observers are already focused on the night sky, the tour then goes into the dome. The highlight: A Celestron C8 with a Skywatcher EQ-8 mount on a column. The project was initiated by Prof. Lucian Stoyan. The observatory is now ready, and the pupils are looking forward to interesting observation sessions and exciting astronomy projects. They are, however, also looking to the near future: Next year, the Celestron C8 will be exchanged for a 14-inch RC telescope. Another dream that is about to come true.

The city of Baia Mare

Baia Mare is in northern Romania – a place of 124,000 inhabitants on the edge of the Eastern Carpathian Mountains. Many official buildings have been renovated, but there are many old and crumbling buildings. Surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, Baia Mare is considered one of the most picturesque places in Romania.

PS: Do you have such a dream, too? An observatory with a fixed telescope – which means astronomy at any time, and on the fly. Manual or fully automatic with remote control: We can make your dreams become reality, too. Simply contact us and, we’ll be pleased to have a chat with you.

Tags: Observatories, Omegon, ScopeDome
Posted in Observations »

Infographic: Astronomy Highlights in Spring 2018

March 5 2018, Marcus Schenk

Many observers are tempted outside again when temperatures start getting milder. The night sky shows us a completely different aspect in Spring. But what is there to observe? What is there worth looking at?

Here is the astronomical calendar for the next three months – The new astronomical ‘Highlights in the Spring Night Sky’ infographic shows you at a glance what is happening in the night sky during the months of March, April and May.

March

03.05. Venus near Mercury

Venus greets us as the Evening Star again this month. We find it at dusk, deep on the western horizon. But another planet can also be seen in the first days of March – Mercury. This nimble planet keeps Venus company and is an opportunity for us to marvel at the two innermost planets.

11:03 Moon near Saturn

Most observers like to use the evening hours for observing the night sky. But anyone who does not get up early this month will miss a special show – The three planets Saturn, Mars and Jupiter all shining in the early morning sky. The Moon nears the gloriously ringed planet on the 11th of March, getting to only about 1.5°away. Observers will have a fantastic sight thanks to the waning crescent Moon.

11.03 Moon at apogee

The moon does not orbit the Earth in an exactly circular orbit, but rather in an ellipse. This means that in the course of a month it can reach a particularly close or an especially distant position. At 403,000 kilometres away, the Moon is smaller today than usual, with an apparent diameter in the night sky of about 29″.

15.03 Mercury at greatest western elongation

Mercury is the fastest orbiting planet in our solar system. But we do not often get an opportunity to observe it well as it always stays close to the Sun. On the 15th it will be at 18.4°away – its greatest angular distance to the Earth. It can be observed at a comfortable height above the horizon between 18:45 and 19:30.

18.03 A meeting of the Moon, Mercury and Venus

Mercury and Venus are now striking objects in the evening sky. And, on March 18th, an extremely delicate and only 1.6% illuminated crescent Moon joins them. An optimal opportunity for taking an atmospheric photograph at dusk.

26.03 Moon near the Earth

While the Moon was at apogee on March 11, it now reaches perigee – its nearest distance to Earth. And, at a distance of 366,000 kilometres, it also appears a bit larger.

29.03. Venus near Uranus

Both Venus and Uranus in the field of view? Few have probably seen this before. But today it is really possible. Then the two planets are only 42 arcminutes apart. Near enough together to observe both of them together in a 2″ wide-angle eyepiece.

April

02.04. Mars near to Saturn

Mars is the ‘star‘ of 2018. It is slowly preparing for its big show – its opposition in June. By now it is as bright as the brightest stars in the sky. We can find it on the left above the ‘teapot’ in the constellation of Sagittarius. The Red Planet meets with Saturn at the beginning of the month – on April 2 they are about 1° away from each other.

03.04 Moon near Jupiter

Jupiter competes with Venus with a brightness of -2.39 magnitude. Jupiter is one of the most striking objects in the sky even if it does not quite match Venus. The Moon is only at 5° away from it today.

16:04 Mars near Albaldah

It’s always nice to see two bright astronomical objects close to each other. Such alignments in the night sky are noticeable because they are particularly unusual. On April 16, Mars and the star Albaldah make such an alignment.

This star is occasionally occulted by a planet due to its location very close to the ecliptic – this will next occur on 17 February 2035 at 16:32 CET, when Venus will occult Albaldah. But this will not be visible from Central Europe as Venus is below the horizon by then.

24.04 Moon near Regulus

The Moon passes close to the star Regulus today. We can observe this tonight as the Moon approaches and then recedes from Leo’s brightest star. Regulus and the Moon are separated by 42 arcminutes at 21:00. At 23:00, they approach within 14 arcminutes, but an hour later the separation has increased again to 27 arcminutes.

22.04 Lyrids meteor shower

The Lyrids are a meteor shower, which reaches maximum at only 10 to 20 meteors per hour on the 21^st of April. But the optimal observing time is between 22:00 and 4:00 in the morning, when they can be observed undisturbed by the Moon. The shower’s radiant lies in the constellation of Lyra.

29.04. Mercury – greatest western elongation

Mercury orbits fast, whizzing around the Sun in just 88 days. At the beginning of the month it was at greatest western elongation to the Sun, which gave us a good evening visibility. At the end of the month it will reach its greatest eastern elongation. In such cases, Mercury can be seen in the morning sky. Due to the shallow inclination to the ecliptic, Mercury remains near the Sun and is not visible at dawn.

May

02.05. Venus near Aldebaran

Two bright objects shine at dusk close to the western horizon – Venus and Aldebaran. The red giant is 150 times brighter than the sun. At a distance of 67 light-years however it only reaches an apparent brightness of 0.85 magnitude as seen from the Earth. Even so, it is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It makes a beautiful sight together with Venus.

05./06.05. Eta Aquarids meteor shower

We see again a meteor shower in the second half of the night. The Eta Aquarids appear to originate from the constellation of Aquarius and describe long, bright trails in the night sky. However, the Eta Aquarids do not ‘wake up’ until around 3 o’clock, which puts them only just above the horizon in Central Europe. There is still the chance of catching some bright meteors even so. The average rate is between 20 and 60 meteors per hour.

06.05. Moon near Mars

Another highlight in the early morning sky is a close encounter between the Moon and Mars. The two are separated by just 3° this evening. The 69% illuminated Moon first appears over the southeast horizon at about 1:30. The planet Saturn can already be seen by then to the right and above. The red planet follows the Moon about half an hour later, at 2:00. They can be observed almost exactly in the south until sunrise. A beautiful sight – The constellation of Sagittarius framed by three celestial bodies in the solar system.

09.05 Jupiter at opposition

When evening comes, the largest of all planets peeks over the horizon. Jupiter is today at opposition to the Sun. That means the Earth is exactly between Jupiter and the Sun. The gas giant can now be seen all night, reaching its maximum brightness and appearing particularly large – an optimal chance to admire it with binoculars or a telescope. Jupiter reaches its highest altitude shortly after 1:00 AM and crosses the meridian. The already low-lying planet is best observed now.

17.05. Moon near Venus

A delicate crescent moon and a radiant Venus at dusk – you can observe this beautiful event on 17 May. Today, the Moon moves past the Earth’s sister at only 5° away.

25.05. ‘Golden Handle’ on the Moon

Astronomy in the early evening! The ‘Golden Handle’ can be seen on the Moon tonight. Appearing like a ‘handle of light’, it ‘breaks out’ of the dark part of the Moon just beyond the terminator. The Sun is already illuminating the peaks of the Montes Jura surrounding the Sinus Iridum crater when this is still in the dark – visible between 16:30 and 20 o’clock.

27.05. Moon near Jupiter

The Moon is near to Jupiter this evening. It approaches to within just over 2.5° at 21:30. It is a meeting of two beacons – the Moon and Jupiter are now the brightest objects in the sky.

PDF here

Tags: Infographic
Posted in Observations »

Infographics: Astro highlights for winter

January 3 2018, Marcus Schenk

The new astrological calendar for the next three months summarised in graphic form. The astronomical infographic, “Highlights in the winter sky”, shows you at a glance what is going on in the sky. The following text will tell you more about some of the events taking place.

08.12. Moon obscures Regulus
At the beginning of September, the waning moon will obscure the bright star, Regulus, in the constellation of Leo. It is a noticeable event because Regulus, at 1.3 mag, is one of the brightest stars in the sky. Binoculars or a small telescope are sufficient to follow this event. But: You need a good view of the north-east horizon. The best thing to do is observe from a wide open space or from a raised point. It is important that there are no houses or trees that could block your view.

13.12. Moon meets Mars
The slim crescent of the waning moon will meet up with Mars before sunrise. It is currently at a distance of 6 degrees. There are, however, more things to discover: These two heavenly bodies plus the star, Spica, form a triangle. A little lower down, on the horizon, you will be able to see Jupiter. It almost looks as if all heavenly bodies are forming a kind of arrow that extends towards the horizon.

14.12 Geminids
If the evening sky is clear, look towards the south. The “Geminids” meteor shower can be seen coming out of the constellation of Gemini. To be more precise: From a point two degrees above the star, Pollux. Between 21:00 and 6:00 is the best for observing. The Geminids, with 120 meteors per hour, is one of the meteor showers with the highest incidence rate. This year, however, the full moon will obscure the view somewhat. However: You should not miss this event.

21.12. Winter solstice
Every year, on 21 or 22 December, we have the shortest day and the longest night. On 21 December, winter starts and the sun sets at 16.21. Night-time lasts around 12 hours. This is a dream for amateur astronomers who want to stay out observing the sky for a long stretch.

31.12. Moon obscures Aldebaran
Just before New Year, during the night from 30 to 31.12, the moon obscures the star, Aldebaran. It is the main star of the constellation of Taurus, and is one of the brightest stars in the sky. That is advantageous because the occultation of bright stars is fascinating. We almost have a full moon, but the moon gets closer to Aldebaran from its darker, interesting side. Aldebaran disappears around 2:25 and then reappears 30 minutes later on the opposite side of the moon.

01.01. Mercury in its largest westerly elongation
Mercury goes around the sun so quickly, and so close to it, that we cannot observe it all the time. But Mercury is now once more at a larger angle distance of 22° to the sun. In the morning sky, the rare guest rises around 6.30 in a south-easterly direction. Soon after that, however, sunrise starts and it fades as day commences. Luckily, Mercury is quite bright, and can, therefore, be seen until around 7.30. If it is cloudy over the New Year, you can still observe Mercury until 10 January.

03.01. Quadrantids
The next meteor shower is on its way to us: the Quadrantids. This meteor shower comes from the Boötes constellation. The meteor shower continues at a rate of 120 per hour across the sky. If you observe during the early hours of the morning between 2 and 3 January, you will have the greatest chance of having a successful session.

07.01. Mars meets Jupiter
On the morning of 7 January, two neighbours meet: Mars and Jupiter. In the middle of the constellation of Libra, they both light up very brightly at a distance of just 12 arc minutes. This is just a little over a third of the diameter of the moon. You can observe both of these planets on this day together with your telescope in the same field of view.

11.01. The meeting of the moon, Mars and Jupiter
A few days later, in the same region: Mars and Jupiter start to move away from each other again. But on this morning, the moon joins in the fun. The narrow crescent shines a good three degrees above the planets. Even if you’ll have to wrap up warm on this morning, this wonderful view will melt any ice.

13.01. Mercury meets Saturn
Mercury gives us one last opportunity before leaving the stage and steps out into the limelight. On this morning, however, it lets us see it with Saturn. Just before sunrise, both of these journeymen appear over the horizon in a south-east direction.

31.01. Ceres in opposition
Ceres is one of the most well-known but smallest of the dwarf plants in the solar system measuring just 963 kilometres in diameter. It goes around the sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter about every 5 years. On 31 January, it will be in opposition to the sun and you can observe it in all its brightness. With brightness magnitudes of 6.9, it moves from the head of Leo between the constellations of the Lynx. You can find it with a telescope or even with binoculars.

01.02. Moon meats Regulus/Mars meets Acrab
If you like observing during the early hours of the morning, there is an interesting event during this night. At around 4.00, the pincers of Scorpio rise over the south-east horizon. There is something there, of course: Mars. The red planet goes past Acrab at a distance of just 18 degrees to the left.

And on the following evening, the moon goes past Regulus – the main star in the constellation of Leo – at a distance of just 7 arc minutes. The time for a meeting is favourable: At 19.00, the moon reaches the smallest distance.

08.02. Moon obscures γ Lib
This occultation will probably not be followed by a lot of observers, because it takes places in the sky in the early hours of the morning. When most people are still warm in bed. This makes this occultation of the star, γ Lib, by the moon in the constellation of Libra, a rarely observed event. The moon is 45% illuminated and approaches the star from its “bright” side. At 4:20, the star disappears behind the moon and at 5:30 is reappears on the non-illuminated side.

11.02 Moon meets Saturn
The moon likes to pay the occasional visit or two to our planets. On 11 February, it will be visiting Saturn again. Such encounters always make an enticing spectacle. And a beautiful occasion for an atmospheric photo with a standing camera and lens. The moon is around 3.5° higher in the sky, so you will see it first. At around 5.00, Saturn peers over the horizon. It is actually not the best time for the ringed planet. In the coming months, it doesn’t come up until the second half of the night. It doesn’t start to rise at a more pleasant time until the approach of early summer. In June, it is then in opposition to the sun.

21.02. Moon obscures μ Cet
An occultation in the evening sky: And that’s before the news! At 18.20, the moon obscures the star, μ Cet, in the constellation of Cetus. After a good hour, around 19.17, the star rises again on the other side. This time, the moon approaches from its non-illuminated side. If you observe the star, it disappears so quickly it looks like someone just switches it off.

23.02. Moon obscures Aldebaran
A highlight is the occultation of Aldebaran. Like last December, you should not miss this event, because occultations like this are extremely rare. It is the last occultation for many years.

The moon approaches from its dark side. For many observers, it is surprising that the star disappears suddenly even though they are expecting it. Things get going at 17.50: Aldebaran disappears and then reappears at 18:50, a good hour later. It is interesting for amateurs to observe star occultations from the beginning to the end, monitoring the time accurately. This is possible, for example, with sensitive Touptek cameras and SharpCap 2.7 software, with which you can add a precise time signal.

The team of Astroshop.de wish you much enjoyment observing and clear skies.

Tags: Infographics
Posted in Observations »

Infographic: Astro-highlights in Winter 2017/18

December 7 2017, Marcus Schenk

The new cosmic calendar for the next three months at a glance! Our astronomy infographic shows you all you need to keep an eye out for in the coming months. Check out the text below for more details of each event!

08 Dec – Moon occults Regulus

At the beginning of December the waning Moon will occult the star Regulus in the constellation Leo. It is a special event, since Regulus belongs to the brightest stars in the night sky at 1.3 mag. A pair of binoculars or a small telescope will suffice, to witness it all. However, you will need a good view of the north-eastern horizon. Best case scenario would be finding a nice open area or a hill, from which to observe. It is only important that no houses or forest obstruct your view.

13 Dec – A Lunar Meeting with Mars

The narrow sickle of the waning Moon will show itself shortly before dawn, meeting up with Mars at about 6 degrees. Yet there is more to see: with the star Spica, the two celestial bodies will create a triangle. Closer to the horizon, you will also be able to see Jupiter. It will appear, as if all four form an arrow pointing towards the horizon.

14 Dec – Geminids

If the night sky is clear, look to the south to see the Geminid meteor shower, originating from the constellation Gemini. More precisely, the point of origination will be roughly two degrees above the star Pollux. Between 9 PM and 6 AM is the best time for viewing the Geminids, with roughly 120 meteors per hour . making it one of the most active meteor showers. Unfortunately, the full Moon will create some competition as it rises, but the event should nevertheless not be missed!

21 Dec – Winter Solstice

Every year on the 21st of 22nd of December, we get to experience the shortest day and longest night of the year. This year on the 21st, Winter officially begins and the Sun will set early. The night will last about 12 hours – a dream for every hobby astronomer, who wants to observe for long periods.

31 Dec – The Lunar Occultation of Aldebaran

In the night of the 30th to the 31st, the Moon will occult the star Aldebaran, which is the most prominent star of the Taurus and belongs to the brightest stars in our night sky. Such an occultation of a bright star is quite an experience. Almost completely full, the Moon will approach Aldebaran on its dark and interesting side. The star will disappear sometime around 2 AM and reappear around 30 minutes later on the opposite side.

01 Jan – Mercury at Its Greatest Western Elongation

Mercury orbits so fast and so close to the Sun, that we cannot see it all the time. Yet, today the planet will be at a distance of 22 degrees from the Sun. During dawn, Mercury will appear around 6:30 AM in the south-eastern sky. As the sky brightens, however, you will quickly lose sight of the planet. Luckily, Mercury is quite bright, so you will be able to see it at even 7:30 AM. In case it is overcast or you are sleeping off ringing in the New Year, you will still be able to see Mercury until the 10th of January.

03 Jan – Quadrantids

The next meteor show is already upon us: the Quadrantids. This meteor show will originate from the constellation Boötes and will rain down a maximum of 120 meteors per hour. You will have the best seats for the show if you happen to be out from the 2nd to the 3rd of January.

07 Jan – Mars Meets Jupiter

On the morning of the 7th, Mars and Jupitar will have tea and crumpets. In the middle of the constellation Libra, both planets will be illuminated at a distance of 12 arc-minutes from one another, which is about a third of the Moon’s diameter. You will be able to use your telescope to view both planets in one go!

11 Jan – The Meeting of the Moon, Mars and Jupiter

A few days later in the same region, Mars and Jupiter will create some more space. Yet, on this particular morning, the Moon plays a role. The thin sickle will shine about 3 degrees above the two planets. Even if you have to dress warm to see it, the sight will melt any ice in the vicinity.

13 Jan – Mercury Meets Saturn

Mercury will give us one more chance, before exiting the stage. Yet, this morning, the fastest planet will be visible with the gas giant Saturn. Shortly before sunrise, the two will appear just above the horizon in the south east.

31 Jan – Ceres in Opposition

Ceres is one of the most well known dwarf planets of the solar system with a diameter of 963 kilometers. It orbits, with the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, the Sun every 5 years. On the 31st January, Ceres will come into opposition to the Sun and you can observe it at its greatest brightness. With a bright 6.9 size class, it will move from the head of Leo between the constellations Lynx and Cancer. You can use a telescope or a large set of binoculars to find dwarf planet. More exact details can be found here:

01 Feb – The Moon Meets Regulus and Mars meets Acrab

If you like to observe during the morning hours, then there is something for you on the 1st of February. At about 4 AM, the pinzers of Skorpio will rise in the south east. Yet, there is more: Mars. The red planet will push past the star Acrab at a distance of around 18″.

Moreover, the following evening, the Moon will be about 7 arc-minutes away from Regulus, the most prominent star of the constellation Leo. The time for the meeting is quite good: around 7 PM, European Central Time, the Moon will be closest.

08 Feb – The Moon Occults γ Lib

This occultation may not be observed by so many star gazers, since it will take place in dawn, when most are still laying in a warm bed. That makes the occultation of the star γ Lib by the Moon, within the constellation Libra, quite a seldom seen event. The Moon will be illuminated at around 45% and be edging ever closer to the star with its bright side. Around 4:20 AM, the star will disappear behind the Moon and reappear at around 5:30 AM on the un-illuminated side of the Moon.

11 Feb – A Lunar Meeting with Saturn

The Moon seems to enjoy visiting our planets. On the 11th of February, our satellite will meet with Saturn. Such meetings are always an amazing sight and a great opportunity for a great photo with a standing camera and lens. The Moon will be visible about 3.5 degrees higher in the sky, and as a result easier to spot. Around 5 AM, Saturn will peer over the horizon. It is not really the best time for the ringed planet however, as it will only appear in the second half of the night for next few months. As early Summer sets upon us, the planet will appear at more comfortable times. In June, it will even stand in opposition.

21 Feb – The Moon Occults μ Cet

An occultation at dusk: around 6:20 PM, the Moon will occult the star μ Cet in the constellation Cetus. After a good hour, at around 7:15, the star will reappear on the other side. This time the Moon will approach the star with its un-illuminated side. During observation, you will notice the star disappear so suddenly, as if someone just pinched its flame like that of a candle.

23 Feb – The Moon Occults Aldebaran

A highlight on this day is the lunar occultation of Aldebaran. As in last December, you should not miss this event, because such occultations are quite seldom and this will be the last occultation of Aldebaran for years to come.

The Moon will inch towards the star with its un-illuminated side. For many, it is quite a surprise when the star suddenly disappears, despite it being expected. At around 5:50 PM, Aldebaran will disappear and at 6:50 PM reappear. For amateurs, it will be interesting to following the occultation to the minute. With a Touptek Camera and software from SharpCap 2.7 will both be helpful in such a scenario.

Enjoy stargazing and clear skies from the team at Astroshop.

PDF here

Tags: Infographic
Posted in Observations »

Infographic: Highlights in the Spring Night Sky from March to May

March 2 2017, Marcus Schenk

As the temperatures outside become milder, many stargazers make their way outside. In the Spring, the night sky shows us a very different side of itself. What is there to observe? What is worth the time and effort?

Our astronomy highlights infographic for Spring 2017 can show you at a glance, what to keep an eye out for during the next three months, from March to May.

March

1 March – The Moon’s Meeting with Mars, Uranus and Venus

During dusk, the crescent Moon will rise, illuminated at 12% and waxing. Three days prior was the new Moon and the crescent offers a vivid glimpse of the Mare Crisium. Still there is more to be seen here in a trio of planets – Mars, Uranus and Venus.

4 March – Moon Occults the Hyaden Cluster

Occultations of celestial objects by the Moon are always interesting and are all the more fascinating when the Moon is not fully illuminated, thereby occulting the object with its non-illuminated side. On the 4th of March the Moon will travel across the open star cluster of the Hyades and thereby obscuring the 3.6 mag bright star 54 Tau. For European observers, the star will disappear behind the non-illuminated side of the Moon just before 9 PM GMT and reappear at the other side just before 11 PM GMT.

10 March – A Lunar Meeting with Regulus

In the evening of the 10th of March, the almost full Moon will rise in the East, as the sky darkens. Just above it, the constellation Leo and its brightest star Regulus. At the beginning of the evening, the two will be about 1.6° apart. However, shortly before midnight our satellite will move within 1° of Regulus. From here, you will be able to observe how the Moon slowly travels across the night sky.

14 March – A Lunar Meeting with Jupiter and Spica

Quite a sight indeed: on the 14th of March, we will see the Moon in close proximity to Jupiter and Spica, the brightest star of Virgo.

19 March – Venus and Mercury

The only good chance to view Mercury during the evening this year, the smallest planet will be visible from now until the 10th of April! As of the 19th of March, we will be able to discover the Sun’s closest planet extremely close to the western horizon. Need help finding it? Just search out Venus and approximately a hand’s width away, you will find Mercury.

26 March – Extremely Thin Venus Crescent (for the Professionals)

Venus reveals itself in her perfect form, subtle and crescent-shaped, the planet will appear just above the horizon, and only 1% illuminated. The most fascinating part is that this event will take place during the day. Warning: the Sun will appear very close to Venus, so avoid looking directly into the Sun. This type of observation is best left to the experienced astronomer.

29 March – Mercury at Dusk

Mercury will be approaching its easterly elongation, occurring on the 1st of April, meaning the planet will descent in the dusk following the Sun and will appear as a half-illuminated disk. Mercury will now set later, than on the 19th of February, and be an easy object to identify in the night sky. The sight along with a crescent Moon at 3.6% illumination will provide a great opportunity to capture the essence and atmosphere of the evening!

April

1 April – Minor Planet Vesta

In January, the minor planet Vest stood at opposition and was visible throughout the night. The class 7.6 planet will be easily visible in the constellation Gemini, almost half way between 69 Gem and 77 Gem.

7 April – Jupiter in Opposition

On the 6th of April, the gas giant Jupiter will be in opposition to the Sun. Rising just at dusk, the planet will be visible throughout the night. Photo tip: Photograph Jupiter this year, as the gas giant will be roughly 30° above the horizon, just below the celestial equator, and will not reach a higher position for the next few years.

10 – 11 April – A Lunar Meeting with Jupiter

The almost full Moon will approach Jupiter, at 1.1°, during the night of the 10th and 11th of April.

14 April – Comet 41P/Tuttle

The comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak will approach the Earth, and be easy to view through a telescope. During this year’s pass, a respectable increase in brightness is predicted. According to the Minor Planet Center, the comet will increase to a 6.7 mag bright object from the beginning to the middle of April. Moreover, it will appear high in the sky as a circumpolar object and travel from mid-April through the constellation Draco, until it reaches Hercules by month’s end. The Moon provides a helping hand by being in its darker phase.

21 April – Lyrid Meteor Shower

The Lyrid meteor shower will peak on the 21st with 10 to 20 meteors per hour. While the optimal observation time is between 10 PM and 4 AM, the Moon will cause little disturbance. The radiant, so the origination of the shower, lies within the constellation Lyra.

28 April – The Moon Occults Aldebaran

For European observers, a thin Moon cicle will occult the star Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus at 8 PM. On the 28th, the occultation will occur during sundown. Approximately 50 minutes later, around 9 PM, Aldebaran will appear on the other side of the Moon.

30 April – Venus in Full Splendor

The morning star Venus will shine bright in the sky once again. With a brilliance of -4.8 mag, our second planet will appear just before sunrise. The Venusian cicle will then be illuminated at 26%.

Mai

6 May – Golden Handle on the Moon

A golden handle on the Moon? You can find it as a matter of fact. A ring of light will appear on the dark area of the Moon’s surface. It always appears, when the waxing Moon is illuminated at 83% (around 4 PM Central European Time, 10 EST in the USA). Within the Mare Imbrium, the plain Sinus Iridum will connect. This plain is encircled by Montes Jura range. While the valley between remains in darkness, the rising Sun will illuminate the peaks of the mountain range, the spectacle of the “golden handle”. Another way to put it: Alpenglow on the Moon!

7 May – A(nother) Lunar Meeting with Jupiter

During the night of the 7th into the 8th of May, the Moon will once again approach Jupiter, reaching a separation of only 1°.

11 – 12 May – Shadow Games on Jupiter

Tonight, we will be sitting in the premium seats. Before us on stage: Jupiter and its moons. In a short on the night of the 1tth to the 12th, we will witness the moons Europa and Io leave their shadows on the gas giant.

First, Europa will travel across the planet’s disk around midnight (central European time). At around 1:40 AM, the moon’s shadow will transit across the planet. Then at 3:13 AM, Io will dance in front of Jupiter. Its shadow will then follow shortly before 4 AM (CET). We will then see two shadows on the planet, one on each side of the gas giant.

Ensure that you have a good view of the horizon during this event, since Jupiter will be sitting just above the horizon around 4 AM.

12 May – The Great Red Spot on Jupiter

This evening, the great red spot of Jupiter will be easily observable. Around 9:40 PM, the spot will appear from behind the planet and wander over a four-hour period over the planet’s disk.

14 May – A Lunar Meeting with Saturn

Four days after the full Moon, a lunar meeting with Saturn will take place, with a separation of 1.6°.

20 May – Western Lunar Libration

For astrophotographers, this can be a very interesting project – capturing the libration of the Moon. The Moon will find itself in its western libration. A strong eastern libration will take place on the 31st of May, during which you see more of the Moon. Capturing it in a photograph will surely be a fine experience.

22 May – A Lunar Meeting with Venus

Shortly before sunrise, we will witness a beautiful constellation of Venus and the Moon at a separation of 6°. The Moon will show itself as a cicle, illuminated at 19%, with a new Moon three days later.

25 May – Moon in Close Proximity to Earth

The new Moon will be at a distance of 358,000 km (222,500 miles) to Earth, making it the closest distance of the year.

31 May – A Lunar Meeting with Regulus

Today, the Moon will be at 1.5° of separation from the star Regulus.

With the following code, you can embed our inforgraphic in your blog:

Available as JPG and PDF.

Enjoy stargazing and clear skies!

Tags: Infographic
Posted in Observations »

Omegon APO 104/650 ED: these astrophotos show the beauty of space

January 30 2017, Marcus Schenk

We frequently receive beautiful photos of celestial objects from our customers. They are eager to show us, what they were able to achieve with their equipment. Very often we are over the moon, when we recognise the love of detail and the energy these astrophotographers have invested in these pictures.
Today we would like to present some very delightful astrophotos. The astrophotographer and filmmaker Sebastian Voltmer shows us beautiful impressions of space. These were taken, amongst others, with a Sony a7s and an ST-2000XM camera. The telescope used was a premium telescope: the Omegon apochromat 104/650 ED with field flattener.

The Heart Nebula IC1805

The name of this nebula refers to its special shape: a red heart in the night sky. You find this nebula between the constellations Cassiopeia, Perseus and Giraffe. The heart is located approx. 4° east of the star ε Cas. An open star cluster, which illuminates the nebula, is embedded in the middle of the emission nebula.

The Dumbbell Nebula M27

The Dumbbell Nebula M27 in the Vulpecula constellation is the second brightest planetary nebula and thus a beacon in the starry sky. The originator of this nebula at a distance of approx. 1400 light years is a white dwarf, a star that has reached the end of its life.

Pacman Nebula NGC 281

The names of some nebulae clearly demonstrate that astronomers have a vivid imagination. NGC 281 is also known under the name Pacman Nebula. If you still can remember the time of the Commodore 64 etc., you will surely also remember the computer game. And this nebula with its dark clouds starkly resembles Pac-Man. The nebula is 9500 light years away from us and contains the twin star Barnhard 1. With a strong telescope, we can discover its four companions.

Crescent Nebula NGC 6888

Crescent: a half-moon in the form of a nebula. NGC 6888 is also known under the name Sickle Nebula. It is located right in the middle of the Swan constellation, at a distance of approx. 2.5° from the central Swan star, Sadr. Despite its prominent position in summer, the Crescent Nebula is not easy to see because of its small size of 18×13’ and its brightness of 10 mag. Scientists assume that the nebula has been ejected by a Wolf-Rayet star in the later stages of its life. For successful observation you need a crystal clear sky and an OIII-Filter.

Solar flare

The picture gives you an impression of the size of a solar flare in comparison to Earth. This solar flare that appeared on the 15th of August 2016 had a length of approximately 13 Earths lined up.

Tags: telescope, Omegon, Apochromat
Posted in Observations »

Infographic: The Star of Bethlehem

December 22 2016, Marcus Schenk

The story of the three kings travelling to Bethlehem is known by much of the western world. However, a number of cosmic phenomena could provide explanation to how a star could have shone so brightly to lead the three kings to the fertile crescent two millennia ago.

For more info on how this particular event may have occurred, have a look at our info-graphic below. The embed code for the info-graphic is also available.

(more…)

Tags: Infographic, Christmas
Posted in Observations »

Info-graphic: Summer Highlights 2016 – All the Info at a Glance

June 13 2016, Marcus Schenk

What can you discover during the mild summer nights? Our new info-graphic has your answers – “Summer Highlights 2016″. A quick glance is enough to know what is happening between June and August.

u2g-infografik-himmelsfahrplan-sommer-en

If you would like to use our info-graphic on your website, please feel free to use the code below:

More info on each highlight in the graphic can be found below. We wish you hours of observational enjoyment and fun, as well as a warm Summer!

June

Jupiter in the Evening Sky

Last chance to see Jupiter in the evening. Our solar system’s biggest planet will sparkle in the western sky. An arc second of 35″ is enough to recognized details of the planet, for example, the cloud bands and the (in)famous Great Red Spot, or Jupiter’s moons. The planet will be visible in the evening until the end of July.

3rd of June – Saturn in Opposition, Awesome Rings and Ophiuchus

On the 3rd of June, Saturn will stand in opposition, being visible for the entire night. The planet will be roughly 1.35 million km (840,000 miles) away from Earth, offering us a perfect impression. Saturn will enthrall us with a perfect perspective of its rings at 26 degrees. The gas giant will rise at around 9 PM and create a wonderful constellation along with Mars and Antares.

11th of June – Our Moon meets with Jupiter

During dusk, a look to the west will be very rewarding. There, you will see a waxing Moon along with a shining Jupiter above to the right. Both objects on this evening will be only 2° away from one another. With a camera, a telephoto lens and a clear evening sky, you’ll have everything for a unique photo.

21st of June – Summer Solstice

The 21st of June is the longest day and shortest night of the year. The sun will set after 9 PM (depending on your coordinates) and will rise again after 5 AM. The night won’t be extremely dark by astronomy standards, as the sky will always appear dimly lit. The Earth will be at its greatest distance to the Sun in its elipse and the Earth’s tilt of 23.5° will result in a very high angle of incidence. With hotter days on the horizon, we will flock to our parks, lakes and rivers for some summer fun.

International Space Station Visible

The ISS will be visible during the summer months, but will vary depending on your location. Luckily a handy website from NASA allows you to check ISS visibility in your area. Check it out for more info!

26th of June – The Moon Obscures Neptune

On the 26th of June, for those in Europe, the Moon will move in front of Neptune. Around 1 AM, Neptune will disappear behind the lit Moon disk and will appear again on the non-illuminated side at around 1:30 AM.

July

4th of July – Space Probe Juno Reaches Its Destination

The space probe Juno was launched on the 5th of August 2011 and will arrive at Jupiter after a five year trip. The probe will take up a polar orbit in order to research Jupiters atmosphere and magnetic field. At mission’s end in October of 2017, the probe will send itself plunging into the planet’s atmosphere, only to be crushed by the atmosphere’s massive pressure.

7th of July – Pluto in Opposition

Once there was a planet that was indeed only a dwarf planet. Pluto will be especially interesting to observe on the 7th of July as it stands in opposition. The 2,374 km large body is 4.4 million km away and will shine only at a 14.1 mag, like a tea light between the larger plants. You will only be able to see the dwarf planet with a large telescope, but even there it won’t be able to differentiate itself from stars. With Universe2go, however, you will be able to get a full experience of Pluto without a telescope. You can even see its heart, which the space probe Philae discovered last year.

9th of July – A Lunar Meeting with Jupiter

At only 4.5° apart, the Moon will encounter Jupiter this evening on the western horizon, providing a good photo op for those looking for a unique image.

August

12th of August – Conjunction of Saturn, Mars and the Moon near Scorpio

Mars, Saturn and the Moon will meet up near Antares, providing an intriguing sight. Lined up like a string of pearls on the 12th, we will find them close to Antares, the primary star of Scorpio. Observations and images of this quartet will be fruitful to say the least!

12th of August – Perseid Meteor Shower

In the night of the 12th into the 13th of August, the Persied Meteor Shower will reach its peak. Up to 100 meteors per hour will rain down and thunder through our atmosphere at an unbelievable speed of about 216,000 km/h (134,000 mph). So, do you hold out and stay up all night or get up early? Since the shower will peak between 10 PM and 4 AM, the choice is yours. The Moon will disturb the night sky at the beginning, but will set after midnight, allowing us enjoy darkness in all its splendor!

We can thank the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle for this meteor shower, which in its orbit around the sun has lost a portion of its mass. Every year that the Earth crosses the comet’s orbit in August, the Perseids occur in our night sky.

This year, we can expect even more meteors, since the Earth has moved closer to the path of the comet. As a result, astronomers believe we will see a greater number of meteors than in previous years. Is that not enough reason to check it out?

27th of August – Conjuntion of Venus and Jupiter in the Evening

Keep an eye on Jupiter and Venus this evening. Both planets will race across the sky, as Venus overtakes the gas giant to the north. Before those in Europe even see their closest encounter, both will set in the evening in the western horizon, allowing those in the western hemisphere a fantastic show!

It is best to go out with binoculars at dusk, but be sure to avoid looking into the Sun by waiting for our star to set.

Tags: Summer Highlights 2016, Info-graphic
Posted in Observations »