The Barnard’s Star: the journey continues (25 June 2019)
We have been tracking the Barnard’s Star since 2014, enjoying its fast proper motion across the sky, telling us that stars are moving, despite the apparent calm we see up there. Here it is...
The Virtual Telescope Project 2.0 Blog
Mercury – Mars close conjunction: some thoughts and images (18 June 2019)
It is always great to see two planets sharing the same spot in the sky. A few days ago, just after sunset, it was possible to admire a Mercury – Mars close conjunction, with...
The Summer Solstice full Moon and its stunning show in Rome – 16 & 17 June 2019
As you know, I always keep an eye on the full Moon, when it rises and sets, at sunset and sunrise, respectively. I’m always looking for new places from where it can be combined...
21 June 2019: summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere (and winter in the South).
Next 21 June 2019, at 15:54 Universal Time, the Sun will reach its maximum declination (angular distance from the celestial equator): this will officially be the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. In that...
Bright supernova SN 2019hsw in NGC 2805: an image (19 June 2019)
As part of the extended ASAS-SN team, we contributed to the discovery of this bright supernova, SN 2019hsw, in the spiral galaxy NGC 2805. It was caught at early stages, so we should see...
Messier 100 spiral galaxy and supernova SN 2019ehk: an image – 6 June 2019
After a long month of cloudy weather, we imaged supernova SN 2019ehk and its host galaxy Messier 100 again, finding it significantly fainter. Here it is our image. The image above comes from the average of...
When the Moon, Mercury and Mars meet above Rome… the show is guaranteed! – 5 June 2019
These evenings, planet Mercury is back at sunset, peaking at magnitude -1 or so. The young Moon and Mars added their beauty last night, so I managed to capture a few images. With the...
The 18/19 May 2019 “Blue Moon” hangs above the Great Synagogue of Rome
It was hard, but we won: despite the severe, bad weather, we could capture the May 2019 “Blue Moon” at dawn, before it set in Rome. And it was great. I must say this...
NGC 5353 lenticular galaxy and supernova SN 2019ein: an image – 10 May 2019
Supernova SN 2019ein has been discovered in the lenticular galaxy NGC 5353, placed in one of the most beautiful star fields up there. Here it is on image we grabbed on a very rare clear night. The...
Messier 100 spiral galaxy and supernova SN 2019ehk: an image – 6 May 2019
Supernova SN 2019ehk has been discovered in the stunning galaxy Messier 100 on 24 Apr. 2019. After more than one month of cloudy/rainy weather, we could capture it. Here it is our image. The image above...
The 18 May 2019 Blue Moon: online observation – 18 May 2019
Next May the 18th will bring us a so-called “Blue Moon“. Nothing to do with the color of the Moon, of course, just “an additional” one. For sure, it will put its usual great...
The Moon and its show in Rome above St. Peter’s Dome – 6 May 2019
In our constant research for cosmic beauty, the young Moon is always a great target and a few days ago we could grab some breathtaking images, some of the best ever. We are happy...
Stunning pass of the International Space Station (ISS) above Rome – 30 Apr. 2019
The International Space Station (ISS) never fails to amaze us with its bright passes. Living in Rome, I’m lucky to have the opportunity to combine them with the unique skyline of the Eternal City...
The 19 Apr. 2019 “pink” full Moon and its show above Rome
Once again, the 19 Apr. full Moon was a superb show above Rome at its rise. Nicknamed “pink” full Moon from the color of a flower very common in North America this time of the...
