Members Reports

The Astronomer of Bessarabia in Bucharest By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe

By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe posted yesterday

The Astronomer of Bessarabia in Bucharest By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe . . On July 10 and 11, 2025, I was the host and guide in Bucharest for the astronomer of Bessarabia, Vitalie Chistol, a doctor professor at the technical university of a small state (the Republic of Moldova, historically separated from the motherland Romania), who operates the planetarium and observatory in Chisinau and prepares high school students for the international astronomy and astrophysics olympiads. . Together we felt like in a brotherhood where we had abandoned childhood games ...

Star-Forming Cluster

By Harley White posted 2 days ago

. . Star-Forming Cluster . . A star-forming complex, massive in size, is N 7 9 in LMC skies. The image from James Webb Telescope Space shares H II atomic hydrogen case ‘midst stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud through colorful picture NASA endowed. . Seen in mid-infrared wavelengths that show a star with an eight-pronged light pattern glow, it’s characteristic of scope James Webb which has become quite a portrait celeb. Known as diffraction spikes, these are brought on as the light bends ‘round edges thereupon . while struts holding mirrors where they are right generate ...

Hubble's Night Sky Challenge for July

By Michael Cunningham posted 2 days ago

Asteroid Day 2025 in Bucharest By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe

By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe posted 3 days ago

Asteroid Day 2025 in Bucharest By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe . . On June 27, 2025, the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy (AIRA) organized the most important and beautiful open astronomical event in the Romanian Capital, Asteroid Day - Open Doors Day, in its national astronomical park, where groups of interested visitors were invited to participate in guided tours of the institution's historical halls, attend specialized presentations and solar observations, and admire the exhibitions of AIRA posters and paintings by students of Nicolae Tonitza High School, while the children participated in workshops offered by the Space Club, sustained ...

In the name of Pierre Gassendi (1592-1655) By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe

By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe posted 4 days ago

In the name of Pierre Gassendi (1592-1655) By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe . . The French astronomer Pierre Gassendi first observed the planet Mercury crossing the solar disk in 1631. . Therefore, in his honor, please do not confuse the transit of Mercury with a sunspot! #poetry

Inspired by Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe

By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe posted 5 days ago

Inspired by Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe . . I once wandered through a forest and wondered what the founder of extragalactic astronomy, Edwin Hubble, would say in my place. . I think… “I am on planet Earth, part of the solar system, part of the Milky Way, part of the expanding Universe. Therefore, I cannot get lost!” #poetry

BEYOND

By Mirosław Wójcik posted 7 days ago

Image details: Artist’s impression of the TRAPPIST-1 planetary system Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso1805a/ ––– |BEYOND| B eyond anything we know profound truths have grown to be finally shown when right time flows We draw our tale preserving it from fail soon beyond the star that still shines afar It marks mankind's presence being in some coherence with laws of immensity and an internal audacity Just due to it one day we'll complete all our ambitious efforts assigned once to gods And so, time flows beyond anything we know, profound truths still grow to ...

Unrivaled Earth

By Harley White posted 10 days ago

. . Unrivaled Earth . . Unrivaled Earth, how came you so amongst the globes that come and go? As planetary world just right for human being day and night, in every sense you’re apropos. . The Sun which grants us starry glow shines down upon our mortal show as yet in word and deed we slight unrivaled Earth. . Oh may this rondeau help bestow noteworthy words from pen to flow as I, mere rhymester, yet despite my lack of merit, seek insight to pen some praises that we owe unrivaled Earth. . . ~ Harley White . . * * * * * * * * * ...

Apollo-Soyuz: The Mission & The Astronauts (A Free, Virtual Lecture)

By Donna McCormick posted 10 days ago

On July 17th, at 7:00 PM, ET, Hamptons Observatory and co-host Suffolk County Community College will present a free, virtual lecture in celebration of the 50 th Anniversary of the Apollo-Soyuz Mission, the first international human spaceflight, and the first mission carried out by the U.S. and the Soviet Union. NASA/JP L Solar System Ambassador, science reporter and radio show host, Andy Poniros, will take us on a journey from Sputnik to the end of the Apollo program and discuss his personal experiences with the astronauts and others who made it all possible. Details and registration information may be found on https://HamptonsObservato ...

Some Paradoxes in the Universe By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe

By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe posted 11 days ago

Some Paradoxes in the Universe By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe . . A giant planet, TOI-6894b, orbits the red dwarf TOI-6894, the dwarf planet Ceres depends on a medium-sized star, the Sun (which seems like a giant to it), and I didn't find Giuseppe Piazzi on the asteroid Piazzia. . There are many paradoxes in the Universe, so I'm going to take a vacation in the heliopause. #poetry

Winter Asterisms By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe

By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe posted 12 days ago

Winter Asterisms By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe . . While discussing stars and constellations with Claudius Ptolemy (100-170), I told him that, in addition to the asterisms Winter Triangle (Procyon, Sirius, Betelgeuse) and Winter Hexagon (Pollux, Capella, Aldebaran, Rigel, Sirius, Procyon), there should also be the Winter Quadrilateral (Procyon, Sirius, Betelgeuse, Rigel). . But Ptolemy got annoyed: -There are already too many asterisms in the same area of the sky and you are downright tiring... #poetry

AN ALONE DISCOVERER

By Mirosław Wójcik posted 14 days ago

Image details: Southern Ring Nebula (NIRCam Image) Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso0804a/ M ankind tended to stargaze since the ancient times being enchanted, intrigued and inspired by the tales of the heavens . However, space seemed then an inaccessible and a very distant place… Today, thanks to advancements of science and technology, we managed to reach the sky. This allows us to look at the Earth from a completely different perspective which our predecessors could have only dreamed about. Nevertheless, due to many constrains of various nature, we are not yet cosmic nomads or sailors. Therefore, ...

Nebulous Turtle

By Harley White posted 14 days ago

. . Nebulous Turtle . . In pastel shades of pink and blue the nebula is brought to view. It’s known as ‘Turtle’ for its shell here shown in colors of pastel in throes of mortal death adieu. . In days of yore it made debut but now has streaming jets in lieu of star formation’s carousel in pastel shades. . The inner shells make rendezvous through jetting streams in retinue which move in seeming parallel with mirror image in its swell that charm our senses through and through in pastel shades. . . ~ Harley White . . * * * * * * ...

"සක්වළ'25" - Sakwala’25 (The Universe)

By B.G. Eranga Thilina Jayashantha posted 16 days ago

Sakwala’25 - The Theoretical and Practical Astronomy Workshop and the Course General structure and prospectus for the “Sakwala” Theoretical and Practical Astronomy Workshop and the Course § Published by Old Anandian Astronomical Association § Full Title - Sakwala’25, The Theoretical and Practical Astronomy Workshop and the Course § Introduction - Sakwala'25 is an intra-school Theoretical and Practical Astronomy Workshop and the Course organized by the Anandian Astronomical Association and conducted by Old Anandian Astronomical Association exclusively for the students ...

Introducing: Comet Catchers - Join the Hunt For Comets In Rubin Data!

By Andee Sherwood posted 16 days ago

If you love Citizen Science projects, you may enjoy this new project! Try your eye with the *very first* citizen science project on Zooniverse that uses data from NSF-DOE Rubin Observatory, Comet Catchers! We can't think of a more fitting project for #AsteroidDay In this project, you'll help Rubin scientists spot comets in early data collected by the observatory. These fascinating objects are faint and full of secrets about the early Solar System — identifying and studying them helps us understand our origins! Comet Catchers is open to all, no special training required! All you need are curiosity and the desire to ...

Speaking to Giordano Bruno (1548-1600) By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe

By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe posted 18 days ago

Speaking to Giordano Bruno (1548-1600) By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe . . Dear Giordano, I know you loved astronomy, philosophy and poetry, considering the Universe to be infinite. . I come from the future and now some astronomers reduce astronomy to astrophysics, telescopes and space missions. . But I still believe that any astronomical action must begin with a loving look at the sky! #poetry

MEGA Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein Still Heading Sunward, Now Belching Jets

By Andee Sherwood posted 18 days ago

The following information is provided by the good folks at EarthSky.org. An enormous comet, named Bernardinelli-Bernstein, is headed toward the sun. The comet core is 80 miles wide! That's 10 times wider than a typical comet core. Astronomers just announced they now see jets erupting from the comet's core as it barrels sunward. We'll be talking about this comet with Nathan Roth, an astronomer who studies it. The video drops at 12:15 p.m. CDT ( 17:15 UTC) on Monday, June 30. EarthSky's Deborah Byrd will host. EarthSky.org: https://earthsky.org/ Watch the recorded livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnzRUa0lu8k What ...

What Seest Thou?

By Harley White posted 19 days ago

.. . What Seest Thou? . . What seest thou, T Tauri star from time’s abysm where you are? What seest thou from outer space of our unvalued place of grace, so seeming near and yet so far? . Your backward dark may look bizarre remote from tinctures of Renoir, in stellar fluctuant embrace what seest thou? . Perhaps you’ll grow like Sun’s memoir before you bid your au revoir; meantime, ‘midst marvels we would chase, your triple system’s special case might furnish facts that raise the bar, what seest thou? . . ~ Harley White . . ...

Please Share - Presentation of an international galaxy directory for astrophotographers

By Johannes Stübler posted 23 days ago

Dear NCs ! T oday I would like to introduce you to a very remarkable amateur astronomy project by a German stargazer with whom I have been friends for a long time. The galaxy directories by Wolfram Fischer, who has recently spent some time compiling a list of worthwhile photographic objects in the field of galaxies in the southern sky. A list for the northern sky has already existed for some time. These directories can be viewed on his website at https://www.astrofotografie-wolfram-fischer.de/Galaxienverzeichnisse/Nord.Sued.htm What's special about them is that the entries under "Name of Objects" are linked to the corresponding image section of ...

Einstein Zig-Zag

By Harley White posted 23 days ago

. . Einstein Zig-Zag . . This title provocative in the text filled me with wonder and left me perplexed. In heaven’s name what could this marvel be that looked like a grin in hyperbole? . On first thought the heading seemed like a gag for how could light from a quasar zig-zag? Nonetheless, a galactic scheme at heart with a distant quasar playing a part . a gravitational lens could design making smiley face out in space to shine. Or is it a grimace and not a grin that expresses bewilderment therein? . Perhaps it’s surprise, well we could surmise continually about ...