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Aart Bik

@aartbik.bsky.social
440 followers 314 following 155 posts

Dutch-American computer scientist Utrecht (MSc), Leiden (PhD) #Nvidia #Google #Intel #astrophotography #chess #compilers #sparse #vectorization 🌐 aartbik.com

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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 23h
It's hard to get the moons too in a single stack of exposures without washing out the planet body, and I am still working on my skills to overlay varying exposure times ;-)
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
And, of course, Saturn today. #astrophotography
Saturn through the Meade LX600
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Andromeda Galaxy (M31) again. This time I used more spacer rings on my focal reducer to get a slightly faster exposure. Better than yesterday at least, right? #astrophotography #astronomy
Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
An attempt at capturing Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31) #astrophotography
Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31)
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
More experimentation with Saturn today. Instead of zooming in with a Barlow, now zooming out with a focal reducer. Also, comparing the ZWO ASI183MC Pro (higher resolution) with the ASI715MC (smaller pixels). Overall, the 183 resembles what you see through the eyepiece the best. #astrophotography
Saturn through a Meade LX600 with focal reducer, comparing the 183 with the 715 camera.
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Experimenting with using the VIP-Barlow with my Meade LX600 on Saturn #astrophotography
Saturn with prime focus and with a VIP-Barlow (Meade LX600)
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
youtu.be/jkrlnLmQtOE?...
youtu.be
The exciting journey with my 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS
YouTube video by Aart Bik
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Wow, just wow!
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Impressive set up! Glad to see you enjoy the hobby so much!
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
And... seeing at my place today was rated: average to below average (Antoniadi III–IV)
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Here they are, side by side.
ETX90-EC vs 12'' LX600
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Thanks. Another miscalculation: I can easily carry the etx, but the lx600 takes a village to move!
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
That's good advice. Thanks!
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
This picture is formidable! Very well done. Good seeing is indeed one big excuse for me, since my driveway is very light polluted, and it has only become worse recently.
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
For those who’ve made a big aperture leap: what advice would you give me to find my groove (and the fun) again?
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I love a challenge, and I genuinely believe hobbies are most rewarding when you're constantly learning. But right now, I’ve hit a wall. The hobby stopped feeling fun, and I catch myself missing the simple joy of that little ETX-90.
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Yet despite a few decent deep-sky captures, the hobby suddenly feels like an uphill battle. The images keep coming out soft, and the results just don't match the effort. Here is a stacked moon capture.
Moon through the Meade LX600
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Wanting to go deeper, I took a leap to a 12'' Meade LX600, wedge mount, dedicated cameras, reducers, Barlows, and all the accessories. I devoured books, tackled image stacking, practiced critical focus, and dialed in collimation.
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I could use a little perspective and encouragement from my #astrophotography friends. For years, I loved every minute with my Meade ETX-90EC. My shots were far from perfect, but they weren't bad either—and more importantly, every session was fun. Here is a moon shot with the ETX-90.
Moon through the Meade ETX-90EC
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
I missed the lunar eclipse yesterday due to clouds, but today the moon was visible again. #astrophotography
The moon through a Meade telescope
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Ave atque vale, Dolly 😢
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
youtu.be/mQwvAjIHsZM
youtu.be
The adventure begins: Ferrari 328 GTS
YouTube video by Aart Bik
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Very excited to have been part of this exciting Ferrari Luce unveiling event in San Francisco!
Ferrari LuceFerrari LuceFerrari Luce
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
American freedom with an Italian twist
Ferrari view
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
SciPy2026 is taking place in the week of July 13-19 in Minneapolis. We will present the nvmath-python implementation of the Universal Sparse Tensor as part of Katrina Riehl's tutorial "Accelerated Python Math Libraries". We hope to see you there! www.scipy2026.scipy.org/schedule
scipy2026.scipy.org
Schedule — SciPy 2026
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
I will be teaching a computer chess class! This 8-class course offers a comprehensive examination of computer chess mechanics and provides strategies for leveraging software to enhance competitive play.
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
A direct camera shot (no telescope today) of the Moon and Venus. It is hard to capture the beauty to the eye without over exposure in the camera. #astrophotography
The Moon and Venus in a single camera shot, with some trees for contrast.
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Chess for Android now supports the Cynus Portable AI Chess Robot. I posted a brief instructional video. youtu.be/jtxQ86G34YA
youtu.be
Chess for Android: Cynus Portable AI Chess Robot
YouTube video by Aart Bik
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
The Universal Sparse Tensor (UST) is now available as Beta in NVIDIA nvmath-python v0.9.0. Read about this in our blog posting: developer.nvidia.com/blog/simplif...
developer.nvidia.com
Simplify Sparse Deep Learning with Universal Sparse Tensor in nvmath-python | NVIDIA Technical Blog
In a previous post, we introduced the Universal Sparse Tensor (UST), enabling developers to decouple a tensor’s sparsity from its memory layout for greater flexibility and performance.
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
The first independent test results are in: BikJump v2.0.1 -> v3.0 is about + 188 ELO in strength!
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
It has been years since the last release (2008) but I finally got some time to work on my own chess engine BikJump again. And I just released a much cleaner and improved version 3.0: talkchess.com/viewtopic.ph...
Chess Challenger
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Take a tour of this epic 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS youtube.com/shorts/Huj-f...
youtube.com
1986 Ferrari 328 GTS
YouTube video by Aart Bik
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Some new gear for the Meade LX600 telescope: parallel mounted Canon camera #astrophotography
Meade LX600 with parallel mounted Canon camera
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Ferrari 328 GTS in beautiful California
Ferrari 328 GTS
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
The Manya Cynus (Portable AI Chess Robot) arrived today. It has an open protocol and I cannot wait to integrate this into my Chess for Android app!
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 14/03/2026
I hope to see you next week at #GTC2026 at our session with exciting announcements and demos! www.nvidia.com/gtc/session-...
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
The journey that started a long time ago as sparse compilation, enriched with new ideas by so many others along the way, continues with the introduction of the Universal Sparse Tensor (UST) type. developer.nvidia.com/blog/establi...
developer.nvidia.com
Establishing a Scalable Sparse Ecosystem with the Universal Sparse Tensor | NVIDIA Technical Blog
Sparse tensors are vectors, matrices, and higher-dimensional generalizations with many zeros. They are crucial in various fields such as scientific computing, signal processing, and deep learning due…
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
youtu.be/c_wqFkUcQnU?...
youtu.be
Chess for Android: Millennium Supreme T2
YouTube video by Aart Bik
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
The Millennium Supreme T2 electronic chessboard arrived. Beautiful tournament size and weighted piece set. I plan to post a review on YouTube soon!
Supreme T2 Electronic Chessboard
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
Congratulations, Dr. Dr. Bik!
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
The moon tonight, through a Meade ETX-90EC. #astrophotography
Moon through Meade ETX90EC
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
Are you just as excited as I am about deep learning, sparse matrices and tensors, sparse computations, structured and unstructured sparsity, sparse compilers, NVIDIA, and GPUs? If so, please note that my team at NVIDIA is hiring! nvidia.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/NVIDIAExtern...
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
Beautiful moon this night. Composite photo. #astrophotography
Composite photo of the moon through Meade LX600 telescope
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
You should be very proud! Finest automobile ever!
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
Now I know what puts a smile on my face...
Ferrari 328 GTS
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Happy Fourth of July!
Two American flags
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
Of course, my PhD thesis was already available as PDF. Compiler Support for Sparse Matrix Computations. PhD Thesis, Leiden University, 1996. aartbik.com/MISC/bik-96....
aartbik.com
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
In my time, university documents were only available in printed form. However, I found the LaTex sources of my MSc thesis, and was able to generate a PDF form! A Prototype Restructuring Compiler, MSc Thesis, no. INF/SCR-92-11, Utrecht University, 1992. aartbik.com/MISC/bikms.pdf
aartbik.com
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Not the greatest capture, but it is Messier 53 nevertheless. Through the Meade LX600, taken with the ZWO CCD. #astrophotography
Messier 53 through the Meade LX600
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Aart Bik @aartbik.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Lagoon Nebula (M8) through the Meade LX600 #astrophotography
Lagoon Nebula (M8)
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