Nordic landscapes and northern lights – 13
It was a truly magical night, as we crossed the aurora crown and it danced right above us. It was so freezingly cold that only two of us remained, but it was worth it!
Nordic landscapes and northern lights – 14
The last night of northern lights had a particularly eerie feeling to it, as the aurora was quite faint but very active. The infrared sky emission made itself known again, as well. As before, there is a remarkable difference in water reflections between full spectrum and infrared.
Nordic landscapes and northern lights – 15
Here, full spectrum truly shows what firework we could see if our eyes had infrared capabilities as well. The sky has a purple taint due to the infrared sky emissions and the horizon again shifts colours due to visible light absorption.
Nordic landscapes and northern lights – 16
On the last full day, Norway said goodbye with a particularly scenic sun setting above the coastal mountains. I couldn’t be happier with what we have seen and experienced on that voyage.
Nordic landscapes and northern lights – 17
I couldn’t be happier with what we have seen and experienced on that voyage and, if times change and travel becomes more free again, I would love to return.
Historic Fraunhofer refractor of USM
The old observatory of the Universitätssternwarte München in Bogenhausen and its Fraunhofer refractor used to be one of the most modern of its time. However, more than a century has passed and it is now under monument protection. It provides a very nice background for our new office building!
Infrared Isar
The first color infrared photo I ever took with an ancient Sony F717 in night mode, showing boats docked at the Isar river close to the city of Landshut.
Roadtrip in Texas
After a week-long observing run in Texas, having collected data in sufficient amounts to keep ourselves busy until next year, we enjoyed the scenic route back to the airport, the road leading up into the magnificient mountain pass below the clouds.
Ulmer Mnster
One of my passions is infrared photography of churches in Europe, gothic churches in particular. The Ulmer Münster has the highest church tower in the world and infrared gives it a rather menacing feeling.
Sunrise in the alps
After a long and productive night observing on Mt. Wendelstein, one of my highlights is watching the sunrise in the morning which announces the end of my shift. Since there is nobody here besides the observer, I put on classical music from Bruckner and sit outside for half an hour while liquid nitrogen is refilled […]
An astronomer in Texas – 1
Astronomy has a few perks, one of them being able to travel to far-away continents (depending on the perspective) and explore locations you can otherwise never access. My main scientific work is the hunt for extrasolar planets and in the context of this, I regularly travel into the mountains of Texas, to the McDonald observatory. […]
An astronomer in Texas – 2
–part 2 of the essay An astronomer in Texas– Having arrived in Texas, our final trip was a drive through the mountainside. While taking photos out of the car is a challenge, the light through the clouds and the pale traces of plant life on the rocky hills made it worth a try.
