Christian Vocks
@cvocks.bsky.social
Physicist, solar radio astronomy and space plasma theory & simulation, from Lingen in NW Germany, interests in astrophotography, sci-fi, running.
Finished the Berlin Marathon 2026 in 4:48:24 h. That's 1:09 min faster than last year, and much better than anticipated based on my training performance this year. Weather was perfect, even a bit warm.
September 27, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Finished the Berlin Marathon 2026 in 4:48:24 h. That's 1:09 min faster than last year, and much better than anticipated based on my training performance this year. Weather was perfect, even a bit warm.
Getting ready for tomorrow!
September 26, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Getting ready for tomorrow!
On 22 January 2026 I observed the Spaghetti Nebula (Simeis 147), a faint supernova remnant in Taurus and Auriga. I could tease it out of the background noise only in H alpha, in individual frames it is invisible. 60 exposures of 60s in Halpha and OIII, plus 20x20s each in R, G, B for natural stars.
July 26, 2026 at 5:54 PM
On 22 January 2026 I observed the Spaghetti Nebula (Simeis 147), a faint supernova remnant in Taurus and Auriga. I could tease it out of the background noise only in H alpha, in individual frames it is invisible. 60 exposures of 60s in Halpha and OIII, plus 20x20s each in R, G, B for natural stars.
Finished the Potsdamer Schlösserlauf half marathon today in 2:03:07 h. I'm much slower this year than I was in the previous year, and again I've lost about 8 min compared to last year's Schlösserlauf. And it was much warmer back then. Luckily, the rain ended just in time for the start.
June 7, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Finished the Potsdamer Schlösserlauf half marathon today in 2:03:07 h. I'm much slower this year than I was in the previous year, and again I've lost about 8 min compared to last year's Schlösserlauf. And it was much warmer back then. Luckily, the rain ended just in time for the start.
On 19 January 2026 I've observed the reflection nebula NGC1333 in Perseus, a gas and dust cloud with active star formation. I could get 74 exposures of 60s in L, plus 23 in R, 24 G, 26 B.
That evening I've also had "light pollution" by a beautiful aurora event, but this is not visible in the image.
That evening I've also had "light pollution" by a beautiful aurora event, but this is not visible in the image.
May 14, 2026 at 6:23 PM
On 19 January 2026 I've observed the reflection nebula NGC1333 in Perseus, a gas and dust cloud with active star formation. I could get 74 exposures of 60s in L, plus 23 in R, 24 G, 26 B.
That evening I've also had "light pollution" by a beautiful aurora event, but this is not visible in the image.
That evening I've also had "light pollution" by a beautiful aurora event, but this is not visible in the image.
My first object of 2026, NGC1579 in Perseus. Due its structure with dark dust lanes it is also called "Northern Trifid". Its colleague M20 in Sagittarius might be a bit more spectacular, but NGC1579 is much better observable from Potsdam. 52 images of 60s in L, each 15 in R, G, B, 24 in Halpha.
April 29, 2026 at 7:56 PM
My first object of 2026, NGC1579 in Perseus. Due its structure with dark dust lanes it is also called "Northern Trifid". Its colleague M20 in Sagittarius might be a bit more spectacular, but NGC1579 is much better observable from Potsdam. 52 images of 60s in L, each 15 in R, G, B, 24 in Halpha.
Finished the rbb-Lauf 1/3 marathon in 1:15:13 h. Much slower than last year, by 4:48 min. Weather was good but a bit chilly, maybe running with long sleeves led to a bit of overheating. But as always, this event, with start and finish on Glienicker Brücke, is a very nice begin of the running season.
April 26, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Finished the rbb-Lauf 1/3 marathon in 1:15:13 h. Much slower than last year, by 4:48 min. Weather was good but a bit chilly, maybe running with long sleeves led to a bit of overheating. But as always, this event, with start and finish on Glienicker Brücke, is a very nice begin of the running season.
My last deep-sky object from 2025, the reflection nebula NGC6914 in Cygnus from 28 September. Unfortunately, I had massive guiding problems, so I only got 20 exposures of 60s in L, 13 in R, and 20 each in G and B, had to throw away the rest. Later it worked better, so I could add 50 in Halpha.
April 25, 2026 at 5:56 PM
My last deep-sky object from 2025, the reflection nebula NGC6914 in Cygnus from 28 September. Unfortunately, I had massive guiding problems, so I only got 20 exposures of 60s in L, 13 in R, and 20 each in G and B, had to throw away the rest. Later it worked better, so I could add 50 in Halpha.
On 23 August 2025 I've observed the planetary nebula NGC6826. The central star is so bright that it outshines the nebula if seen directly in a telescope. If one views next to it, the nebula becomes visible. That's why it's called the "blinking planetary nebula".
April 14, 2026 at 6:56 PM
On 23 August 2025 I've observed the planetary nebula NGC6826. The central star is so bright that it outshines the nebula if seen directly in a telescope. If one views next to it, the nebula becomes visible. That's why it's called the "blinking planetary nebula".
On 12 May 2025 I've observed the elliptical galaxy M87 in Virgo. 41 exposures of 60s in R, 44 in G, and 80 in B (left). The jet from the central supermassive black hole is faintly visible at the 4 o'clock position.
On the right, I've enhanced the contrast and removed the galaxy a bit.
On the right, I've enhanced the contrast and removed the galaxy a bit.
March 31, 2026 at 7:13 PM
On 12 May 2025 I've observed the elliptical galaxy M87 in Virgo. 41 exposures of 60s in R, 44 in G, and 80 in B (left). The jet from the central supermassive black hole is faintly visible at the 4 o'clock position.
On the right, I've enhanced the contrast and removed the galaxy a bit.
On the right, I've enhanced the contrast and removed the galaxy a bit.
My next object from last year, the interacting galaxies NGC4490 (left) and NGC4485 (right) in Canes Venatici from 27 April 2025. The gravitational interaction leads to intense star formation. 78 exposures of 60s in L, 30 each in R, G, B, plus 54 in H alpha to highlight the star-forming regions.
March 15, 2026 at 6:34 PM
My next object from last year, the interacting galaxies NGC4490 (left) and NGC4485 (right) in Canes Venatici from 27 April 2025. The gravitational interaction leads to intense star formation. 78 exposures of 60s in L, 30 each in R, G, B, plus 54 in H alpha to highlight the star-forming regions.
On 5 April 2025 I've observed the Leo Quartet of NGC3193 (top), NGC3190 (center), NGC3187 (right) und NGC3185 (bottom). The bright object top right is a star. 134 exposures of 60s in L, plus 23 R, 25 G, and only 6 B due to guiding problems. Two faint, more distant galaxies are also visible.
March 4, 2026 at 9:09 PM
On 5 April 2025 I've observed the Leo Quartet of NGC3193 (top), NGC3190 (center), NGC3187 (right) und NGC3185 (bottom). The bright object top right is a star. 134 exposures of 60s in L, plus 23 R, 25 G, and only 6 B due to guiding problems. Two faint, more distant galaxies are also visible.
Last Sunday, 15 March 2026, I could observe Jupiter in a short period of clear sky. I've stacked the best 400 out of 4000 exposures (1.3 ms) in L and 600 out of 2000 (3 ms) each in R, G, B. I wasn't planned, but I've got both the Great Red Spot and the moon Io casting its shadow on the planet.
February 19, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Last Sunday, 15 March 2026, I could observe Jupiter in a short period of clear sky. I've stacked the best 400 out of 4000 exposures (1.3 ms) in L and 600 out of 2000 (3 ms) each in R, G, B. I wasn't planned, but I've got both the Great Red Spot and the moon Io casting its shadow on the planet.
On 21 March 2025 I had a clear night again, this time I observed the Little Pinwheel Galaxy NGC3184. It has its name from numerous star forming regions, just like its larger counterpart M101. 99 exposures of 60s in L, 20 in R, 16 in G, and only 4 in B due to tracking problems.
February 18, 2026 at 7:56 PM
On 21 March 2025 I had a clear night again, this time I observed the Little Pinwheel Galaxy NGC3184. It has its name from numerous star forming regions, just like its larger counterpart M101. 99 exposures of 60s in L, 20 in R, 16 in G, and only 4 in B due to tracking problems.
On 19 March 2025 I tried to observe my next object, the galaxy NGC2775. Unfortunately, clouds moved in. So I only got 42 exposures of 60 s in L. Nevertheless, the remarkably concentric spiral arms are recognizable.
February 16, 2026 at 8:15 PM
On 19 March 2025 I tried to observe my next object, the galaxy NGC2775. Unfortunately, clouds moved in. So I only got 42 exposures of 60 s in L. Nevertheless, the remarkably concentric spiral arms are recognizable.
There was another week of clear nights last March, here is the "Bear Paw Galaxy" NGC2537 from 18 March 2025. 108 exposures of 60s in L, plus 22 in R, 11 in G, and 17 in B. I had to discard many due to poor tracking.
The faint galaxy to the left is the 27 times more distant PGC23057.
The faint galaxy to the left is the 27 times more distant PGC23057.
February 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
There was another week of clear nights last March, here is the "Bear Paw Galaxy" NGC2537 from 18 March 2025. 108 exposures of 60s in L, plus 22 in R, 11 in G, and 17 in B. I had to discard many due to poor tracking.
The faint galaxy to the left is the 27 times more distant PGC23057.
The faint galaxy to the left is the 27 times more distant PGC23057.
The "Jellyfish Nebula" IC443 in Gemini from 8 March 2025. 73 exposures of 60 s in Halpha, 53 in OIII, and 60 in SII, plus about 15 of 30 s each in R, G, B. I have applied some unsharp masking to enhance the filamentary structures. As always, Celestron C8 with f/6.3 reducer and ZWO ASI 294MM Pro.
February 2, 2026 at 8:21 PM
The "Jellyfish Nebula" IC443 in Gemini from 8 March 2025. 73 exposures of 60 s in Halpha, 53 in OIII, and 60 in SII, plus about 15 of 30 s each in R, G, B. I have applied some unsharp masking to enhance the filamentary structures. As always, Celestron C8 with f/6.3 reducer and ZWO ASI 294MM Pro.
My next object from last year, the globular cluster NGC2419 in Gemini, also known as "Intergalactic Wanderer" for its large distance form our Milky Way galaxy. About 66 exposures of 30 s each in R, G, and B. To sharpen the image, I have implemented as simple version of the CLEAN algorithm.
January 26, 2026 at 8:16 PM
My next object from last year, the globular cluster NGC2419 in Gemini, also known as "Intergalactic Wanderer" for its large distance form our Milky Way galaxy. About 66 exposures of 30 s each in R, G, and B. To sharpen the image, I have implemented as simple version of the CLEAN algorithm.
I've prepared a time-lapse video of my aurora pictures from Monday, 19 January 2026 in Potsdam. The view is in northern direction. The video covers 20 minutes around 11 pm CET (22:00 UT). 200 individual frames of 4 s with Nikon D5600, ISO 1250, and Tamron 16-300 mm at 16 mm.
January 23, 2026 at 9:11 PM
I've prepared a time-lapse video of my aurora pictures from Monday, 19 January 2026 in Potsdam. The view is in northern direction. The video covers 20 minutes around 11 pm CET (22:00 UT). 200 individual frames of 4 s with Nikon D5600, ISO 1250, and Tamron 16-300 mm at 16 mm.
Open clusters M35 and NGC2158 in Gemini, from 3 March 2025. 59 exposures of 30 s in R, 57 in G, and 51 in L. I'm still working on my backlog from last year...
January 8, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Open clusters M35 and NGC2158 in Gemini, from 3 March 2025. 59 exposures of 30 s in R, 57 in G, and 51 in L. I'm still working on my backlog from last year...
Saturn on 6 November 2025. Earth is now near Saturn's ring plane, we see the edge of the ring system and the shadow of the rings on the planet. Just left of Saturn the moon Titan is visible.
November 16, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Saturn on 6 November 2025. Earth is now near Saturn's ring plane, we see the edge of the ring system and the shadow of the rings on the planet. Just left of Saturn the moon Titan is visible.
A single image looks like this. One can see the constellations Corona Borealis, Bootes, Canes Venatici, the rear part of Ursa Major, and faintly also the comet.
November 5, 2025 at 8:47 PM
A single image looks like this. One can see the constellations Corona Borealis, Bootes, Canes Venatici, the rear part of Ursa Major, and faintly also the comet.
Comet C2025 A6 Lemmon, observed on 18 October 2025 from the water tower in Beelitz near Potsdam. I've stacked 20 exposures of 13 s with Nikon D5600 and Tamron 16-300 mm at 22 mm, ISO1600, and f/3.5, on a tripod without tracking.
November 5, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Comet C2025 A6 Lemmon, observed on 18 October 2025 from the water tower in Beelitz near Potsdam. I've stacked 20 exposures of 13 s with Nikon D5600 and Tamron 16-300 mm at 22 mm, ISO1600, and f/3.5, on a tripod without tracking.
My next object from last winter, the Flaming Star Nebula IC405 in Auriga from 23 February 2025. The bright star is AE Aurigae. 78 exposures of 60 s in L, plus 14 in R, 20 in G, 22 in B, plus 52 in H alpha since the object is a combined reflection and emission nebula.
October 12, 2025 at 3:52 PM
My next object from last winter, the Flaming Star Nebula IC405 in Auriga from 23 February 2025. The bright star is AE Aurigae. 78 exposures of 60 s in L, plus 14 in R, 20 in G, 22 in B, plus 52 in H alpha since the object is a combined reflection and emission nebula.
Finished the Berlin Marathon in 4:49:33 h! That was pretty slow, 37 min more than last year. But the weather conditions were challenging, high temperatures around 25°C and a lot of Sun, plus high humidity.
September 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Finished the Berlin Marathon in 4:49:33 h! That was pretty slow, 37 min more than last year. But the weather conditions were challenging, high temperatures around 25°C and a lot of Sun, plus high humidity.