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Observable comet count is 1957
Current exoplanet count is 6298
Current longitude II of the GRS is 90°
Today Monitor
Mars: January 16, 2025
Jupiter: January 10, 2026
Saturn: September 21, 2025
Uranus: November 21, 2025
Neptune: September 23, 2025
Evening: August 15, 2026 at 45.9°E
Morning: January 3, 2027 at 47.0°W
Morning: December 7, 2025 at 20.7°W
Evening: February 19, 2026 at 18.1°E
Morning: April 3, 2026 at 27.8°W
Evening: June 15, 2026 at 24.5°E
Morning: August 2, 2026 at 19.5°W
Evening: October 12, 2026 at 25.2°E
Morning: November 20, 2026 at 19.6°W
January 3: 225,130 mi (362,312 km)
November 24: 224,170 mi (360,768 km)
December 24: 221,667 mi (356,740 km)
given for 00:00 UT
| Date | Size | Age | Angle | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Apr 2026 | 30.89' | 24.94 | -6.797° | ![]() |
| 14 Apr 2026 | 31.37' | 25.94 | -6.885° | ![]() |
| 15 Apr 2026 | 31.85' | 26.94 | -6.540° | ![]() |
| 10 May 2026 | 30.42' | 22.51 | -7.002° | ![]() |
| 11 May 2026 | 30.85' | 23.51 | -7.546° | ![]() |
| 12 May 2026 | 31.34' | 24.51 | -7.695° | ![]() |
| 13 May 2026 | 31.86' | 25.51 | -7.381° | ![]() |
| 14 May 2026 | 32.37' | 26.51 | -6.565° | ![]() |
| 22 May 2026 | 32.03' | 5.17 | 6.635° | ![]() |
| 23 May 2026 | 31.56' | 6.17 | 7.101° | ![]() |
| 24 May 2026 | 31.11' | 7.17 | 7.159° | ![]() |
| 25 May 2026 | 30.71' | 8.17 | 6.868° | ![]() |
| 07 Jun 2026 | 30.39' | 21.17 | -7.053° | ![]() |
| 08 Jun 2026 | 30.79' | 22.17 | -7.626° | ![]() |
| 09 Jun 2026 | 31.25' | 23.17 | -7.834° | ![]() |
| 10 Jun 2026 | 31.75' | 24.17 | -7.603° | ![]() |
| 11 Jun 2026 | 32.25' | 25.17 | -6.885° | ![]() |
| 19 Jun 2026 | 32.20' | 3.88 | 6.768° | ![]() |
| 20 Jun 2026 | 31.68' | 4.88 | 7.364° | ![]() |
| 21 Jun 2026 | 31.18' | 5.88 | 7.508° | ![]() |
| 22 Jun 2026 | 30.71' | 6.88 | 7.253° | ![]() |
| 23 Jun 2026 | 30.31' | 7.88 | 6.670° | ![]() |
| 05 Jul 2026 | 30.48' | 19.88 | -6.530° | ![]() |
| 06 Jul 2026 | 30.82' | 20.88 | -7.017° | ![]() |
| 07 Jul 2026 | 31.21' | 21.88 | -7.189° | ![]() |
| 08 Jul 2026 | 31.64' | 22.88 | -6.986° | ![]() |
| 18 Jul 2026 | 31.76' | 3.60 | 6.894° | ![]() |
| 19 Jul 2026 | 31.25' | 4.60 | 7.142° | ![]() |
| 20 Jul 2026 | 30.77' | 5.60 | 6.982° | ![]() |
| 21 Jul 2026 | 30.35' | 6.60 | 6.469° | ![]() |
| 19 Nov 2026 | 30.64' | 9.71 | -6.939° | ![]() |
| 20 Nov 2026 | 31.11' | 10.71 | -7.238° | ![]() |
| 21 Nov 2026 | 31.62' | 11.71 | -7.063° | ![]() |
| 01 Dec 2026 | 31.73' | 21.71 | 6.670° | ![]() |
| 02 Dec 2026 | 31.32' | 22.71 | 6.898° | ![]() |
| 03 Dec 2026 | 30.93' | 23.71 | 6.823° | ![]() |
| 04 Dec 2026 | 30.59' | 24.71 | 6.497° | ![]() |
| 16 Dec 2026 | 30.14' | 6.96 | -6.743° | ![]() |
| 17 Dec 2026 | 30.53' | 7.96 | -7.511° | ![]() |
| 18 Dec 2026 | 30.98' | 8.96 | -7.903° | ![]() |
| 19 Dec 2026 | 31.49' | 9.96 | -7.840° | ![]() |
| 20 Dec 2026 | 32.03' | 10.96 | -7.269° | ![]() |
| 29 Dec 2026 | 31.92' | 19.96 | 7.182° | ![]() |
| 30 Dec 2026 | 31.41' | 20.96 | 7.556° | ![]() |
| 31 Dec 2026 | 30.94' | 21.96 | 7.540° | ![]() |
| Date | Size | Age | Angle | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06 Apr 2026 | 29.57' | 17.94 | 6.680° | ![]() |
| 07 Apr 2026 | 29.51' | 18.94 | 6.724° | ![]() |
| 08 Apr 2026 | 29.52' | 19.94 | 6.480° | ![]() |
| 20 Apr 2026 | 33.00' | 2.51 | -6.607° | ![]() |
| 21 Apr 2026 | 32.84' | 3.51 | -6.460° | ![]() |
| 03 May 2026 | 29.54' | 15.51 | 6.518° | ![]() |
| 04 May 2026 | 29.46' | 16.51 | 6.605° | ![]() |
| 05 May 2026 | 29.44' | 17.51 | 6.405° | ![]() |
| 17 May 2026 | 33.33' | 0.17 | -6.476° | ![]() |
| 18 May 2026 | 33.34' | 1.17 | -6.448° | ![]() |
| 30 May 2026 | 29.51' | 13.17 | 6.463° | ![]() |
| 31 May 2026 | 29.43' | 14.17 | 6.568° | ![]() |
| 13 Jun 2026 | 33.11' | 27.17 | -6.427° | ![]() |
| 14 Jun 2026 | 33.36' | 28.17 | -6.531° | ![]() |
| 26 Jun 2026 | 29.56' | 10.88 | 6.527° | ![]() |
| 27 Jun 2026 | 29.45' | 11.88 | 6.652° | ![]() |
| 28 Jun 2026 | 29.41' | 12.88 | 6.490° | ![]() |
| 10 Jul 2026 | 32.49' | 24.88 | -6.447° | ![]() |
| 11 Jul 2026 | 32.86' | 25.88 | -6.669° | ![]() |
| 12 Jul 2026 | 33.13' | 26.88 | -6.449° | ![]() |
| 23 Jul 2026 | 29.74' | 8.60 | 6.610° | ![]() |
| 24 Jul 2026 | 29.56' | 9.60 | 6.784° | ![]() |
| 25 Jul 2026 | 29.47' | 10.60 | 6.664° | ![]() |
| 06 Aug 2026 | 31.97' | 22.60 | -6.454° | ![]() |
| 07 Aug 2026 | 32.28' | 23.60 | -6.764° | ![]() |
| 08 Aug 2026 | 32.55' | 24.60 | -6.663° | ![]() |
| 19 Aug 2026 | 30.03' | 6.27 | 6.582° | ![]() |
| 20 Aug 2026 | 29.77' | 7.27 | 6.838° | ![]() |
| 21 Aug 2026 | 29.60' | 8.27 | 6.792° | ![]() |
| 22 Aug 2026 | 29.52' | 9.27 | 6.456° | ![]() |
| 03 Sep 2026 | 32.04' | 21.27 | -6.743° | ![]() |
| 04 Sep 2026 | 32.20' | 22.27 | -6.729° | ![]() |
| 16 Sep 2026 | 30.00' | 4.86 | 6.742° | ![]() |
| 17 Sep 2026 | 29.76' | 5.86 | 6.785° | ![]() |
| 18 Sep 2026 | 29.61' | 6.86 | 6.531° | ![]() |
| 30 Sep 2026 | 32.24' | 18.86 | -6.599° | ![]() |
| 01 Oct 2026 | 32.32' | 19.86 | -6.660° | ![]() |
| 13 Oct 2026 | 30.13' | 2.34 | 6.547° | ![]() |
| 14 Oct 2026 | 29.88' | 3.34 | 6.667° | ![]() |
| 15 Oct 2026 | 29.68' | 4.34 | 6.483° | ![]() |
| 27 Oct 2026 | 32.60' | 16.34 | -6.403° | ![]() |
| 28 Oct 2026 | 32.75' | 17.34 | -6.553° | ![]() |
| 09 Nov 2026 | 30.10' | 29.34 | 6.404° | ![]() |
| 10 Nov 2026 | 29.88' | 0.71 | 6.566° | ![]() |
| 11 Nov 2026 | 29.70' | 1.71 | 6.425° | ![]() |
| 24 Nov 2026 | 32.95' | 14.71 | -6.524° | ![]() |
| 06 Dec 2026 | 30.03' | 26.71 | 6.414° | ![]() |
| 07 Dec 2026 | 29.82' | 27.71 | 6.594° | ![]() |
| 08 Dec 2026 | 29.65' | 28.71 | 6.474° | ![]() |
| 21 Dec 2026 | 32.55' | 11.96 | -6.593° | ![]() |
| 22 Dec 2026 | 32.99' | 12.96 | -6.555° | ![]() |
Source: NASA/GSFC
Source: apod.nasa.gov
Mirror: star.ucl.ac.uk
First Completed Rocky Worlds Program Observations Open New Era in Exoplanet Studies

July 09, 2026
Artist’s concept of a star and planet. The star takes up the majority of the of the illustration. It is orange with many flares, the surface resembles lava. The planet appears as a small, dark grey silhouette passing in front of the star.
Source: stsci.edu/news
6 July 2026
In new images from the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to celebrate its fourth science anniversary, a familiar galaxy transforms into something far richer, and far more complex, than ever seen before. Webb’s unprecedented sensitivity across near- and mid-infrared wavelengths cuts through the thick lanes of dust that obscure Centaurus A’s centre in visible light, showing a densely packed tapestry of individual stars and an active, everchanging galaxy. These images mark four years of better-than-anticipated performance and successful science operations for the most powerful space telescope in history.
Source: esawebb.org
Image/illustration credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
2026-03-13 Exoplanets
On Feb 6, 2026, NASAs SPARCS Mission returned first images of an exoplanet, HD 71262, in both, near-UV and far-UV. SPARCS' mission is for monitoring flares and sunspot activity on low-mass stars about 30% to 70% the mass of the Sun which are likely to host rocky planets inside their habitable zones. Link to source 🔗
Image/illustration credit: astropical.space
2026-02-08 solar system
AR4366 stands out as the most active sunspot of early 2026, producing an extraordinary sequence of high‑energy flares and posing meaningful space‑weather risks as it faces Earth. Its behavior is characteristic of a highly unstable, rapidly evolving magnetic system capable of generating the strongest solar eruptions of the cycle. Ø71mm APO, IMX178 camera.
Backlog
No, we are not on Facebook but proudly on AstroBin with Mille Gracie to the author Salvatore Iovene:

If anybody is interested in the night life of bats, here is a funny 1-minute MP4 video (24MB).
The author's first steps into video editing. They are about Deepsky & Lunar imaging, Milky Way & Constellations, Solar System, Apollo Missions, Artemis II and LROC.
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| Constellation | Camelopardalis |
| Distance | 7.72 parsec (25.19ly) |
| Magnitude | 12.37 vis. |
| Spectral type | M4 V |
| Mass | 0.262 xSun |
| Radius | 0.275 xSun |
| Temperature | 3340°K |
| Known planet(s) | 1 |
Piscis Austrinids
15 Jul - 10 Aug, Peak: 7/28
Radiant: Star Chart, Rating: faint
Kui Su (31 Del Psc) in Psc [HIP 3092]
Distance: 101 light-years, Magnitude: 3.27
Delta Andromedae, 13.6x larger and 68 times more luminous than the sun, is a giant star and binary with a 41 year's period. A third star, a red dwarf, lies 900 AUs away. The system is surrounded by a circumstellar debris disk.
Star Chart | DSS IR Image 🔗GJ 169.1 A (Stein 2051) in Camelopadalis
Distance: 18 light-years, Magnitude: 11
Stein 2051 (Gliese 169.1, G 175-034, LHS 26/27) is a nearby binary star system, containing a red dwarf (component A) and a degenerated star, a white dwarf (component B), located in the constellation of Camelopardalis at about 18 light-years away. Stein 2051 B is the 6th nearest white dwarf after Sirius B, Procyon B, van Maanen's star, LP 145-141 and 40 Eridani B.
Star Chart | DSS IR Image 🔗

M29 (Open Cluster) in Cygnus
Magnitude: 6.6
M29, little group of stars is part of the Cygnus OB1 association which is heading right for us at a speed of 28 km/s. If it weren't obscured by Milky Way dust, the light of its stars would be 1000 times brighter. M29 has around 50 member stars, The 10 million year old star cluster spans 11 light-years.
Star Chart | DSS IR Image 🔗Tucana (southern), area rank: 49

Invented in the 17th century by astronomer Johann Bayer, this constellation can be seen in autumn at the horizon at northern latitudes below 20 degrees. A toucan is a bird with a large nib living in the jungles of Latin America. Tucana is home to the globular star cluster 47 Tucanae, 120 light-years across and the second brightest known after Omega Centauri.
Star Chart131P/Mueller 2 (2013)

Discovered on September 15, 1990 on an accidently taken photograph the periodic comet was last detected on 9 February 1991.
1998 QE2 (NEO)
Semi-major: 2.42449 AU, Size: 2.7 km

Asteroid 1998 QE2 reflects only 6% of the sunlight that falls on it, which makes it blacker than coal. Its rotation period is less than four hours, and its surface is marked by several dark features that are suggestive of large craters. At its closest approach on May 31st, 2013 the asteroid passed 5.8 million kilometers from Earth, about 15 times farther than the Moon. On May 30th, NASA's Goldstone radar detected a 600 meters wide moon orbiting 1998 QE2.
Proteus (moon of Neptune)

Proteus was discovered in 1989 by the Voyager 2 spacecraft. Proteus is the second largest of Neptune's known moon. It has an odd box-like shape and if it had just a little more mass it would be able to transform into a sphere. Proteus is heavily cratered, showing no sign of any geological activity.
HD 40979 b (in Auriga)
Mass: 4.67 xJup
SMA: 0.85 AU
Period: 264.15 days
Distance: 34.0883 parsec
Category: Hot Jovian
ESI: 0.31