Daan Klein’s Post

Planetary imaging was always a distant dream for me, until I realized recently that the devil (beauty) is in the details. Astrophotography is a rewarding hobby/passion that offers a unique perspective on the beauty of the Universe. Looking at Jupiter through a telescope versus seeing a processed planetary camera image offers so much depth, so much details that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. Astrophotography reminds us of the immense majesty and artistry present in the cosmos. Here are some pictures captured by me in this journey so far. These pictures are a testament to the endless hours spent in imaging Jupiter from my balcony, processing the images in various softwares to get the final result. Although these are considered very "rudimentary images" from an astrophotographer's standpoint, I am very excited to explore this new found passion. #astronomy #passionwithpurpose #planetaryimaging

The Lagoon Nebula, also known as Messier 8 or M8, is a giant interstellar cloud in the constellation Sagittarius. It is a stellar nursery, where new stars are actively forming. The nebula is about 4,000-6,000 light-years away from Earth and is one of the brightest and most massive star-forming regions in the Milky Way. Its distinctive shape resembles a lagoon, hence its name. The Lagoon Nebula is visible to the naked eye under dark skies and is a popular target for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers. This was an observation made with the Las Cumbres Observatory 0.4m telescope with exposure time of 300 seconds for each of the Red, Blue and Green filters. The raw images were processed with Fits liberator and the Gimp software at PACS e-Lab. To learn about how to perform Astrophoto Visual Development on deep space bodies, explore our website: https://lnkd.in/dF7eY4Aw #education #astronomy #webtelescope #SpaceExploration #citizenscience #research #africa #astrophotography #space

How many stars can you count? ⭐ It is easy to assume that the deep void of outer space is completely dark, given the massive distances between celestial objects, but with the proper technique the truer count of all these objects becomes visible. Gemini North, one half of the Gemini International Observatory, operated by NOIRLab, beholds this ethereal view of the brimming sky. With our naked eyes, we can see about 6000 stars, out of around 200 billion in the Milky Way 🤯. And this doesn’t even include the plethora of other astronomical objects! At the bottom of this #imageoftheweek, the dense cloud deck below Gemini North’s position suppresses light pollution from neighboring cities. This blanket facilitates a substantially darker and clearer night, and light from fainter stars can more easily be captured. Appearing like a reflection of the clouds, the Milky Way itself is visible on the Hawaiian horizon. Also at the horizon, a bright band glows from the right half of the image — this is sunlight reflecting off of interplanetary dust, creating zodiacal light. On the opposite side of the horizon shines a splash of backscattered sunlight called the gegenschein. Download this image in high resolution: https://lnkd.in/eQHRGi6x Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. Chu #stars #milkyway #starrynight #imageoftheday #astronomy #astrophotography #geminiobservatory

Nebulae, which are massive clouds of dust and gas, are popular targets for deep-sky astrophotography due to their size and colour combinations. They also happen to make great targets for beginners because they are easier to focus, frame, and process compared to dimmer, smaller objects. We've put together a list of the brightest nebulae in the night sky for your next clear night. How many have you checked off your list? ☑ https://lnkd.in/gQdXMwXM

Omar, an enthusiastic #astrophotographer, ventures into the mountains with dreams of capturing the universe through his #telescope. Omar's excitement quickly turns into a nightmare when….. but fear not, for help is on the way. Many astrophotographers face a fundamental issue: the challenge of cable management. Discover how the EAGLE system and GHOST mode can transform your #astrophotography, by reducing the number of cables of your telescope. Don't let cable problems stop your astrophotography adventures. Watch now and discover how you can capture the poltergeists of your cabling with EAGLE and GHOST mode. EAGLE is the most advanced computer specifically designed by PrimaLuceLab for telescopes and astrophotography: https://lnkd.in/duXbqqb3

Delve into the world of astrophotography with the innovative CDK telescope by PlaneWave. Developed by Dave Rowe, this telescope's optical design is a game-changer in the field. 🔭 Unlike traditional telescopes, the CDK is engineered to eliminate common issues like coma, off-axis astigmatism, and field curvature. This means you can capture stunning images with pinpoint star clarity across the entire imaging plane.✨ The CDK's design comprises three essential components: an ellipsoidal primary mirror, a spherical secondary mirror, and a lens group. Together, they work seamlessly to ensure exceptional image quality, making it the ideal choice for capturing the wonders of the cosmos. Discover the simplicity and elegance of the CDK telescope and embark on a journey to explore the universe with unprecedented precision and clarity. 👉 PlaneWave.com #CDKTelescope #Astrophotography #PlaneWaveInstruments

Witness the Birth of a Star: A Glimpse into the IC 1848 Nebula I am thrilled to share this breathtaking image of a star-forming region within the IC 1848 nebula, commonly known as the Soul Nebula. Captured in stunning detail, this image highlights the vibrant and dynamic processes at play in the cosmos, showcasing the incredible beauty and complexity of stellar nurseries. What makes this image even more special to me is how the nebula's shape resembles a heart, a fitting symbol for the birth and nurturing of new stars. The red hues signify the presence of ionized hydrogen gas, a key ingredient in star formation. The intricate structures and varying colors depict the interplay of gas, dust, and radiation, as gravity pulls these elements together to form new stars. The bright spots scattered throughout are young stars that have recently ignited, their light piercing through the surrounding dust and gas. The Soul Nebula, located approximately 7,500 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia, is a testament to the ongoing cycle of creation and destruction in the universe. Observing these cosmic cradles provides invaluable insights into the processes that lead to the birth of stars and the formation of planetary systems. Currently, this nebula is my absolute favorite, and I am extremely fascinated by its mesmerizing beauty and the incredible processes it represents. As we continue to explore and understand the universe, images like this inspire awe and remind us of the boundless wonders that lie beyond our world. Join me in celebrating the marvels of space and the incredible advancements in astronomical imaging that allow us to witness these stellar births from afar. #Astronomy #Space #StarFormation #Nebula #CosmicWonders #IC1848 #SoulNebula #Astrophotography #SpaceExploration

NGC 253, nicely processed by Thomas Großschmidt also known as the Sculptor Galaxy or the Silver Coin Galaxy, is a large, bright spiral galaxy located in the constellation Sculptor, about 11.4 million light-years from Earth. It is one of the closest and most active star-forming galaxies to the Milky Way, characterized by a central region rich in dust and gas where intense star formation occurs. The LRGB data sets that processed this image are available on Starbase at a 25% Discount. Lum is 12.8 hours, and RGB is 5.4 hours. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eQKRcdyE #astrophotography #astrophoto #astrographia #astrofotografie #astronomy #astro #insightobservatory #astrophotography #astrophoto #astrographia #astrofotografie #astronomy #astro #insightobservatory #space #nightsky #telescope #universe #starrysky #nightphotography #cosmos #outerspace #skygemsremoteobservatories #starbase #deepskychile #utahdesertremoteobservatories

Sun pillar with upper tangent arc ✨ This was not a typical sun pillar. Just after sunrise in Early February 2021 in Providence, Rhode Island, USA, a photographer, looking out his window, was suddenly awestruck. The astonishment was caused by a sun pillar that fanned out at the top. Sun pillars, singular columns of light going up from the Sun, are themselves rare to see, and are known to be caused by sunlight reflecting from wobbling, hexagon-shaped ice-disks falling through Earth's atmosphere. Separately, upper tangent arcs are known to be caused by sunlight refracting through falling hexagon-shaped ice-tubes. Finding a sun pillar connected to an upper tangent arc is extraordinary, and, initially, took some analysis to figure out what was going on. A leading theory is that this sun pillar was also created, in a complex and unusual way, by falling ice tubes. Few might believe that such a rare phenomenon was seen again if it wasn't for the quick thinking of the photographer -- and the camera on his nearby smartphone. Credit : APOD, NASA

NGC 6960, nicely processed by Craig Stocks also known as the Western Veil Nebula or the Witch's Broom, is a bright filamentary remnant of a supernova explosion that occurred thousands of years ago. Located in the constellation Cygnus, about 1,400 light-years from Earth, this nebula forms part of the larger Veil Nebula complex. This 8-hour and 8-minute RGB, Ha, OIII, and SII image set (masters only) is available for download and processing on Starbase with a limited-time 30% discount. A processing tutorial is included, specifically addressing how to correct filter reflections! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eiZS_k3r #astrophotography #astrophoto #astrographia #astrofotografie #astronomy #astro #insightobservatory #astrophotography #astrophoto #astrographia #astrofotografie #astronomy #astro #insightobservatory #space #nightsky #telescope #universe #starrysky #nightphotography #cosmos #outerspace #skygemsremoteobservatories #starbase #deepskychile #utahdesertremoteobservatories