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The Moon (2024-05-18)

A Breathtaking Photo That Will Make You See the Moon in a New Light

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A breathtaking photo that will make you see the Moon in a new light

Less than 1 minute Minutes

To commemorate International Astronomy Day on May 18, 2024, I revisited my long-standing passion for planetary imaging and turned my telescope towards our nearest celestial neighbor – the Moon. The resulting image is nothing short of spectacular!

Technical Details

The image below is a mosaic of two lunar images, captured using my APO ES ED80CF telescope, the ZWO ASI224MC camera (with an IR Cut filter), and FireCapture software. With an exposure time of 1ms, a gain of 129, and utilizing the best 15% of frames from 30-second video captures, I processed the images through AutoStakkert!4, Registax, and GIMP to create this stunning final product.

Thanks to the exceptional sky transparency on the night of capture, the image reveals an abundance of intricate details on the lunar surface.

Craters Galore

Hundreds of craters dot the lunar landscape, with some of the most prominent ones, such as Copernicus, Tycho, and Clavius, immediately catching the eye.

The Dark ‘Maria’

Among the most remarkable features are the ‘maria’ – the Latin word for ‘seas’ because early astronomers mistook these dark, basaltic plains for oceans. These vast, low-lying regions were formed by ancient lava flows that filled impact basins on the lunar surface billions of years ago.

Some of my favorites

In the top-left corner of the image, you’ll find two of my personal favorite lunar features: the dark, round crater Plato, with a diameter of 101 km, and the “Golden Handle” effect on the Rainbow Bay (Sinus Iridum).
The “golden handle” is a visual effect observed on the Moon’s surface, where sunlight illuminates the peaks of Montes Jura while the adjacent Sinus Iridum remains in shadow, creating a handle-like appearance. It is visible about 10 to 11 days after a New Moon, for a few hours.

Leaving the deep sky objects for another time, I spent this night’s observing session to our celestial neighbor, the Moon. It is my hope that you find this lunar image as breathtaking and inspiring as I did. Until next time, clear skies!

The Moon (2024-05-18)
Created with GIMP

My Best Astroimages of 2023

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My Best Astroimages of 2023

Less than 1 minute

Join me as I take a look back at the most exciting moments of my astroimaging journey in 2023. Some highlights below:

  • I imaged a bright comet
  • I took my first images of solar prominences with a solar telescope!
  • I saw the Northern Lights from my own backyard!
  • I imaged the brightest supernova in the last 10 years
  • I took stunning images of deep sky objects from a dark sky location and from my backyard
  • I imaged 6 planets and our own Moon
  • I captured a partial solar eclipse in between clouds

Get ready for another orbit around the Sun and, as always, remember to keep looking up at the stars!

Uranus (2023-10-03-04:24 UT)

I imaged the elusive ice giant planets: Uranus and Neptune

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I imaged the elusive ice giant planets: Uranus and Neptune

Less than 1 minute Minutes
At the beginning of October 2023 I was out again for more planetary imaging. When I started my imaging session weather and seeing were not good and I was about to give up. But around midnight seeing and transparency dramatically improved. As a result, I was able to add Uranus and 4 of its moons to my 2023 collection!
 
Date: 2023-10-03 04:24 UT
Location: My driveway in Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: Celestron 8 SCT
Mount: Celestron AVX
Camera: ZWO ASI224MC, ZWO ADC (atmospheric dispersion corrector)
Filter: ZWO IR Cut filter
Focuser: Celestron Focus Motor
Software: FireCapture (best 50% from a 180seconds video), AutoStakkert!3 (AS!3), Registax, Topaz DeNoise AI, GIMP.
Total # Frames: 
Gain: 316
Shutter: 316 milliseconds
The final processed image of Uranus and 4 of its moons. You can scroll the slider to see the annotated image with the name of the moons.
In the image you can see Ariel (bottom of the image), Umbriel, Titania and Oberon. I wasn’t able to detect Miranda, probably because its magnitude (16.2) makes Miranda a challenging target for my scope.
Uranus (2023-10-03-04:24 UT)Uranus (2023-10-03-04:24 UT)

Neptune was also in opposition on September 19. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to try and capture the elusive blue planet at its brightest through my telescope.

At a distance of 28.902 Astronomical Units, which is 4.323 million km, Neptune’s apparent diameter was just 2.36 arcseconds and its magnitude was 7.68. I was also able to spot its moon Triton, with a magnitude of 13.44 and a diameter of only 2705 km, just below Neptune.

I used FireCapture and the final image is a combination of 405 frames from a 60 seconds video.

Neptune at opposition (2023-09-20 02:40 UT)
Jupiter (2023-10-03 03:47 UT)

I captured a breathtaking image of Jupiter through my telescope

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I captured a breathtaking image of Jupiter through my telescope

2 Minutes
At the beginning of October 2023 I spent a night doing planetary imaging despite the weather didn’t seem too good with high and thin clouds everywhere.
Well, it turned out to be my best capture of Jupiter in 2023 and probably one of my best images of Jupiter to date!
 
The Great Red Spot (GRS) is almost at the meridian and you can clearly see the moon Europa and its shadow in transit, bands and zones, and half a dozens of white ovals in the Southern hemisphere. Notably, there is a white outbreak in the clouds to the left of the GRS.
 
Date: 2023-10-02
Location: My driveway in Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: Celestron 8 SCT
Mount: Celestron AVX
Camera: ZWO ASI224MC, ZWO ADC (atmospheric dispersion corrector)
Filter: ZWO IR Cut filter
Focuser: Celestron Focus Motor
Software: FireCapture (Best 50% frames from 90sec. video), AutoStakkert!3 (AS!3), Registax, Topaz DeNoise AI, GIMP.
Total # Frames: 6998
FPS: 120
Gain: 169
Shutter: 8ms
The final processed image of Jupiter. Plenty of atmospheric details are visible:
 
  • the Great Red Spot (GRS), some dozens of white ovals and some outbreaks in the clouds
  • dark-colored belts (North Tropical Belt, North Equatorial Belt, South Equatorial Belt);
  • light-colored zones (North Temperate Zone, North Tropical Zone, Equatorial Zone, South Tropical Zone, South Temperate Zone);
  • the North Polar Region and the South Polar Region;
  • the moon Europa and its dark shadow projected on Jupiter. A hypotethical inhabitant of Jupiter, situated where the moon Europa shadow passes in front of the the planet, could experience a solar eclipse every 3.5 days!
Jupiter (2023-10-03 03:47 UT)
I also used PIPP to make an animation of Europa and its shadow transiting on Jupiter, from 2:12 to 4:00 UT.
Jupiter Animation (2023-10-02)
The Sun in H-Alpha (2023-11-03)

Here comes the Sun (in H-alpha)

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Here comes the Sun (in H-alpha)

Less than 1 minute Reading time: Minutes

In the early afternoon of November 3, 2023 I imaged the Sun in H-alpha using a Coronado PST and a ZWO ASI533MC camera.

The Coronado PST is an entry-level solar scope with a 40mm diameter that can observe details of the Sun’s “surface”, prominences, and flares. However, this little scope is not designed to image the Sun. Finding the right back focus can be challenging, and my ZWO ASI533MC one-shot color camera may not be the best choice (a monochrome camera performs much better).

I found my sweet spot by adding a PowerMate 2.5x to my OSC camera and the solar scope, resulting in some successful imaging sessions.

To read more about the scope and camera setup, I remind you to my previous article here.

You can also learn more about my solar imaging processing technique on YouTube. 

Target name: Sun
Date: 2023-11-03
Location: My driveway in Richmond Hill (ON)
Gain: 247
Exposure: 25.9ms
Scope: Coronado PST
Mount: Skywatcher AZ-GTi in Equatorial Mode
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO, Televue Powermate 2.5x
Software: FireCapture (best 30% from 30 seconds videos), AS!3, Registax, imPPG, Astrosuface, GIMP

Here you can see the final processed image, in false-color.

In addition to FireCapture, AS!3, and GIMP, I also used Astrosurface. I was able to increase the contrast and show both surface details (sunspots, granules, filaments) and prominences in the same image.

The Sun in H-Alpha (2023-11-03)
NOTE: never look directly at the sun!!! Permanent and irreversible eye damage may result.
 
Only look at the Sun with an ISO certified solar telescope filter which complies with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for filters for direct viewing of the Sun. 
Sun 2023-03-09 (17:21UT)

My First Images of the Sun in H-Alpha!

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My First Images of the Sun in H-Alpha!

Less than 1 minute Reading time: Minutes

I recently borrowed a Coronado Personal Solar Telescope (PST) from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada – RASC Toronto Centre and as soon as the sky was clear I started my journey with solar observing and imaging in H-Alpha. 

Equipped with a specialized “H-alpha” filter named etalon, and internal blocking filters that reject all unwanted and harmful radiation, with the Coronado PST you can observe the Sun with complete safety and see the dramatic and dynamic features of the Sun, including flares, prominences, filaments, sunspots, and more.

From the Coronado website:

“With the PST you will witness eruptions in the solar atmosphere called flares and the dramatic streamers known as prominences that shoot out from the Sun’s edge. You’ll also see a solar disk mottled with granularity and dark, snaking filaments.

Active regions containing migrating sunspots and bright, irregularly shaped plages add to the incredible detail.

This compact 40mm f/10 refractor houses a special filter called an etalon, which transmits only the primary wavelength of light emitted by hydrogen (656.3nm) in the solar chromosphere, where all the action occurs.”

This small telescope weighs only 3 lbs., and requires only a portable mount or sturdy camera tripod for support.

March 9, 2023, 1:25pm EST: the sky was clear!

I mounted the PST to my portable mount (a Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi modified to equatorial mode), connected to my camera and laptop in just a couple of minutes and I was ready to take my first images of the Sun in H-Alpha.

I used a 2.5x PowerMate to achieve the right focus and my ZWO ASI533MC PRO. I fine tuned the etalon, used my acquisition software (FireCapture) and finally processed my first images of the Sun in H-Alpha.

It’s really amazing to see how many details of the Sun I captured with only 40mm aperture: sunspots, filaments, and a monster prominence, with an estimated size of 100,000 Km!

Sun 2023-03-09 (17:21UT)

I can’t wait for my next solar imaging session! 

2023-03-09-1727_1-CO-G-Sun_Halpha_lapl4_ap518_conv_processed
NOTE: never look directly at the sun!!! Only look at the Sun with an ISO certified solar telescope filter which complies with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for filters for direct viewing of the Sun.
Sun (2023-02-14 18:47UT)

Capturing the Sun’s Activity: A Solar Imaging Adventure

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Capturing the Sun’s Activity: A Solar Imaging Adventure

Less than 1 minute Reading time: Minutes

A few days ago I decided to turn my attention to our home star: the Sun. With my Celestron C8 SCT, a 0.63x focal reducer, a Celestron Eclipsmart solar filter (never look directly at the sun!!!), and the ZWO ASI533MC PRO camera, I was ready to capture the Sun’s activity.

I attached the solar filter to my telescope and connected the camera to my laptop. I then launched a capturing software, SharpCap, adjusted the telescope focus, the camera settings (exposure time and gain) and capture started capturing a few videos of the Sun.

It was impressive to see how active the Sun. Dozens of sunspots are scattered across its surface. This is not surprising, as the Sun is approaching its maximum for the current cycle, making it an exciting time for solar imaging enthusiasts.

Using SharpCap’s live stacking feature, I was able to stack multiple videos to create a final image. This helped to reduce noise and improve the overall quality of the image. I also used software tools such as GIMP and Topaz Denoise AI to adjust the color balance, contrast, and sharpness of the image.

The final result was a stunning image of the Sun, showcasing its complex and dynamic nature.

In conclusion, solar imaging is a rewarding and exciting aspect of astrophotography. With the right equipment and software, anyone can capture the Sun’s activity and contribute to the study of our nearest star. If you’re interested in exploring solar imaging, I highly recommend giving it a try – you won’t be disappointed!

Here you can see the final processed image, with dozens of complex sunspots as well as solar granules on the solar limbs.

Sun (2023-02-14 18:47UT)

This image with the labels for the sunspots is from SpaceWeather.com

hmi1898
NOTE: never look directly at the sun!!! Only look at the Sun with an ISO certified solar telescope filter which complies with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for filters for direct viewing of the Sun.
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) - 2023-01-25

Chasing Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) – A Race Against Time and Weather

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Chasing Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF): A Race Against Time and Weather

Less than 1 minute Reading time: Minutes

After more than a month of cloudy skies, I was excited to see that the weather forecast on January 24 was clear at 11pm for about one hour. I had the chance to image the comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) and I decided to give it a try. I started to setup my gear, although I knew that the conditions were less than ideal: the comet’s altitude was only 28 degrees above the horizon, humidity was high (more than 80%) and to complete the picture there were high clouds and haze.

My challenge: I only had about 1 hour to setup my gear, perform a rough polar align (for this session I decided not to polar align to save precious imaging time), power the telescope on and launch my imaging sequence, before the clouds rolled in again. So, I had to be quick and efficient in order to capture the comet.

I decided to use this setup:

  • the Rokinon 135mm lens because of its wide field of view, which is more forgiving in case of non perfect polar alignment;
  • my dedicated ZWO ASI533MC Pro cooled camera;
  • a light pollution filter (Optolong L-Pro);
  • the Celestron AVX mount.

Another important step was to have the most updated coordinates for the comet. I downloaded the ephemerides in Stellarium in advance. I also published a short tutorial that explains how to add a comet in Stellarium.

Next, I launched NINA (my favorite automated DSO imaging software), I cooled the camera to the right temperature, focused the lens, and pointed the scope to the comet through Stellarium. The comet was there, bright, and perfectly centered in my frame: I was ready for astro-imaging! I shot a sequence of 15 x 2 minutes images (for a total integration time of 30 minutes), took flat frames before packing for the night. Finally, I processed the images with PixInsight (it was hard!) and GIMP.

I am happy to share my final image of the comet and a video that shows the comet moving through the sky in just 30 minutes.

The comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will reach its minimum distance from Earth on February 1, at a distance of about 42 million kilometers (26 million miles). Unfortunately, for Southern Ontario the weather forecast for the next few days is not promising. But, as an astrophotographer, I never give up hope!

Stay tuned and always remember to look up at the stars.

Date: 2023-01-25
Time: 4:33 a.m. to 05:11 a.m. UTC
Location: my driveway in Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: Rokinon 135mm
Mount: Celestron AVX
Camera: ZWO ASI533MC PRO cooled at -10°C
Filter: Optolong L-Pro (light pollution filter)
Software: NINA, PixInsight, GIMP

Here you can see the final image of the green comet with its tail. I stacked 15×120 seconds frames, for 30 minutes of total integration time. As usual, I used PixInsight and calibration frames (20 dark, 10 flats and 100 bias frames).
Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) - 2023-01-25
This screenshot shows the ephemerides of the comet Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) from Stellarium on January 24, 2023 at 11:33pm ET.
Comet ephemerides in Stellarium 2023-01-24
This video shows the comet moving across the sky over the course of just 30 minutes!
Crescent Nebula (June 2022)

My 2022 Astrophotography Highlights

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My 2022 Astrophotography Highlights

Less than 1 minute Minutes

My 2022 astrophotography highlights: two lunar eclipses, deep sky imaging, nebulae and galaxies, globular clusters, a comet, a quasar, a supernova, a black hole, the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Mars.

As an avid astrophotographer, I captured some unforgettable moments in 2022. From lunar eclipses to supernovas, from galaxies to bright nebulae, from planets to sunspots, it was a year filled with exciting celestial events and beautiful cosmic sights.

I was lucky enough to have a clear sky when two lunar eclipses occurred. The first one was a partial lunar eclipse that happened on May 15, and the second one was a total eclipse visible before dawn on November 8 from my location. It was a privilege for me to photograph these beautiful astronomical events.

On May 2, I imaged a supernova in a distant galaxy for my very first time (S2022hrs, located in the NGC 4647 galaxy in Virgo). A supernova is an explosive event that occurs when a massive star collapses and explodes. I was thrilled to capture this supernova with my 8 inch telescope and imaging camera from my light polluted location.

I imaged the first ever discovered quasar (3C 273), located at the heart of a distant galaxy in Virgo. It is breathtaking to think of this mysterious celestial object which is the extremely bright core of an active galaxy powered by a supermassive black hole, that lies at a staggering 2,443 million light-years distance from Earth.

I had dozens of deep sky imaging sessions: I captured galaxies, globular clusters and narrowband images of bright nebulae. I also took some beautiful images of Jupiter and Saturn.

But perhaps the most impressive moment of the year came when I imaged Mars with its features, the North polar cap and its clouds, just a few days before its opposition. It was an amazing year for my astrophotography journey, and I can’t wait to see what 2023 will bring.

Happy 2023 and always remember to look up at the stars!

Mars and the Moon (2022-12-07)

Mars reaches its opposition and “kisses” the Moon!

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Mars reaches its opposition and “kisses” the Moon!

Less than 1 minute Minutes

I caught the Moon and Mars a few minutes after the end of the occultation!

December 7, 2022: I marked this date on my calendar because of Mars opposition and a lunar occultation that was visible from my location, only to discover that the cloud coverage was 100% during the occultation.

However, I prepared my scope and my planetary camera, just in case.

The sky was cloudy for the entire duration of the occultation, but cleared for a few minutes around 11:35 pm EST, well after the end of the occultation. Weather conditions during the acquisition were very challenging (as you can see from the video below), but I am happy with the reward of my perseverance: I captured the Full Moon and Mars in opposition!

Date: 2022-12-07
Time: 11:38pm EST
Location: my driveway in Richmond Hill (ON)
Scope: Explore Scientific ED80 CF
Mount: Celestron AVX
Camera: ZWO ASI224MC, IR-Cut filter
Software: FireCapture, Autostakkert, Registax, GIMP

The image was taken 20 minutes after the end of the occultation and is the result of the best 30% frames from a 10 sec. video. Mars, with some of its features, is visible on the bottom right of the image.
 
You can use the slider to scroll the image and show or hide the annotation of Mars. 
The Moon and Mars on December 07, 2022The Moon and Mars on December 07, 2022
This is a 5 sec. sequence extracted from one of the videos I captured on the opposition night. You can see fast clouds passing in front of the Moon and the planet Mars to the bottom right corner of the video.
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