iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

A visit to the history of physics and astronomy: Leiden’s Ehrenfest House and the old Observatory. Einstein visited here and interacted with Paul Ehrenfest and Willem de Sitter, discussing ideas about relativity and cosmology. #astronomy #physics

Here lived and worked professor Ehrenfest.

140

Reposted by Bernhard Schaefer

Astrobites @astrobites.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

From @qwasistellar.bsky.social: Telescopes. Science Funding Cuts. The Commercialization of the night sky and what we can do to change it. ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/08/13/the-dying-of-the-light/

astrobites.org

The Dying of the Light

Telescopes. Science Funding Cuts. The Commercialization of the night sky and what we can do to change it.

02113

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Today's partial #solar #eclipse was a wonderful event! Image taken in Essen, Germany at 8:06 pm. Skymax 102, Panasonic S5, ISO 640, 1/1000 sec, 5 images stacked. AutoStakkert, Registax, GIMP. 🔭 #astrophoto

060

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

The #MilkyWay in constellation #Cygnus as seen last night from the Black Forest. Most prominent is the North America nebula, but for example also the faint Veil Nebula can be seen. Panasonic S5 mod on SA GTi, 200 x 30 sec, ISO 640, rather simple lens with f = 60 mm, F5.6, no filters. 🔭 #astrophoto

Wide field image of the starry night sky in constellation cygnus. Besides myriads of stars, red emission nebulae are visible within the milky way's plane.

2126

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Today's #sun seen through a 15 cm refractor (f = 130 cm) with Baader sun foil on front lens. Image taken with a mobile phone 🫣 positioned over an 18 mm eyepiece. 🔭 #astrophoto

080

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Messengers from #space: Invisible particles become visible in this bubble chamber which turns cosmic radiation into tracks you can watch in real time. Thin zigzags are electrons, long straight paths are muons, and thick short trails come from alpha particles losing their energy rapidly. 🔭 #physics

2336

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

In Cancer lies an old, distant galaxy group - NGC 2563 being the brightest cluster galaxy. The 30-60 cluster members seem mostly lenticular plus some spirals. Distance 200m ly. Galaxy #27 (UGC 4332) is obviously distorted. Some faint galaxies behind cluster seem to be ~1,4bn ly away! 🔭 #astrophoto

A variety of small galaxies visible behind numerous foreground stars. Imaged with Panasonic S5, Skymax 102/1300, 176x30 sec, ISO 640. Processed in SIRIL using the Galaxy Annotations script.

Table of all galaxies that can be identified in the original image with the help of the Galaxy Annotations Script in SIRIL. The most distant galaxies in the image (way behind the cluster around NGC 2563) are/were located at a distance of approximately 1.4 billion light-years.

051

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Though it is leaving the current solar cycle's maximum behind, the sun today exhibited quite a number of active regions again. Skymax102, Panasonic S5 (total view), ASI220 (partial views) 🔭 #astrophoto

Total view of the sun. The orange disk shows a number of dark spots and regions

Partial view of the sun, focusing on a large bipolar group of sun spots

081

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

As part of yesterday's "Astronomy Day" in Germany, we did some necessary 😉 spring cleaning at the Walter-Hohmann Observatory. In the evening there were lectures, inter alia about ARTEMIS II, and observations especially of the moon and Jupiter. Thanks to everbody who actively contributed! #astronomy

Part of our outdoor area after sping cleaning

Thomas Payer giving a lecture about Artemis II and how it compares to the Apollo Program.

Public observing the the observatory's C14

The moon as it was seen last night. Top left is the "Golden Handle" well visible.

0100

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Horsehead Nebula and Flame Nebula - a wide field image of the beautiful emission region in constellation Orion. Panasonic S5 mod, TS 70/474, dualband Ha/OIII, 93 x 1 min, ISO 640. Siril, GraXpert, Starnet, GIMP. 🔭 #astrophoto

Red emission structures, the light locally being blocked by dark dust structures which in one location resemble a horse's head.

0134

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

The California Nebula is only 1000 ly away and the closest HII region to us. Because it's so near, the nebula appears quite large in the sky. It is likely illuminated by the nearby star ξ Persei Panasonic S5 mod, TS 70/474, dualband, 93 x 60 s, ISO 640, SIRIL, Starnet, GraXpert, GIMP 🔭 #astrophoto

Red, elongated emission nebula against dark-grey background sky. The nebula's form reminds of the US state California - hence its name.

1517

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

Wizard and Lion Nebula. North of the image's center is Delta Cephei, the prototype of the Cepheid variables. Its actually a quadruple star - here, two stars of the system can be seen. Panasonic S5 mod, RedCat 51/250, dualband filter, ISO 640, 30x1 min. SIRIL, GraXpert, Starnet, GIMP. 🔭 #astrophoto

A red gas nebula to the top left, which is called the Wizard Nebula. The red-green structure at the bottom right is the Lion Nebula. Dark dust structures visible, too. Several bright stars. The one in the middle of the image is a variable star called Delta Cephei.

0122

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Northern Lights in the middle of Germany, a rare spectacle tonight! 🔭 #astrophoto

0325

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

The "Lower's Nebula". A relatively unknown emission nebula in Orion. The star at its center also illuminates a small, triangular reflection nebula. Panasonic S5 mod, 30 cm Newtonian, dualband filter, ISO 640, 150 x 30 sec. SIRIL, GraXpert, Starnet, GIMP. 🔭 #astrophoto

Reddish gas clouds surrounding a central bright star. Close to this star a smal, traingular-shaped refelction nebula is visible.

0111

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Rework: The Eagle Nebula (Messier 16) with the famous Pillars of Creation. Panasonic S5 mod, Skymax 102, GTi, ISO 1000, 10 sec/sub, 75 min total. Siril, Starnet, GraXpert, GIMP The Skymax is not optimal for deep sky imaging (and we had a full moon, by the way), but GraXpert helps. 🙂 🔭 #astrophoto

Reddish nebula in the shape of an eagle coming down on its prey. A star cluster located in its center.

0114

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Often overlooked is the Clamshell Nebula (SH2-119), a faint emission nebula located east (left) to the famous North America Nebula (NGC 7000). Panasonic S5, Redcat 51/250, dualband filter, ISO 640, 195 x 1 min. SIRIL, GraXpert, Startnet, GIMP 🔭#astrophoto

The bright North America Nebula fills the right side of the image, together with its smaller companion, the Pelican Nebula. The Clamshell Nebula is found in the left part of the image.

Close-up of the Clamshell Nebula, showing inter alia dark dust globules in front of red emission gas structures.

3163

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

The Pleiades. Longer exposures bring out the faint dust structures through which this young star cluster is currently moving. Close to the bright stars, the gas and dust clouds strongly reflect the blue star light. S5, Redcat 51/250, ISO 640, 2 h. SIRIL, GraXpert, Starnet, GIMP 🔭 #astrophoto

A cluster of bright, blue stars in the center of the image illuminate surrounding gas and dust structures which in effect shine blue in the stars' vicinity. Further out, the dust is visible as grey-brown clouds against the background sky.

0397

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

Horsehead Nebula and Orion Nebula - this overview of a region in constellation Orion shows how "close" these famous deep sky objects are when looking at our night sky. (Image taken with Redcat 51/250) 🔭 #astrophoto

Red emission region to the top left image with dark dust structures in front of it looking like a horsehead. Bright Orion Nebula to lower right.

2243

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

In addition, here is an oversight of the region around IC 1396. A very fine target (especially for longer focal lengths) is the Lion Nebula (Sh2-132) to the east of IC 1396 (left side of image). 🔭 #astrophoto

Red emission nebula structures and dark dust lanes are crossing the image. To the left, a red-blue nebula is visible.

0272

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

My favorite 2025 image: IC 1396 in Cepheus with the famous Elephant's Trunk Nebula to the right of its center, a stellar nursery, its very young stars being visible only in infrared. Panasonic S5, Redcat 51/250, dualband filter, 60 min, ISO 640. SIRIL, Graxpert, Starnet, GIMP. 🔭 #astrophoto

Almost round reddish nebula with numerous dark dust cloud structures inside. To the right of the nebula's center, a particular long dust cloud is visible that is being eroded away by the central hot star.

0142

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

The beautiful Milky Way around Sadr, the supergiant in the center of Cygnus. Adjacent to Sadr is the Butterfly Nebula (IC 1318), an emission nebula with intense dark dust lanes in front of it. At the bottom, the small Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888), which surrounds a Wolf-Rayet star. 🔭 #astrophoto

A vast reddish nebula structure, littered with myriads of stars. At the bottom, a small crescent-shaped nebula.

2112

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

In constellation Cygnus, the North America Nebula (left) and the Pelican Nebula (right) belong to the most prominent emission nebulae. Panasonic S5, TS 70/474, Star Adventurer GTi, ISO 640, no filters, 2 h, 30 sec subs. Siril, Graxpert, Starnet, Gimp. 🔭 #astrophoto

Two red nebulae, the left one being shaped like the North American continent, the right one resembling a pelican.

0131

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

A very large group of sunspots is currently rotating into view. Mobile phone photo through Skymax102. 🔭 #astrophoto

Part of the sun's disk. A string of large sunspots stretches from left to right.

0202

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

8000 years ago, a supernova exploded and left a so-called supernova remnant - the large Veil Nebula in constellation Cygnus. app.astrobin.com/u/bernhard.s... Panasonic S5, Redcat 51/250, dualband filter, 65x1min, ISO 800. 🔭 #astrophoto

Red and green nebula fragments, giving together a shell-like appearance.

04211

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

My favourite region on the #moon, Mare Imbrum, with adjacent craters Sinus Iridum, Plato and Copernicus. In this moon phase, special tectonic features, so-called wrinkles are visible on the floor of Mare Imbrum, inter alia Dorsum Heim and Dorsum Zirkel Skymax102, ASI 220 Mini Mono 🔭 #astrophoto

Sinus Iridum with wrinkles visible close to the terminator, i.e. at the boundary between day and night on moon

1374

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

When imaging the constellation #Orion long enough, the faint "Barnard's Loop" becomes visible, an emission region measuring some 300 light years across. Panasonic S5, 22mm focal length, 1 hour stack (800 x 5 sec, as I had no tracking available), ISO 800, Crete. 🔭 #astrophoto

In addition to the bright stars and known emission nebulae of constellation Orion, a large red circular loop is visible, spanning the whole constellation.

07315

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Another example of a gas cloud that is both ionized and at the same time dissolved by intense stellar winds. Here, it is the star Gamma Cassiopeia that shapes the nebula IC 63, also known as the 'Ghost of Cassiopeia'. Newton 300/1350, Panasonic S5 mod, 30 min Ha/OIII, ISO 800. 🔭 #astrophoto

A bright star at the top left and a reddish gas cloud below, the latter obviously being eroded away by the stars stellar wind.

15210

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

The result of yesterday's cloudless night: The emission nebula NGC 6820 with star cluster NGC 6823. The hot, young stars of the cluster erode the surrounding gas and dust. Newtonian 300/1350, Panasonic S5 mod, 65x30s RGB + 130x30s Ha/OIII, ISO 800.

In the center of the image is a cluster of bright stars surrounded by reddish gas clouds and dark dust clouds, both being shaped by the intense winds that are emitted by the stars.

2699

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

If you ever come to Vienna, I recommend a visit to the Kuffner #Observatory on the outskirts of the city. We had a special tour there last night from a dedicated club member. Central is the large refractor (270/3500) from 1887, the third largest in Austria. 🔭

$The large refractor in the observatory's dome$

2742

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

My take of tonight's #lunar eclipse. The totality was hidden by clouds, unfortunately. 🤷‍♂️

The moon, 70% of it still hidden in the earth's shadow

1263

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 30/08/2025

Our #sun, which currently displays numerous spots and a particular large, complex group of sun spots. It's great that the peak of solar activity seems to persist for a while longer! Panasonic S5 mod, Skymax102/1300, 5% of 260 frames, 1/400 sec each, ISO 100 🔭 #astrophoto

The sun, yellow coloured, with many small dark spots, some of them grouped together

1201

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Trifid Nebula (M20), imaged 2 nights ago before it hid behind the rooftops. The red part is an emission nebula, ie hydrogen ionized by the central star cluster - while the blue part is a reflection nebula Panasonic S5 mod, Skymax102/1300, 30 min, ISO 800, Siril/Starnet/Graxpert/Gimp 🔭 #astrophoto

A red nebula with distinct dust lanes across and a star system in the center. Above a blueish nebula with a single central star.

0388

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

I added some H alpha to my recent image of the nebulae Sh2-54, Eagle, Omega, and Messier 24. The HII emission regions stand out a lot clearer. Also, the colors are a bit more realistic now. 🔭 #astrophoto

Overview of the milky way in the region around the aforementioned objects.

0222

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

The Milky Way between the open star clusters M11 (left) and M26 (bottom). Here, no dark clouds obstruct our view into deeper regions of our galaxy. Panasonic S5 mod, Redcat51/250, 80x30sec, ISO 800, dualband filter 🔭 #astrophoto

Section of the Milky Way in the constellation Scutum. The myriad of stars in the background is partially obscured by dark clouds. Various open star clusters are scattered throughout the image, and individual red emission nebulae are visible.

3243

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

Messier 101, the Pinwheel Galaxy, is roughly the size of our own galaxy, the Milky Way. We see it from a distance of 22 million light years. Panasonic S5, Skymax 102/1300, ISO 800, 80 min total 🔭 #astrophoto

A large spiral galaxy, with its spiral arms opened widely, amongst foreground stars from our own galaxy

210518

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Our former ninth planet #Pluto as seen in constellation Capricorn last night. Pluto's position against the night sky noticeably changes from night to night. Magnitude ~15.5 mag, distance 34.4 AU (AU = distance earth-sun) Panasonic S5, Skymax 102/1300, 233 x 10 sec = 40 min, ISO 800 🔭 #astrophoto

Stars against the dark background sky. The marked dot in the center is Pluto.

1444

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

A look into the plane of our Milky Way: HII region Sh2-54, Eagle Nebula, Omega Nebula and Messier 24. Panasonic S5 mod, Redcat51, 222 x 30sec = 1h 50 min, ISO 800 Full picture: app.astrobin.com/u/bernhard.s... 🔭 #astrophoto

Colourful gas nebulae and myriads of stars together with dark dust clouds

0875

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

Rework of my image of the Heart and Soul Nebula taken two weeks ago. Now with stars... I like it a lot better. Thanks to Dennis Marso and his very good Youtube tutorial on Siril+Graxpert+Gimp! 🔭 #astrophoto

Two red emission nebula structures surrounded by myriads of stars

21109

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

The #sun shows a number of bipolar sun spot groups these days, the sun spots themselves being relatively small. Panasonic S5, Skymax 102, 6% of 375 frames, 1/100 sec each, ISO 100 🔭 #astrophoto

Orange coloured sun disk with numerous dark sun spots

1252

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

The Pacman nebula (NGC 281) - obviously trying to catch Schedar 😉, the brightest star in Cassiopeia. Pacman is an emission nebula almost 10,000 ly away. At its center it hosts prominent dust bands and an open star cluster. Panasonic S5, Redcat51, ISO 800, 80 min total 🔭 #astrophotography

To the left, a reddish, diffuse nebula resembling the video game character Pacman. To the right, a bright star.

Close-up of the nebula. The dark dust lanes in the nebula are well visible

1504

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Starless Version of the Heart and Soul Nebula in Cassiopeia. The Soul Nebula to the left is also called the Embryo Nebula, a name which suits its appearence better, I'd say. Panasonic S5, Redcat51, ISO 800, 70 min, 30 sec per frame. Stars removed with Starnet/SIRIL. 🔭 #astrophotography

Two reddish nebula structures. The left one resembles an embryo as seen in ultrasound, the right one looks like a heart.

0367

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Our nearest large neighbour, the Andromeda galaxy, accompanied by two small satellite galaxies, as seen from a shore in Brittany. Here, they fortunately switch off street lights at midnight 🙂👍 Redcat51, Panasonic S5, 75 min total, 30 sec per frame, ISO 800. 🔭 #astrophotography

A large spiral galaxy with dust lanes surrounding the bright core. A small elliptic galaxy to the top, another one at the bottom. Surrounded by numerous foreground stars

0628

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy - a spiral galaxy interacting with irregular companion NGC 5195 which triggers intensive star formation in M51, both at distance of 24 million ly. Lumix S5, Skymax 102 (1300 mm, f/12,7!). StarAdventurer GTi. 280 images, 15 sec each, ISO 800, 70 min. 🔭 #astrophotography

A pair of galaxies linked together. The one to the left exhibiting a pronounced spiral structure

6515

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Today's sun in H alpha light. Note the huge solar prominence to the left. Sorry for the quality, had only my mobile phone available to capture the Coronado's image. 🔭 #astrophotography

Solar disk exhibiting a number of prominences reaching out into space. Dark filaments visible across the disk.

1366

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

Globular cluster M13 in the constellation Hercules. Approx. 25000 light years away from us and consisting of roughly half a million stars. M13 actually was the target of the #Arecibo message sent 1974. 👽 Panasonic S5 on a 30 cm Newton. 25 min in total. ISO 800. 🔭 #astrophotography

Globular-shaped accumulation of stars against background of field stars.

1481

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Moon this afternoon... Panasonic S5 on Skymax102. 20 of 200 images, 1/200 sec at ISO 500 each. 🔭 #astrophotography

First quarter moon covered by numerous craters

0301

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

The Leo Triplet, a group of three galaxies some 35 million light years away. DSLM on Redcat51, 85 min total, 340 frames, 15 sec each, ISO 400. 🔭 #astrophotography

Three galaxies forming a triangle, with numerous foreground stars

2563

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Here comes the sun... Good to see the current solar cycle still produces magnificient sun spot groups! DSLM on Newton 114/900. 7% of 540 images, 1/400 sec at ISO 340 each. 🔭 #astrophotography

Total view of the orange coloured sun disk. Big sun spots to the upper left. One smaller spot close to the center.

Close-up of the big sun spot group consisting of two large umbral spots and numerous smaller spots around.

0231

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Last night's moon... Image taken with a DSLM on a small 114/900 Newton. 20% of 800 images stacked, 1/200 sec at ISO 800 each. The close-up shows crater Petavius with its rim (left to the central peak). 🔭 #astrophotography

The close-up of crater Petavius, exhibiting a central mountain range and a long rim to the left.

0492

Bernhard Schaefer @bernhardschaefer.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

Mars approaching the open star cluster M44 (Praesepe, or The Beehive). Image taken on April, 25th. DSLM on Redcat51. Only 3 min total due to clouds, ISO 800. 🔭 #astrophotography

Bright orange coloured Mars at bottom right. Star cluster with many blueish stars at top left, against dark sky covered by many faint stars.

0461