Travel journal

Let’s set off on an adventure

The night is still deep, and as I open the door of the room, the cold violently rushes in. It’s 5°C. Although we are in Arizona, the nights are cold and dry in October. The stars are even more radiant, and Jupiter watches over this early departure. In over 3 hours, the moon will begin to take a bite out of the solar disk.

On the road to the observation site.

A few checks before setting out: Vespera is charged, and so are the backup batteries, cables, camera, tablet. We’re ready to go. In the minibus, no one is talking; everyone is focused on what awaits us. We head towards the Monument Valley Tribal Park, hoping to reach the most suitable spot and gain precious seconds of visibility at the eclipse’s maximum.

The Navajos informed us that the park will be closed. According to their culture, they will not observe the eclipse and will stay with their families.

As the first light of dawn colors the horizon, we arrive at Mexican Hat. This site appeared to me to be quite suitable due to its orientation, accessibility, and panorama. Amateur astronomers who rented a spot for the night and slept under the open sky are already present on the site.

No clouds in sight. Conditions are looking perfect.

Venus on the eastern horizon, Mexican Hat, Utah.

First contact: excitement builds up

I take out Vespera and position it in front of the group; it will serve as the figurehead of our adventure.

I start the smart telescope’s initialization, and within a few minutes, I’m operational. As a guide, I am the “timekeeper,” and I announce: T-10 minutes; -5 minutes; -2 minutes; -1 minute; -28 seconds… “First contact!”

Vespera ready for action.

With the naked eye, the first contact (the moment when the moon begins to take a bite out of the sun) is not easy to discern, but on the tablet screen, where I observe the images taken by Vespera, it’s very clear. “I’ve got it!” Those observing with the naked eye then gather around Vespera. Excitement is at its peak.

A few moments after the first contact. Captured with Vespera.

The Moon continues its progress, and we eagerly await two well-positioned sunspots to be occulted by the moon’s advance. The atmosphere is so pure and dry that the sharpness of the sunspots is impressive in the image displayed in the Singularity app.

The second contact is approaching. In the group, we’re finalizing our eclipse projection setup, while tension is rising among the photographers.

By making small holes in cardboard, we also follow the phenomenon by projection.

Observing the sun through projection: the pinhole effect.

For the first time, I’m very relaxed: Vespera is working perfectly, and after more than an hour, the battery displays 85%. I won’t need external batteries to observe the entire phenomenon.

The crucial moment, as intense as it is short

“T-3 minutes!” The light, so warm just moments ago, becomes twilight, veiled. A shiver runs through us; it’s not just emotion, but the temperature is dropping significantly. The desert didn’t have time to warm up, and we’re back to the same cold we had upon arrival; some put on their gloves and hats.

I try to capture this grayish light while announcing the countdown.

“T-2 minutes; T-1 minute; 24 seconds; 2nd contact!” There it is! The seconds contact, and the ring of fire takes shape.

Second contact captured with Vespera.The irregular relief of the moon’s outline can be seen against the sun’s disc.

In 2 minutes and 22 seconds, the solar ring will be perfect. We must not miss the moment. I pass the tablet displaying the image captured by the smart telescope from hand to hand. Vespera offers us a shared moment as a group: the image is large enough on the tablet for several people to enjoy simultaneously. At the same time, I use my phone, which is also connected to Singularity, to regularly take photos through the app. No stress about the result: I see what I’m capturing. I notice the difference compared to the previous total eclipse I experienced in 2017, where I couldn’t have any certainty about the photos until afterward. I take advantage of this serenity to take ambient photos.

Finally, there it is! The eclipse is at its peak. A perfect orange circle appears, and I can’t help but notice the nod to Vespera’s glowing button!

The crucial moment witnessed with Vespera.

Now, it’s really cold. “Just one more minute! … There it is: the 3rd contact!” Applause and a few cheers erupt from all directions.

Everyone is radiant. Gradually, the light regains its warm hue, and the temperature rises.

Experiencing the Eclipse with Peace of Mind Thanks to Vespera

We sit down, content, but realizing that it all happened so quickly. For everyone else, the realization is the same: it’s always too short. There’s not enough time to take all the planned shots! An automatic system is needed to succeed in capturing photos, free the mind, and better enjoy the moment. For me, the solution is immediately found: it’s Vespera. I was able to capture the entire eclipse sequence and fully enjoy the show.

The partiality continues, the excitement subsides, and hunger awakens. While sharing coffee and snacks, I answer questions about this little telescope that intrigues many. I show the photos I took on my smartphone, and I share the one from the peak with anyone interested. What a pleasure to be able to send such a memory just minutes after the eclipse!

It’s soon time to pack up and conclude this first eclipse experience with my Vespera. All my initial concerns have disappeared. Air travel went smoothly, and passing through security was easy. Despite the lack of network, the initialization was perfect. The battery held up well and still shows 75% after the 4th contact. Most importantly, the captured images are beautiful, and Vespera allowed us to have a true shared moment around the tablet, without the fear of an accidentally falling filter, and with the serenity needed to savor every moment.

For our group of travelers from the French Astronomy Association, the journey continues to the Grand Canyon. Looking forward to the next eclipse!

Delphine Nguyen
Association Française d’Astronomie

Vespera & the Milky Way: A High-Definition Adventure on The Best Observation Site

On June 10th, at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Namibia, after a neverending flight, I finally arrive at my destination for two weeks dedicated to observing and astrophotographing the southern sky. I pick Vespera from the plane’s luggage compartment. It’s the perfect smart telescope for this kind of journey. Compact and lightweight, it’s easy to carry as carry-on luggage.
I grab a taxi to reach the capital, Windhoek. Along the way, a group of baboons take over the road and decide to disrupt traffic. Quite a welcoming committee, albeit a friendly one.

If we were to create a top 3 list of the best astronomical destinations in the world, Namibia would undoubtedly be among them. It boasts weather conditions that result in an exceptionally clear sky. It’s one of the least densely populated countries on the planet, with no light pollution. In the western part of the country, facing the ocean and home to the world’s oldest desert, it hardly ever rains, offering over 300 days of sunshine per year.

An “All-Terrain” Smart Telescope in the Namib Desert

I hit the road towards my first observation site. After several hours on bumpy, dusty tracks, I arrive at my destination at night. I turn off the headlights, step out of the car, and turn my gaze towards the sky. Wow!!

My eyes aren’t used to the darkness yet, but it’s imposing itself upon my vision, brilliant and perfectly defined, stretching across the sky from one horizon to the other: the Milky Way. This isn’t my first time observing the sky from Namibia, and I’ve also experienced the skies of Chile. However, what I see here is even more spectacular than what I can remember.
I make my way to the hut I’ll be staying in for the first part of my journey, amid of a vast plain dominated by the arch of the Milky Way.

My observation site for the first part of the stay.

Vespera & the Milky Way: A High-Definition Adventure & The most beautiful place in the galaxy

The main goal of coming to Namibia is to capture high-definition astrophotography of a region of the sky that I consider the most beautiful in the Milky Way: the cloud complex around Rho Ophiuchi and Antares. This consists of pink, blue, and yellow nebulae intertwining, streaked with dark nebulae, dotted with globular clusters, and illuminated by the intense brilliance of Antares. A true fireworks display in the galaxy.

Location of the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex.

This part of the sky is observable from the Northern Hemisphere. However, the Scorpius constellation remains very low on the horizon. In the Southern Hemisphere, the Milky Way stretches across the sky from horizon to horizon, and its center nearly reaches the zenith at one point during the night.

The journey is yet exhausting, and I decide not to dive into this project on the first night. I need some sleep, especially with the upcoming nights ahead. However, I won’t waste such a beautiful sky. Plus, I need to make sure Vespera has handled the Namibian tracks well.

Vespera is ready to operate within a few minutes. It’s perfect for a quick sky check even at the end of a long day. As a target for this first night, I choose the “Running Chicken Nebula.” I let Vespera gather light while I settle into my hut, occasionally glancing at the real-time stacking result. In the Singularity app, on the live observation screen, the nebula is clearly revealed pretty quickly. Even without processing, the view is already spectacular.

Live observation of the Running Chicken Nebula.

Vespera & the Milky Way: A High-Definition Adventure | Wide-Field Astrophotography using Vespera

The complex of nebulae around Antares and Rho Ophiuchi covers a vast area of the sky, spanning over 5°. Vespera‘s native field of view is 1.6° x 0.9°. Vaonis smart telescopes feature an exclusive automatic panorama capture mode. In the Singularity app, I can define an area of up to 3.2° x 1.8°, and the telescope will automatically capture the full image. This allows for photographing most large deep-sky objects in their entirety, including the Andromeda Galaxy, the Rosette Nebula, the Horsehead Nebula region, the Pleiades star cluster, the North America Nebula, and more.

However, it won’t be enough to capture the entire region I’m aiming for. I need to create a mosaic. I first plan to assemble 6 images, with about a 25% overlap between each image to facilitate the mosaic assembly. To achieve good image quality, I also plan to capture between 2 and 3 hours of data for each image. Lastly, I set a minimum height of 25° above the horizon to begin the acquisition. Below 20°, atmospheric absorption degrades the quality of observation. In practice, I can only capture a single portion of the mosaic per night (taking into account the presence of the moon in the second half of the night).

A Star 800 Times Larger Than the Sun

Let’s start the project on this second night. For the first part of the mosaic, I choose to start with Antares. It’s a supergiant star, one of the largest in our galaxy. It illuminates the surrounding nebulae with a yellow-orange color, a very rare tint for nebulae. In the Singularity app that controls Vespera, I define the widest possible field around Antares and start the observation.

Field and Framing Selection in the Singularity App.

This is the first time I observe this region with Vespera, and I can’t remember ever seeing an image of it captured with a smart telescope before. I have no idea about what kind of result I’ll get. So, here I am, watching the capture progress with a certain excitment as the live stacking goes on. In Electronically Assisted Astronomy, faint nebulosities are not always easily visible. Revealing them requires the image processing step typical of astrophotography.
After a few dozen minutes of observation, there’s no doubt: the nebulosities around Antares are clearly visible and showcase the characteristic yellow color.

Direct Observation of Nebulosities Around Antares.

Life to the Rhythm of the Night

One night under the Milky Way follows another. I dedicate about 3 hours each night to work on the mosaic. The sky is perfect, and there’s so much to observe: the Carina Nebula, the Centaur Globular Cluster, the Small Magellanic Cloud, the Eagle Nebula, the Omega Nebula. I also take the opportunity to discover objects I’ve never observed before, like the Figthing Dragons Nebula (NGC6188 – Ara constellation).
The night starts quite early because Namibia’s sunsets are simply unmissable. I also enjoy transitory astronomical phenomena such as Venus passing through the Beehive Cluster.

Venus transiting through the Beehive Cluster / Vespera

Long story short : I get very little sleep at night. Additionally, I’m eager to start processing the first captured images to see how they turn out. And, the landscapes of Namibia are truly something! It would be a shame not to explore them during the day. So, I don’t get much sleep during the day either.

Vespera is running at full capacity. During the day, it can rest and recharge its battery. Where I am, there is simply no electricity. I use LED lamps for lighting, and the shower water is heated with a wood fire. Fortunately, in Namibia, there is an abundance of sunlight and the energy it provides. In just one day, my portable solar panels are able to recharge Vespera and the tablet that has the Singularity application.

Charging Vespera’s internal battery with solar power.

Need more!

I manage to capture the 6 parts of my mosaic after 5 nights. The processing done on the first images and a basic stitching suggest a spectacular result. However, it’s obvious: the final framing is too tight, and the overall composition lacks more space.
We need to make the mosaic bigger and wider. If I want to extend it a bit on all sides, I estimate that I will need to switch to a 12-image mosaic.

I’m up for the challenge!

Image processing and mosaic stitching.

I take the opportunity to change my observation site and head to the Namib Naukluf National Park a bit further south. This region is designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve.
This time, I have a bit more comfort with electricity. The landscape is just as enchanting, and the sunsets are still spectacular.
There’s a huge wooden deck that allows me to roll out the bed, cleverly set up on wheels. Despite the cool nighttime temperatures at this time of year, I get to experience starry nights in the utmost comfort. What more could one ask for!

A unique stargazing experience.

Image processing and mosaic assembly

It will ultimately take me 11 consecutive nights to capture the 12 tiles needed for the mosaic. For this kind of project, the more consistent the conditions are from one night to the next, the better the result.

I first perform a preliminary processing of each image from the 16-bit RAW file pre-stacked by Vespera. This is a huge time-saver since I don’t have to manually do the stacking (not to mention that this part of the process isn’t particularly exciting). The processing must also be as consistent as possible. If images have significantly different renderings (brightness, contrast, color, noise, details), seams can be visible in the final image. As shown in the illustration below, despite my precautions, some differences still exist, but they are relatively minor and can be handled by the software used for stitching the panorama.
Once the mosaic is assembled, I finalize the processing on the full image.

Stitching of the 12 images composing the mosaic.

The final image covers a field of view of about 7°x5.5° with a resolution of over 56 megapixels. With another smart telescope that doesn’t have the field expansion technology that is exclusive to Vaonis telescopes, it would have been necessary to capture at least four times more images to create the same mosaic, which is 48 images – and thus at least 48 nights. In other words, a project nearly impossible to accomplish.

The final image.

About the image processing

Affinity Photo software was primarily used for most of the processing and for assembling the mosaic, along with StratNet 2 for star separation.

Click here to download the raw images in 16-bit TIFF format (330 Mo)  and practice image processing or test your own techniques.

Embrace a new stargazing experience with Vaonis smart telescopes

Hoping you enjoyed reading our “Vespera & the Milky Way: A High-Definition Adventure” article : feel free to share and comment your thoughts about the end result.