iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 10h

Can't make it 😢but I am watching you 😁 thanks to Sentinel satellite access via Slooh 😊

Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Waning Crescent Moon 22% illumination. This is quite a moment, first time seeing inside Aristarchus on one of my own images. Now, when zooming in I can actually see the hole formed by the impact as well as a very prominent ejecta ray. #Slooh #sloohshare #Moon #onlinetelescope

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

'My' New Perspective on the Solar System: not to scale 😆All images on my poster were captured using Slooh's telescopes. Of course I had to include Pluto😄 Earth is from one of my Sentinel 2 satellite missions via Slooh. If kids can get to play...... #Slooh #100HoursofAstronomy

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

100 Hours of Astronomy 2026 Slooh's Star Party inspired me to recap what I have learned this past year. The Moons Symphony LUNAR course has definitely given me a New Perspective of the Solar System #100HoursOfAstronomy #Slooh #TheMoonsSymphony #solarsystem #planets #Moons

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

100 Hours of Astronomy: Theme for 2026 "A New Perspective on the Solar System" I took this image through Slooh's new Canary Six Lunar telescope and zoomed in on the very bright crater Aristarchus Slooh #sloohshare #100HoursOfAstronomy #moon #onlinetelescope

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I have just captured this image of the Sun during the Slooh Star Party: 100 Hours of Astronomy. #slooh #sloohshare #solarsystem #100hoursofastronomy

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

September Full Moon. Telescope: Slooh Australia One. Harvest Moon Quest answer: In South Africa we call it the Spring Moon to celebrate our indigenous astronomical heritage. Centre for Astronomical Heritage cfah.org.za #slooh #sloohshare #MoonHour

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

International Observe the Moon Night. 19 Sept 2026, open home event hosted by Carol Botha. Windy conditions. Indoors event. Theme: Phases of the Moon /Phases of Life. It was a day well spent and participants are proud to say: they now know the Moon phases without having to rely on an app😅

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Watching the Moon in the run-up to #InOMN on Sept 19. #Venus has joined the party. I'm hosting my own event but I'll definitely be crossing over to #Slooh as well. #MoonHour #Moon

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Arp 273/ UGC 1810 In 2017, just after joining Slooh, while watching live telescope feeds, I captured a grayscale image of these two interacting galaxies. New Moon and 9 years later, I decided to set up my own mission and got this beautiful result.#Slooh #sloohshare #galaxies #onlinetelescope

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

These days I have my headphones on while I observe the Moon on #Slooh Today's moon: It looks like the terminator has been draped in lace. Accompaniment The Moons Symphony Amanda Lee Falkenberg: VII. Earth Moon Earthrise youtube.com/watch?v=Kkad...

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I've just discovered this podcast: Even astronauts and scientists had tears. The Gramophone podcast interview about THE MOONS SYMPHONY with Marin Alsop, back in October 2022 was chosen as one of their ‘Conductor Podcasts of the year gramophone.co.uk/content/podc...

gramophone.co.uk

Amanda Lee Falkenberg and Marin Alsop on The Moons Symphony - Gramophone

Composer and conductor discuss a work that gazes out, deep into space

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

#Slooh Quest: Rainbows in the Universe. Since joining Slooh, I've been able to observe the different colours of stars through their awesome telescopes. Even though this is a beginners quest, I jumped on board. I will never get tired of looking at the stars. #sloohshare #stars

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

As a hobbyist astronomer I have to know bits about everything. Focusing on a single celestial object is most rewarding. My mission is to update previous Moon terminator projects. It will be awesome to do #Slooh quests with the new Canary Six Lunar Telescope. #sloohshare #moon

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

As usual the media predicted a blood moon. #Slooh's newly commissioned Lunar telescope was having none of that. Instead we were treated to a pinkish/lavender moon quite befitting our August full moon which is known as the Peace Moon here in South Africa #sloohshare #lunareclipse

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

The Moon at 98,91%. I had to pinch myself. This is my first image on Slooh's Canary Six Lunar telescope! Now I have another opportunity to observe the Lunar Eclipse, one where the Moon will be on my computer screen with just two clicks away. Congratulations #Slooh #lunartelescope

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The live feeds during Slooh's "2026 Total Solar Eclipse star party" produced some interesting images. I quite liked this one of a spider looking prominence🕷️ #Slooh #sloohshare #TotalSolarEclipse

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Some events are impossible to see but that did not keep me from staring at a cloudy sky for almost an hour just to get brief glimpses. Last shot (through window pane)08:01. Then the Moon was lost behind clouds. Our Moon will feature as one of the seven moons in LUNAR, online #Moonssymphony course

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

IC 5070. One mission, no stacking. At first I saw nothing! Some basic stretching in editing software can do wonders. #Slooh's telescopes are located in dark sky areas and that helped me to see something like a Pelican too #sloohshare #astronomy #nebula #onlinetelescope

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

I'm pushing far beyond my boundaries but if you live within your comfort zone, you miss so many of life's opportunities. My thoughts on LUNAR, the online course: www.moons-symphony.com/from-apprehe... www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPiq... #Moonssymphony #science #music #art #OnlineCourses #homeschooling

youtube.com

Carol Botha's LUNAR Journey | "I Was Pushing Far Beyond My Boundaries"

YouTube video by THE MOONS SYMPHONY™

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Little did I know that my fascination with our Moon would take me on a most incredible journey to other moons in our solar system I hope my fascination will catch on and that you will join me to explore distant moons www.moons-symphony.com/from-apprehe... #moonssymphony

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Reposted by Carol Botha

Slooh @slooh.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Slooh has officially partnered with the National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting Earth and space science educators across K–12!

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Cloudy in Western Cape South Africa, but glorious sunshine at #Slooh's H-Alpha telescope on the Canary Islands. Apart from the bright plages and faculae, a pair of barbed filaments caught my eye. Best of both worlds.

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Reposted by Carol Botha

Phil PlAIt @philplait.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Oh hey I wrote this!

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Talking about the The Moons Symphony and just having completed my first mission in the online LUNAR course: In 2021, I captured Jupiter's moon, Io, chasing the Great Red Spot! #Slooh telescopes delivered brilliant images. @alfalkenberg.bsky.social #onlinetelescopes #onlinelearning #homeschooling

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

The Moons Symphony LUNAR online course. 1st mission complete! Postcard to Earth: As a child I learned about the world through play, music and rhymes. I've come full circle. DO Science but never without combining it with play, music, art and poetry. #onlinecourses #onlinelearning #homeschooling

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

I read this on Slooh's website: "This week we're celebrating Carol Botha and her eight years of exploring the night sky, one observation at a time" Then I realised: That's me!😆 I switched from my Dobsonian to Slooh and started new adventures deeper into space. Thanks Slooh ❤️ s.slooh.com/papp26dGfkhK

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Supermoon versus Micromoon The Moon does not really change in physical size. It just appears to change in size due to the distance of the Moon from Earth. #Slooh #supermoon #micromoon

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

As I felt rhythm and tonal colour in this star field , I cropped my #Slooh image, with the very bright Musica (18 Delphini) to the left and star "notes" to the right😁 Combining art and science adds an extra layer of meaning to my observations. Guess who's doing #TheMoonsSymphony Lunar Course

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

"Popcorn clouds" casting shadows on the sandstone landscape of the Gadames Basin, Sahara. #Slooh #sloohshare #satellites #earth #science #onlinelearning

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Spent the day replaying LUNAR course videos: Meeting the Orchestra. @alfalkenberg.bsky.social describes "a soaring brass line, rising through the dense orchestral textures" I think I will conduct the brass to go gently, with warmth and restraint on this Moon of mine #moonssymphony #onlinecourses

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

The saying goes: diamonds are a girls best friends. Maybe they meant globular clusters! Slooh Quest: The Closest Globular Clusters. I used Canary One and Australia One, both 20" , angular sizes: 0° 37' 00" x 0° 37' 00" #Slooh. #sloohshare #stars #clusters #quests #onlinetelescopes #onlinelearning

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Life sometimes gets in the way but I'm back on course for the final chapter of Jupiter's Moon Io. My latest observation: Prometheus Volcano. Sketched from NASA's image from the Galileo Mission The Moons Symphony LUNAR course #solarsystem #moon #onlinecourses #homeschooling

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

#Slooh quests help me understand, find my way and appreciate the wonder of space. You do need to keep your wits about you when you tackle the Virgo Galaxy Cluster😊and then there's the Virgo Supercluster as well!😮 #sloohshare #virgo #galaxies #onlinelearning #onlinetelescope

Virgo Cluster Challenge. A Slooh (astronomy online platform) Quest

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

I have few bragging rights. High on the list: I joined #slooh in 2017. In Apr 2020, I became the first Slooh member to reach Hubble (level 9) in gravity points. A pipe was added to my profile😅6 years on I'm trailing a bit behind. What'd you say should I give it another puff? 😅

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Reposted by Carol Botha

Amanda Lee Falkenberg | THE MOONS SYMPHONY @alfalkenberg.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

There’s a moon where the surface is constantly erupting. This is Io. The most volcanic world we know. But what fascinates me isn’t just the science… it’s what it might sound like.

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Reposted by Carol Botha

Amanda Lee Falkenberg | THE MOONS SYMPHONY @alfalkenberg.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

May 1 — NEPA Philharmonic. THE MOONS Choral Suite alongside The Planets and Star Wars. A full orchestral journey through space, at a moment when attention is turning back to the Moon. #TheMoonsSymphony #Artemis #SpaceMusic

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Some of the features that Artemis II crew were observing. I've never taken note of Byrgius before. The Byrgius complex has a high albedo (very bright) but it's the young crater Byrgius A that was under scrutiny. I'll have to watch out for that one when it gets closer to the terminator #slooh #moon

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Astronomy has a way of taking one on the most incredible journeys and meeting so many kind and awesome people along the way. A new chapter has meant that I needed to add some pages to my website 😊 carolbotha.co.za/about-me/moo...

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Loki Patera on Io (moon of Jupiter) I'm sure going to revisit this chapter in the The Moons Symphony Lunar online course over and over again. My sketch is supposed to be illustrating the resurfacing waves on Loki Patera #solarsystem #moons #onlinecourse #homeschooling @alfalkenberg.bsky.social

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

It would be so wonderful if I could take these little planets on a whole new adventure to moons in the solar system as well!! #TheMoonsSymphony LUNAR course 😊 #planets #moons #onlinecourses #homeschooling #OrionObservationGroup

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

It was just too windy to capture the fullmoon from my backyard, but I stayed up to watch the launch while I set up missions to the Moon on #Slooh. Quite incredible.

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

More wonders to unfold as I start the next chapter of the LUNAR online course. Accompanied by The Moons Symphony I'm about to meet a giant volcano on Io for the very first time. #astronomy #lunar #io #moons #onlinecourses #onlinelearning #homeschooling

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Slooh has added a new fun feature which landed in my inbox this morning. This could actually be a more friendly option than a "Do not Disturb" sign 😆 #gravitypoints #onlinetelescopes #onlinelearning #CosmicAdventure #homeschooling

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Moons Symphony LUNAR online course: I don't have to worry about any other technical details for now. I have to know a bit about Key Signatures though 😆This is one of those courses which I hope will never end. Challenging, exciting and awesome. I'm orbiting Io, moon of Jupiter at the moment

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

#slooh Quest: Starry Night Over the Rhône. For me this was not only a quest to learn about the painter, Vincent van Gogh but also to get acquainted with the stars of the Big Dipper which I cannot see from South Africa. #asterism #constellation #onlinetelescope #sloohshare #quest

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Reposted by Carol Botha

Slooh @slooh.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

We asked our team what their favorite objects to #Sloohto are and some chose glowing nebulae, others distant galaxies, and a few went straight for the planets. 🌌🔭 Now it’s your turn. What object would you #Sloohto first?

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Carol Botha @carolbotha.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Globular Cluster Omega Centauri 🫠

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Reposted by Carol Botha

Amanda Lee Falkenberg | THE MOONS SYMPHONY @alfalkenberg.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

For years, I noticed something subtle but important. Students were not lacking intelligence or information. Yet between explanation and experience, curiosity slipped away. We were asking people to understand before they had a chance to feel. That insight became the beginning of LUNAR. Part 1 of 3.

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