Fushimi Castle, once a magnificent landmark near Kyoto, stands abandoned and inaccessible today. What was once a place full of enthusiasm and beauty now resembles a “lost place”, hidden from public view and surrounded by caution tape. This state is not only a loss for Japan’s cultural diversity, but also a waste of resources. Fushimi Castle has the potential to be a vibrant place of community, education, and inspiration.

Yesterday, on August 12, 2026, an astronomical event of a lifetime took place over Europe: the great European solar eclipse. While the path of totality swept over Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain, we in Germany were treated to one of the deepest partial solar eclipses in decades.

At our observation site in Saxony, the new moon obscured up to 86.8% of the solar disk – a rare celestial spectacle during prime evening time just before sunset.

Astrophotography from home sometimes calls for creative solutions. Although I have a garden and yard available, setting up valuable equipment outside unattended for several hours overnight always carries a risk of theft. Observing directly through a roof window is significantly safer in that regard.

In my first blog post about the Seestar S30 Pro, I documented its “first light” under a clear night sky. However, one important accessory was left untouched in the carrying case during that initial night session: the solar filter.

On the afternoon of July 14, 2026, the weather finally turned sunny, giving me the perfect opportunity to test the smart telescope during the day and catch a glimpse of our home star.

On July 4, 2026, I ordered a new smart telescope: the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro via Bresser.

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I am writing this post diary-style over several days and will only publish it once the telescope is delivered and I have captured the first images. This article will document the entire journey from ordering to the “first light”.