NSF NOIRLab’s Post

The Moon will pass in front of the Sun, creating a total eclipse of the Sun visible from Mexico, the eastern Contiguous United States and south-eastern Canada between 21:13 and 02:22 IST. Solar eclipses occur when the Sun, Moon and Earth are aligned in a straight line, so that the Moon passes between us and the Sun and blocks its light. Observing the Sun can be very dangerous if it is not done with the right equipment. The Sun is the brightest object in the sky, and looking directly at it can cause permanent eye damage within seconds. Viewing it through any optical instrument – even a pair of binoculars or the finderscope on the side of a telescope – can cause instant and permanent blindness. If you have any doubts about whether your equipment is safe, it is best not to risk using it. By far the safest thing to do is to go along to a public observing event. Many astronomical societies are likely to be hosting observing events on the day, and they'll be sure to welcome newcomers. You may meet some new people at the same time as seeing the eclipse. #solareclipse #totalsolareclipse #solarsystem #spacenews #sun #photography #astronomylover #astrophotography #moon #earth #celestial

The Pleiades, The Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, is an open star cluster located in the constellation of Taurus. It is one of the closest star clusters to Earth and is easily visible to the naked eye. The cluster is dominated by hot, young blue stars, with the brightest members forming a distinctive group of stars resembling a small dipper. In Greek mythology, the Pleiades were the daughters of Atlas and Pleione, and they were pursued by Orion. The cluster has been observed and referenced by various cultures throughout history. Today, it is a subject of scientific study, providing valuable insights into stellar evolution and dynamics. This was an observation made by PACS e-Lab citizen astronomers with the Las Cumbres Observatory's 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. To learn about how to perform Astrophoto Visual Development on deep space bodies, explore our website: https://lnkd.in/dVYJFqnX #education #space #astronomy #webtelescope #spaceexploration #citizenscience #research #africa #astrophotography

Last summer I had the opportunity to travel to the Centro Astronómico on La Palma, which is well known for their extremely dark skies - no #lightpollution at all. So, I was able to capture some pictures of the Eagle Nebula. The Eagle Nebula approx 6000 lightyears from earth in the constellation Serpens was discovered in the year 1745 by Swiss astronomer Jean-Philippe Loys de Cheseaux and later documented by Charles Messier in his catalogue as M16. The nebula contains several active star-forming gas and dust regions, including the well known “Pillars of Creation”, which became famous via a photo from the Hubble Space Telescope 1995 and 2014. The nebula is a region of mainly interstellar atomic hydrogen so the main colour we do see is red. The age of the nebula has been estimated to be 1–2 million years. Evidence from the Spitzer Space Telescope in 2005 suggested that the pillars in M16 may be threatened by a "past supernova". However, in 2014 the pillars were imaged a second time by Hubble. These images provided no supernova is evidenced within them, and it is estimated in some form they still exist – and will appear for at least 100,000 more years. This view (and science research belonging to this) is unfortunately not possible any more from most regions in the world due to #lightpollution. If you want to engage in keeping nights dark and if you would like to understand the influence of #lightpollution on us please visit www.paten-der-nacht.de #astrophotography #astronomy #deepsky

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

Meet AstroKeeper: The photo manager for astronomers. Already enhancing the experience of astronomers worldwide. AstroKeeper is an essential tool for every astrophotographer who values organization and efficiency. Here’s what makes AstroKeeper stand out: 📸 Automatic Photo Import - Effortlessly sync your shots from selected folders in essential astronomy formats. 🏷️ Custom Tags - Organize pictures with ease, making them easy to categorize and retrieve. 🔍 Advanced Search - Quickly locate photos based on telescope type, celestial object, and other criteria. 🔄 Blink Function - Compare pictures to discern even the subtlest changes in the night sky. 🛠️ Image Adjustment Tools - Enhance your photos with fine-tuning options for brightness, contrast, and saturation. ✏️ Drawing Tools - Mark and annotate celestial bodies directly on your images. 🌟 Astrometry Integration - Accurately locate celestial bodies using advanced astrometry. Get AstroKeeper now: https://lnkd.in/eEnA2ma7 #Astrophotography #astronomy #AstroKeeper #Starmaze

Exciting #Astronomical Event Alert! Hey there LinkedIn friends. I hope you're having a #stellar day! I have some mind-blowing news for you. Get ready to witness a once-in-a-lifetime cosmic spectacle! In a rare and fascinating occurrence, #Betelgeuse, one of the brightest #stars in the night sky, is expected to briefly disappear from our view. This #celestial event is set to take place in the near future, and it's definitely something you wouldn't want to miss! #Betelgeuse, located in the #constellation #Orion, has been captivating stargazers for centuries. But now, it's about to give us an even more extraordinary show. Scientists believe that this temporary vanishing act is likely to occur due to a combination of factors, including the star's natural variability and its complex internal dynamics. While the exact timing of this event is uncertain, experts predict that it could happen within the next few years. So, keep your eyes peeled and your telescopes ready! For all the avid #stargazers and #astrophotography enthusiasts out there, this is an incredible opportunity to capture a truly unique moment in the vastness of #space. Whether you prefer landscape photography, astrophotography, or simply gazing at the night sky, this event promises to be a visual feast. Remember, the #universe has a way of surprising us with its wonders. So, mark your calendar, stay tuned to the latest updates from the #scientific community, and prepare to witness this extraordinary #cosmic coincidence! Just a friendly reminder, if you have any questions or need assistance with anything else, feel free to ask. As a passionate researcher of space, I'm here to help you explore the wonders of the #universe.

Sunlight illuminates the Earth, providing warmth and enabling photosynthesis. On the Moon, it creates phases and reflects light during lunar phases. #sciencefacts #crazyscience #sciencevideo #photosynthesis

The story of an iconic picture "Pale Blue Dot" Earth – our home. On this "pale blue dot" resides everyone who ever lived, their joys and sorrows, triumphs and tragedies, playing out against the vastness of space. Every individual, from mighty kings to ordinary people, all share this tiny stage. This is the only known cradle of life in the universe, a humbling realization that underscores our responsibility to cherish and protect it. The camera lingers on the Earth before fading to black, the narrator's final whisper echoing: "the only home we've ever known." The Pale Blue Dot is an iconic photograph of Earth captured by the Voyager 1 space probe in 1990. Taken from a distance of around 6 billion kilometers (3.7 billion miles) as Voyager 1 was departing our solar system, the image portrays Earth as a tiny, pale blue speck in the vastness of space. This image is a powerful reminder of our planet's isolation and fragility in the cosmic expanse, highlighting the need for responsible stewardship of our home. The photograph was a result of astronomer Carl Sagan's suggestion to turn Voyager's camera back towards Earth, offering a profound perspective on our place in the universe. #cosmos #niel_degrasse_tyson #carl_sagan #astrophysics #astrophotography #astronomy

In the vast tapestry of our universe, a cosmic sonnet unfolds, woven with the threads of time, space, and wonder. The wonders of the cosmos are not merely distant stars and galaxies, but a reflection of the profound questions that stir the human spirit. As sentient beings, our quest for understanding propels us into the realms of the unknown. Technology, the alchemy of our intellect, emerges as the lantern guiding our expedition into the cosmic mysteries. It transforms the abstract yearnings of the human mind into tangible probes and telescopes, extending our senses to the farthest reaches of the universe. Through this symbiotic dance of curiosity and innovation, we navigate the cosmic labyrinth, seeking to decipher the language of the stars and unveil the secrets that echo through the celestial expanse. In the marriage of wonder and technology, we become cosmic philosophers, pondering the sublime questions that echo through the cosmos and resonate within the depths of our collective consciousness. #cosmos #universe #spacetattuesday #spaceflighteveryday #spaceshuttle #montage #oppenheimer #canyouhearthemusic #colorgrading #davinciresolve #spaceedit #astroedits #edits #spaceexploration #spaceedit #cosmology #astrophotography #astronomy

A Desert Eclipse Image Credit & Copyright: Maxime Daviron Explanation: A good place to see a ring-of-fire eclipse, it seemed, would be from a desert. In a desert, there should be relatively few obscuring clouds and trees. Therefore late December of 2019, a group of photographers traveled to the United Arab Emirates and Rub al-Khali, the largest continuous sand desert in world, to capture clear images of an unusual eclipse that would be passing over. A ring-of-fire eclipse is an annular eclipse that occurs when the Moon is far enough away on its elliptical orbit around the Earth so that it appears too small, angularly, to cover the entire Sun. At the maximum of an annular eclipse, the edges of the Sun can be seen all around the edges of the Moon, so that the Moon appears to be a dark spot that covers most -- but not all -- of the Sun. This particular eclipse, they knew, would peak soon after sunrise. After seeking out such a dry and barren place, it turned out that some of the most interesting eclipse images actually included a tree in the foreground, because, in addition to the sand dunes, the tree gave the surreal background a contrasting sense of normalcy, scale, and texture. On Saturday, October 14, a new ring of fire will be visible through clear skies from a thin swath crossing both North and South America. #PhoenixDelivers #nasa