My interest in astronomy started in the 80's, when I participated in the "Meeting the Stars", promoted by the fiery Mario Jacy (Chairman of CARJ). It was love at first observation!

My curiosity having been aroused, I started looking for the knowledge I did not have in magazines and books.

In 1985 I built a house in the city of Nova Friburgo, and there I was able to enjoy the sky without the pollution prevailing in the big cities - that was the final push. I visited the National Observatory, where public observation sessions were offered. There I learned how to build a Newtonian telescope, 20 cm f/8.3 (later parabolized to f/6), which enabled me to live many happy moments.

However, my big dream was to photograph! My attempts were not very encouraging, or mediocre at their best. I used to photograph to earn my living when I was very young, and could not accept the bad results. My search led me to the Planetarium of Rio de Janeiro, where I met the Astrophotography Group, created in 1988, and then the skies finally opened up! At the time, the group was formed by a professional colleague, anesthetist Marco Antonio DeBellis, a self-taught man of sound knowledge and a passionate spirit, to whom I owe a lot and am grateful for the shared knowledge; Guilherme Winter, a pilot who discovered the "Serra da Cangalha" crater; Ricardo de Oliveira, and astronomer Fernando Vieira, who was the group coordinator and made things easy, offered suggestions and encouraged the group with the cheerfulness and enthusiasm of those who see their professional activity as a source of pleasure. Nowadays new enthusiastic and competent members increase the group: Fernando Magalhâes (guitar player of the "Barão Vermelho" band), Daniel Guerreiro (psychologist) and Lucas Werneck (a student).

I bought a LX3 8" Meade with several oculars and a number of accessories and started observations.

A cataract resulting from constant professional X-Ray exposure impaired my eyesight, which I recovered after a successful surgery, and I started photographing in 1994.

In 1998 I bought my current telescope, LX200 8" Meade. I also have a C 8 Celestron, which I use for public observations.

To be protected from cold and have more time with the starts, I built a simple and functional dome.

Observatory

I am not a good astrophotographer as yet, and still have a lot to learn, but moved by the desire to know and share, I am presenting some of the things I did, to divulge astronomy and to encourage those who are beginning their initiation in this art, in the same way as I received encouragement from my friends of the Astrophotography Group of the Planetarium Foundation of Rio de Janeiro.