Solar System and Comets
As space photography evolved, the Sun and the Comets very rapidly became very popular objects on the lists of astronomers.
The Sun was still the great unknown. Photography needed to answer a lot of questions.
The different expeditions throughout the world to photograph solar eclipses resulted in the exact determination of the diameter of the sun and the correct analysis of the Corona.
Thanks to photography it was now possible to determine the structure of the sun spots. The French astronomer Jules Janssen succeeded in making very detailed recordings of the solar surface. These results were later published in "Le Ciel", 1865 by Amadée Guillemin.
Comets raised a lot of questions in the 19th century. What was the exact structure and origin of these mysterious objects?
Haley's comet in 1910 presented itself as an excellent opportunity to answer a lot of these questions. Photography was ready for the challenge. It resulted in marvellous photos that became icons in photography.
By 1900 George Eastman had improved the photographical emulsions: the sensitivity was higher and the color sensitivity was easier to adjust.
This resulted in astrophotography becoming more accessible to amateur astrophotographers.
In the exhibition you will find several examples of amateur pictures.
Xavier Debeerst
