Enjoy a great collection of the recent Venus-Jupiter conjunction from around the world. I am delighted and honoured to have four of my images incuded in this glorious parade. Congratulations again to Thilina Heenatigala and Astronomers Without Borders for the great work!
As shown in the NASA‘ s video (click on the image above to watch it), the perigee full Moon in May 2012 will be as much as 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full moons of 2012. I had the honour to have one of my images included in the NASA‘ s video (see @1:40 of the video).
The video also appears on the NASA web site: HERE and HERE
This evening the crescent Moon and Venus continued the show in the twilight sky. In the image the pair is shown next to a centenary Cedar of Lebanon located atop a hill in the heart of The Langhe, the region in northwest Italy famous for its wine.
The pictures show a superthin 21 hours and 45 min. old crescent Moon setting behind the Italian Alps. In the second image on the left is also visible the pyramid-like shape of Monviso (3,841 m – 12,602 ft). What a splendid Christmas present!
In occasione dell’eclisse totale di Luna, l’Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica – Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino (INAF-OATo) e INFINI.TO - Museo dello spazio e Planetario digitale – organizzano una serata per osservare questo straordinario evento sia ad occhio nudo dalla terrazza del Museo sia attraverso i telescopi dell’Osservatorio Astronomico. In caso di brutto tempo sarà possibile assistere a un “The best off per immagini, parole e suoni sulla Luna” in Planetario.
In concomitanza con l’evento che verrà inaugurata una mostra che proporrà una selezione di mie immagini a carattere astronomico e raffiguranti fenomeni atmosferici aventi come sfondo gli splendidi paesaggi offerti da Torino e dai suoi monumenti e da altre zone della nostra penisola. Tra i soggetti favoriti, catturati in prossimità dell’alba e del tramonto, appaiono la Basilica di Superga, il Monte dei Cappuccini, la Mole Antonelliana, il laghi piemontesi e le Alpi. Tra i paesaggi non torinesi, di rilievo sono la congiunzione Luna – Pleaidi catturata durante un temporale a Coldirodi (San Remo) e i raggi crepuscolari sull’isola d’ Elba.
PRENOTAZIONE OBBLIGATORIA: 0118118640
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Link utili:
Don’t miss the brand new publication “SPECTACULAR UNIVERSE” from Astronomy Magazine! This special issue features more than 250 incredible images taken by amateur astroimagers from around the world. Images are accompanied by a brief description of the objects therein shown.
As Editor M bakich says in its introductory note: “as you turn the page and start examining the cosmos through the “eyes” of dozens of astroimagers, prepare for sights early astronomers could only dream about. Indeed, pictures like these help people everywhere turn their thoughts heavenward and contemplate our spectacular universe”.
I had the honour to join the show with two of my Moon images: you can find them on pages 12 and 16 
In occasion of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Y. Gagarin’s (and human race) first flight in space, NASA Astronaut Cady Coleman, circling Earth aboard the International Space Station, and musician Ian Anderson, founder of the rock band Jethro Tull, joined together for the first space-Earth duet.
Credits: NASA
HERE you can find the movie “First Orbit“, a real time recreation of Yuri Gagarin’s pioneering first orbit, shot entirely in space from on board the International Space Station. The film combines this new footage with Gagarin’s original mission audio and a new musical score by composer Philip Sheppard. For more information visit http://www.firstorbit.org/
On 12 April 1961 Yuri Gagarin made the first human flight in space. Here you can find the web site dedicated to this event.
These are Gagarin’s words as he saw the Earth from Space:
“Through the window I see the Earth
The ground is clearly discernable
I see rivers and folds in the terrain
Everything is so clear ……”
Other useful links:
This Earth Hour 2011: 8.30pm, Saturday 26 March, celebrate your action for the planet with the people of world, and add more to your Earth Hour.
From its inception as a single-city initiative — Sydney, Australia – in 2007, Earth Hour has grown into a global symbol of hope and movement for change. Earth Hour 2010 created history as the world’s largest ever voluntary action with people, businesses and governments in 128 countries across every continent coming together to celebrate an unambiguous commitment to the one thing that unites us all — the planet.
Sign up to earthhour.org, switch off your lights for Earth Hour 2011, and share the positive actions you will sustain for earth beyond the hour.
