Hope For The Future

As we close out 2008, I wanted to share a scene I came across today that gives me hope for the future. Trudy, Ian and I went to the local outlet mall so I could pick up a couple of pairs of new jeans, and while we there we went into the KB Toys to check out their going out of business sale. Everything in the store was half off, and was pretty well picked over at this point as you'd probably expect. Still, there was one shelf left that seemed to be fully stocked: the one with all of the toys and dolls featuring pro wrestlers.

Here's to 2009 everybody!

The Rosette Nebula, NGC 2237

The Rosette Nebula is a large, circular H II region located near one end of a giant molecular cloud in the Monoceros region of the Milky Way Galaxy. The open cluster NGC 2244 is closely associated with the nebulosity, the stars of the cluster having been formed from the nebula's matter.

The cluster and nebula lie at a distance of some 5,200 light years from Earth (although estimates of the distance vary considerably) and measure roughly 130 light years in diameter. The radiation from the young stars excite the atoms in the nebula, causing them to emit radiation themselves producing the emission nebula we see. The mass of the nebula is estimated to be around 10,000 solar masses.

Exposure: 30 x 5 minutes
Camera: Modified Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D)
Scope: Astro-Tech AT80ED 80mm APO refractor, TeleVue 1.1x field flattener
Mount: Meade LX200
Guider: Meade LX200 @ f/3.3
Filter: Astronomik CLS
Software: PHD Guiding, Nebulosity, Photoshop

Flame Nebula (NGC 2024) & Horsehead Nebula (B33)

Not the first light with this modded XT/350D, but my first light as its owner. Here's a stack of 50 x 4 minutes with an Astronomik CLS through the AT80EDT, plus 20 darks & flats. Mount & guiding was the 10" LX200 @ f/3.3 using an original DSI with PHD Guiding. Capture & initial processing with Nebulosity, finished in Photoshop w/Noel's actions. Focus with the Stiletto only.

Some nights, everything just comes together. Every frame a keeper, almost no movement between subs--I could probably have doubled my exposure times.

Skater Boi

Just before he stuck a skate between my feet and sent me hard to the ice. Nearly a week later and my ribs are still sore.

The Next iPhone?

I gotta get me one of these.


(Jeez, two weeks without posting? Sorry 'bout that y'all.)

Christmas Parade

Pictures from the 2008 Woodlands Christmas Parade are here.

The Moon Visits Venus & Jupiter

Lovely conjunction this evening.