In 2003 I got a new job, we moved to a small village near Nijmegen and at that occasion my wife gave me a telescope. Since photography is a live-long hobby, astrophotography was a logical next step. Rapidly I became infected with well-known entities like aperature-hunger. All images on this site are made by the author, unless other wisely stated.

Probably from the moment mankind was able to look up, the stars above them intrigued people. Early cultures associated celestial objects with Gods and Spirits. Although ancient astronomers were already able to differentiate between stars and planets, the real revolution in astronomy started in the medieval period with the work and ideas of three genius scientists. Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) demonstrated that the Sun is the centre of what is now called the Solar System. Giordano Bruno (1548-1600) believed that the earth revolves and that the diurnal rotation of the heavens is an illusion caused by the rotation of the Earth. He also believed that the stellar region was infinite. In 1610, Galileo (1564-1642) published his Sidereus Nuncius, describing his impressive observations, confirming the theory of Copernicus. Galileo probably used a telescope made by Hans Lippershey, a Dutch lens maker living in Middelburg.  Galileo improved this telescope and used it for his observations.

Because of their astronomical theories the three aforementioned astronomers came in a severe conflict with the Catholic Church. Giordano Bruno was the greatest victim of this early 'scientific discussion'. On February 17, 1600 the Catholic inquisition burned him at the stake on the Campo de 'Fiori in Rome because of his ideas. It was difficult for the Catholic Church to admit this mistake and still in 1942 the Cardinal Giovanni Mercati stated that Bruno's death was based on a correct decision. It took the Catholic Church until 2000 when Pope John Paul II officially declared his regret for the execution of Giordano.

In the same period also in the Netherlands scientists were interested in astronomy. Christiaan Huygens (1629-1695) was a famous Dutch astronomer who discovered Saturn's moon Titan in 1655. He also examined Saturn's planetary rings, and in 1656 he sketched the Orion Nebula. Using his 'modern' telescope he succeeded in subdividing the nebula into different stars. Besides astronomer he was a mathematician, invented the pendulum clock and argued that light consisted of waves. Huygens also speculated in detail about life on other planets.

Although astronomy is one of the oldest sciences, a lot remains to be discovered and understood. One of the funny things is the fact that still today amateur astronomers discover phenomena in the night skies.

Although far from perfect results, on this site I show my own modest 'backyard astro-imaging' images. New images will be added regularly

Skies above Nijmegen

Deze site is ook beschikbaar via www. astroimaging.nl