Bastian Blankenburg
@databu.bsky.social
Co-founder and CTO at utu.io, founder of and blogger at https://night.ke
Head of Instruments at Space Society of Kenya.
Interested in tech and astronomy.
Trekkie. Husband and father. Christian. Based near Nairobi.
Head of Instruments at Space Society of Kenya.
Interested in tech and astronomy.
Trekkie. Husband and father. Christian. Based near Nairobi.
Pinned
Bastian Blankenburg
@databu.bsky.social
· Nov 24
Got around to processing a shot from earlier this year: Antares and surrounding nebulosity, with globular clusters M4 and NGC 6144.
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
That eerie blue glow is Pluto’s atmosphere.
New Horizons was looking at the dwarf planet backlit by the Sun.
Pluto is the only object beyond Neptune with a known atmosphere.
It’s mostly nitrogen, but the pressure is just 1/100,000th of Earth’s.
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI
New Horizons was looking at the dwarf planet backlit by the Sun.
Pluto is the only object beyond Neptune with a known atmosphere.
It’s mostly nitrogen, but the pressure is just 1/100,000th of Earth’s.
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI
February 8, 2026 at 9:28 AM
That eerie blue glow is Pluto’s atmosphere.
New Horizons was looking at the dwarf planet backlit by the Sun.
Pluto is the only object beyond Neptune with a known atmosphere.
It’s mostly nitrogen, but the pressure is just 1/100,000th of Earth’s.
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI
New Horizons was looking at the dwarf planet backlit by the Sun.
Pluto is the only object beyond Neptune with a known atmosphere.
It’s mostly nitrogen, but the pressure is just 1/100,000th of Earth’s.
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
The 1st planet candidate w/Earth-like radius & orbit transiting a Sun-like star bright enough for serious follow-up. Congrats to citizen scientists Alexander Venner, Hans Martin Schwengeler, Martti H. Kristiansen, Mark Omohundro & Ivan A. Terentev! iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3... #news #astronomy
iopscience.iop.org
February 3, 2026 at 12:33 AM
The 1st planet candidate w/Earth-like radius & orbit transiting a Sun-like star bright enough for serious follow-up. Congrats to citizen scientists Alexander Venner, Hans Martin Schwengeler, Martti H. Kristiansen, Mark Omohundro & Ivan A. Terentev! iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3... #news #astronomy
After more than a week of additional shooting this #astrophoto, I got ~21 hours total after culling (clouds, shake due to wind, autofocus issues…). Much better, but shows the limits of my old Oly E-M5 II; I strapped a Peltier cooler to it but it's no match for modern cooled astrocams noise-wise.
February 1, 2026 at 7:32 PM
After more than a week of additional shooting this #astrophoto, I got ~21 hours total after culling (clouds, shake due to wind, autofocus issues…). Much better, but shows the limits of my old Oly E-M5 II; I strapped a Peltier cooler to it but it's no match for modern cooled astrocams noise-wise.
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
You can’t tell me we have a functioning economic system when the richest man in human history is one of the most profoundly stupid people in human history
January 27, 2026 at 2:11 AM
You can’t tell me we have a functioning economic system when the richest man in human history is one of the most profoundly stupid people in human history
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
We don't just build observatories out of glass and steel around here...
Happy #InternationalLegoDay from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory! 🔭🧪
In their free time, our staff have channeled their creativity into building a mini Rubin universe.
Which build is your favorite? 🧱
Happy #InternationalLegoDay from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory! 🔭🧪
In their free time, our staff have channeled their creativity into building a mini Rubin universe.
Which build is your favorite? 🧱
January 28, 2026 at 11:20 PM
We don't just build observatories out of glass and steel around here...
Happy #InternationalLegoDay from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory! 🔭🧪
In their free time, our staff have channeled their creativity into building a mini Rubin universe.
Which build is your favorite? 🧱
Happy #InternationalLegoDay from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory! 🔭🧪
In their free time, our staff have channeled their creativity into building a mini Rubin universe.
Which build is your favorite? 🧱
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
Yeah, I recommend not using the patreon apple app to join. Just go on the website, it's 1. cheaper for YOU to support your favorite creatures and 2. All the money you give goes to the creator.
I'm begging you not to use apple products. This shit is devastating to creators like me
January 28, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Yeah, I recommend not using the patreon apple app to join. Just go on the website, it's 1. cheaper for YOU to support your favorite creatures and 2. All the money you give goes to the creator.
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
For those that are wondering about ReedPop the company who produces Star Wars Celebration, New York Comic Con, C2E2, & many more and ReedPop’s affiliation with ICE here’s a link to gives all the details actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
Star Wars Celebration: Divest from ICE
Star Wars is a story about the fight against systemic oppression, surveillance, and the overreach of a fascist regime. However, the company that produces our largest fan gathering is profiting from th...
actionnetwork.org
January 26, 2026 at 5:09 AM
For those that are wondering about ReedPop the company who produces Star Wars Celebration, New York Comic Con, C2E2, & many more and ReedPop’s affiliation with ICE here’s a link to gives all the details actionnetwork.org/petitions/st...
The answer stays #42 :
> For tonight: if you set minAltitude to 42°, you can confidently shoot M78 until it reaches that point without worrying about
the neighbor's lights
(Claude's recommendation analysing the impact of my neighbour's insecurity lights on my astrophotos)
#astrophotography
> For tonight: if you set minAltitude to 42°, you can confidently shoot M78 until it reaches that point without worrying about
the neighbor's lights
(Claude's recommendation analysing the impact of my neighbour's insecurity lights on my astrophotos)
#astrophotography
January 25, 2026 at 1:35 PM
The answer stays #42 :
> For tonight: if you set minAltitude to 42°, you can confidently shoot M78 until it reaches that point without worrying about
the neighbor's lights
(Claude's recommendation analysing the impact of my neighbour's insecurity lights on my astrophotos)
#astrophotography
> For tonight: if you set minAltitude to 42°, you can confidently shoot M78 until it reaches that point without worrying about
the neighbor's lights
(Claude's recommendation analysing the impact of my neighbour's insecurity lights on my astrophotos)
#astrophotography
January 21, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
Here's the most productive part of the night, gathered into a video. These are all still images, though. #Astronomy #Astrophotography
January 20, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Here's the most productive part of the night, gathered into a video. These are all still images, though. #Astronomy #Astrophotography
When M78 sank too low in the sky, I had the scope switch to M44, the Beehive cluster. This is about 2 hours of 10-second exposures after culling.
I used a short exposure time because the cluster supposedly has a mix of red and white-blue stars. However I can’t see any blue in my image.
#astrophoto
I used a short exposure time because the cluster supposedly has a mix of red and white-blue stars. However I can’t see any blue in my image.
#astrophoto
January 18, 2026 at 11:55 AM
When M78 sank too low in the sky, I had the scope switch to M44, the Beehive cluster. This is about 2 hours of 10-second exposures after culling.
I used a short exposure time because the cluster supposedly has a mix of red and white-blue stars. However I can’t see any blue in my image.
#astrophoto
I used a short exposure time because the cluster supposedly has a mix of red and white-blue stars. However I can’t see any blue in my image.
#astrophoto
By the way M78 "Casper the Friendly Ghost", many say online that they can't see a ghost. I think this comes from prevalent very bright (IMHO often over-) processing. E.g. in most pics at telescopius.com/astrophotogr... I can't see a ghost either amid all those bright colours.
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
January 18, 2026 at 8:19 AM
By the way M78 "Casper the Friendly Ghost", many say online that they can't see a ghost. I think this comes from prevalent very bright (IMHO often over-) processing. E.g. in most pics at telescopius.com/astrophotogr... I can't see a ghost either amid all those bright colours.
#astrophotography
#astrophotography
Casper the Friendly Ghost (M78) looking at a section of Barnard’s Loop (Sh 2-276). After about a week of shooting, having collected some 12 hours of integration time (of which I discarded 7 hours because of clouds, focus issues etc.) this is still very much WIP as it needs more time.
#astrophoto
#astrophoto
January 17, 2026 at 11:42 AM
Casper the Friendly Ghost (M78) looking at a section of Barnard’s Loop (Sh 2-276). After about a week of shooting, having collected some 12 hours of integration time (of which I discarded 7 hours because of clouds, focus issues etc.) this is still very much WIP as it needs more time.
#astrophoto
#astrophoto
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
Voyager is 31!
"Much will be made of the political correctness of this new venture, not least in that the captain of this ship is a woman".
A woman, captain of a ship 😱
Just a reminder that we've come a long way, and that the reactionary whiners of today are just the latest in a long line. 🖖
"Much will be made of the political correctness of this new venture, not least in that the captain of this ship is a woman".
A woman, captain of a ship 😱
Just a reminder that we've come a long way, and that the reactionary whiners of today are just the latest in a long line. 🖖
January 16, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Voyager is 31!
"Much will be made of the political correctness of this new venture, not least in that the captain of this ship is a woman".
A woman, captain of a ship 😱
Just a reminder that we've come a long way, and that the reactionary whiners of today are just the latest in a long line. 🖖
"Much will be made of the political correctness of this new venture, not least in that the captain of this ship is a woman".
A woman, captain of a ship 😱
Just a reminder that we've come a long way, and that the reactionary whiners of today are just the latest in a long line. 🖖
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
One of the most brutal episodes in human history. What happened in the Belgian Congo under King Leopold II is beyond belief: 7 shocking facts.
7 Shocking Facts About Leopold’s Congo | TheCollector
One of the most brutal episodes in human history, what happened in the Belgian Congo under King Leopold II is almost beyond belief.
www.thecollector.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:32 AM
One of the most brutal episodes in human history. What happened in the Belgian Congo under King Leopold II is beyond belief: 7 shocking facts.
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
@kat-astro-bot.bsky.social
Astrometry Bot update is live. It replies to your astrophoto posts with sky location and object IDs.
Call it by:
• mentioning it in your post
• mentioning it in a comment (bug fix)
• mentioning it in a quote
• Now supports AstroBin links (beta).
Astrometry Bot update is live. It replies to your astrophoto posts with sky location and object IDs.
Call it by:
• mentioning it in your post
• mentioning it in a comment (bug fix)
• mentioning it in a quote
• Now supports AstroBin links (beta).
January 10, 2026 at 6:20 PM
@kat-astro-bot.bsky.social
Astrometry Bot update is live. It replies to your astrophoto posts with sky location and object IDs.
Call it by:
• mentioning it in your post
• mentioning it in a comment (bug fix)
• mentioning it in a quote
• Now supports AstroBin links (beta).
Astrometry Bot update is live. It replies to your astrophoto posts with sky location and object IDs.
Call it by:
• mentioning it in your post
• mentioning it in a comment (bug fix)
• mentioning it in a quote
• Now supports AstroBin links (beta).
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
Abdanan hat übrigens nur 25.000 Einwohner. Dürften also fast alle auf der Straße sein.
January 6, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Abdanan hat übrigens nur 25.000 Einwohner. Dürften also fast alle auf der Straße sein.
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
Daran sollten wir uns heute erinnern.
January 6, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Daran sollten wir uns heute erinnern.
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
Flying into Orion’s Belt at 0.001c 🌌
The hunter isn’t flat. It’s a real 3D region of space. (Upgraded animation!) #astronomy 🔭
The hunter isn’t flat. It’s a real 3D region of space. (Upgraded animation!) #astronomy 🔭
January 6, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Flying into Orion’s Belt at 0.001c 🌌
The hunter isn’t flat. It’s a real 3D region of space. (Upgraded animation!) #astronomy 🔭
The hunter isn’t flat. It’s a real 3D region of space. (Upgraded animation!) #astronomy 🔭
Reposted by Bastian Blankenburg
I'm developing an open source program with GUI that stores a variety of space photometry and converts them to color, TrueColorTools.
It can also process images and generate color charts. Here's the latest table of some featured objects (geometric albedo mode, sRGB color space, Illuminant E)
It can also process images and generate color charts. Here's the latest table of some featured objects (geometric albedo mode, sRGB color space, Illuminant E)
May 3, 2025 at 8:22 PM
I'm developing an open source program with GUI that stores a variety of space photometry and converts them to color, TrueColorTools.
It can also process images and generate color charts. Here's the latest table of some featured objects (geometric albedo mode, sRGB color space, Illuminant E)
It can also process images and generate color charts. Here's the latest table of some featured objects (geometric albedo mode, sRGB color space, Illuminant E)
There were 1.5 hours tonight after dusk and before the Moon rose. No major clouds but unfortunately haze or high clouds. I looked at Messier 34, the Spiral Cluster, a pretty little open cluster about 1500 light years away.
I also took an #astrophoto of it with my phone, see alt text for details.
I also took an #astrophoto of it with my phone, see alt text for details.
January 5, 2026 at 7:33 PM
There were 1.5 hours tonight after dusk and before the Moon rose. No major clouds but unfortunately haze or high clouds. I looked at Messier 34, the Spiral Cluster, a pretty little open cluster about 1500 light years away.
I also took an #astrophoto of it with my phone, see alt text for details.
I also took an #astrophoto of it with my phone, see alt text for details.
@quantumkat.bsky.social Hi, thanks for the awesome Astrometry Bot!
One issue, the link between my request post (bsky.app/profile/data...) and the bot's answer (bsky.app/profile/kat-...) seems to be broken. I.e. when I view my request post, it shows that it has 1 reply, but I can't see the answer:
One issue, the link between my request post (bsky.app/profile/data...) and the bot's answer (bsky.app/profile/kat-...) seems to be broken. I.e. when I view my request post, it shows that it has 1 reply, but I can't see the answer:
January 5, 2026 at 8:26 AM
@quantumkat.bsky.social Hi, thanks for the awesome Astrometry Bot!
One issue, the link between my request post (bsky.app/profile/data...) and the bot's answer (bsky.app/profile/kat-...) seems to be broken. I.e. when I view my request post, it shows that it has 1 reply, but I can't see the answer:
One issue, the link between my request post (bsky.app/profile/data...) and the bot's answer (bsky.app/profile/kat-...) seems to be broken. I.e. when I view my request post, it shows that it has 1 reply, but I can't see the answer: