Featured Photograph
Messier 42, the magnificent Orion Nebula
© 2024 Klaus Brasch
Messier 42, the magnificent Orion Nebula, a favorite object in any amateur telescope, is usually portrayed in vivid, high contrast colors. While that looks spectacular, the reality is that one of our closest stellar nursery’s true colors are likely much more subdued. I have attempted to depict it in hues one might expect as seen in a large aperture telescope, showing the light pink emission regions and the bluish reflection veils surrounding the nebula’s core.
DETAILS: Astro Physics AP 155 Starfire shooting at f/5.2, though an IDAS LPS-V4 filter and a spectrally modified Canon EOS 6D Mrk II. Total exposure: 8 minutes at ISO 4000.
Klaus Brasch
The featured photograph is any astronomical photograph provided by one of our members. If you are a member and have a photograph you would like to submit, please send the request along with the photograph and description to: info@coconinoastro.org.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Presenter: Klaus Brasch
Title: Leo Aerts: Solar System Imager Extraordinaire
This presentation highlights a long-time friend of mine in Belgium. Leo is one of the world's truly leading amateur astronomers who has specialized in solar system imaging and is widely known in Europe and Britain but not in north America. I have co-authored several articles with him in Astronomy magazine and elsewhere. Since the first asteroid was discovered in 1801, astronomers have used widely differing approaches to learn about their nature. Nearly all asteroids are point sources that show no details through the largest telescopes, so clever methods to determine their properties have evolved. These include photometry, radar imaging, and stellar occultations. Tom’s presentation about asteroids will range from historical discoveries to modern science.
Klaus Brasch was hooked on astronomy as a high school student in Canada after the launch of Sputnik in 1957 and has been an avid amateur ever since. After a lengthy career in biomedical research and teaching, he retired as director of research from California State University, San Bernardino and with his wife Margaret moved to Flagstaff in 2006. After joining the CAS, he volunteered in the public program at Lowell Observatory for 8 years and was honored by Asteroid 25226 Brasch for his many popular articles about the Observatory in Sky & Telescope, Astronomy and the Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.
CAS Monthly Meetings and Astronomical Programs are held the
Saturday closest to the Full Moon at the Mars Hill Campus of
Lowell Observatory, Hendricks Center for Planetary Studies
Auditorium (6:45 pm - 8:00 pm)., unless otherwise noted followed
by refreshments, and informal discussion. Meetings are open and free
to the public.
