Jupiter, 28 November 2012

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX
Exposure: 700 frames each L, R, G, B
Camera: Point Grey Research Flea @ 800x600, 16-bit
Scope: Celestron C-11, Televue 2.5x Powermate (f/25)
Mount: Celestron CI-700
Guider: none
Filter: Orion LRGB set
Software: AstroIIDC, Registax 6, Photoshop

Light Pollution

by spacechimpmedia. Learn about infographics software.

M27, The Dumbbell Nebula

Once in a while everything during an imaging session works right. No meridian flip, no guiding issues, no focus problems--everything was clicking along for this one. I've been using a camera cooler for the last couple of shots, and am pleased with the improvement. It's amazing how much easier processing is with clean data to begin with!

I almost never image at f/10, but this is through the C11 at 2800mm focal length, There's some movement between the subs--probably from mirror flop--but in the end the stars are still pretty round. This CI-700 seems to be a keeper!

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX
Exposure: 45 @ 120 sec (1.5 hours), ISO 1600
Camera: Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D) (Modified)
Scope: Celestron C11
Mount: CI-700
Guider: ZS66, DSI
Filter: none
Software: Nebulosity, PHD Guiding, Photoshop

M57, The Ring Nebula

I've had the C11 for a while now, but this is the first time I've used it try shooting a DSO. This is the famous Ring Nebula, M57, a planetary nebula in Lyra. You can just see a barred spiral galaxy IC1296 below and to the right.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX
Exposure: 45 @ 120 sec (1.5 hours), ISO 1600
Camera: Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D) (Modified)
Scope: Celestron C11
Mount: CI-700
Guider: ZS66, DSI
Filter: none
Software: Nebulosity, PHD Guiding, Photoshop

NGC 7635, The Bubble Nebula

I really shouldn't use APOD to pick out targets to shoot--it makes me want to spend astrobucks on imaging equipment.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX
Exposure: 45 @ 240 sec (3 hours), ISO 800
Camera: Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D) (Modified)
Scope: AstroTech AT6RC
Mount: CI-700
Guider: AT80EDT, DSI
Filter: none
Software: Nebulosity, PHD Guiding, Photoshop

Calvin Speaks The Truth

Exoplanets

Courtesy XKCD.

Elon Musk: The Real-Life Tony Stark

Created by: OnlineGraduatePrograms.com

Venus Transit 2012

There's a little black spot on the sun today.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX
Exposure: 2 @ 1/500, ISO 100
Camera: Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D)
Scope: C11 @ f/6.3
Mount: CI-700
Guider: none
Filter: Baader visual solar film
Software: Photoshop

Two-frame mosaic. Color adjusted in Photoshop; the Baader film actually has a blue tint to it.

Saturn 2012.4

Patience pays off.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX

Camera: PGR Flea2

Scope: Celestron C11, TeleVue 2.5x Powermate

Mount: Celestron CI-700

Filter: Orion LRGB

Software: AstroIIDC, RegiStax, Photoshop

Saturn 2012.3

Looks an awful lot like the last one.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX

Camera: PGR Flea2

Scope: Celestron C11, TeleVue 2.5x Powermate

Mount: Celestron CI-700

Filter: Orion LRGB

Software: AstroIIDC, RegiStax, Photoshop

Saturn 2012.2

The forecast was for 4/5 seeing, but I don't think it was that good. Maybe 3/5, but no better than average.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX

Camera: PGR Flea2

Scope: Celestron C11, TeleVue 2.5x Powermate

Mount: Celestron CI-700

Filter: Orion LRGB

Software: AstroIIDC, RegiStax, Photoshop

Mars 2012.4

Another cloudy day on the Red Planet. This shot is resized 150%.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX

Camera: PGR Flea2

Scope: Celestron C11, TeleVue 2.5x Powermate

Mount: Celestron CI-700

Filter: Orion LRGB

Software: AstroIIDC, RegiStax, Photoshop

Saturn 2012.1

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX

Camera: PGR Flea2

Scope: Celestron C11, TeleVue 2.5x Powermate

Mount: Celestron CI-700

Filter: Orion LRGB

Software: AstroIIDC, RegiStax, Photoshop

Mars 2012.3

I've never seen clouds like these.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX

Camera: PGR Flea2

Scope: Celestron C11, TeleVue 2.5x Powermate

Mount: Celestron CI-700

Filter: Orion LRGB

Software: AstroIIDC, RegiStax, Photoshop

New Web Site Up

Finally got a new web site up for Jeffrey Phillips Design. Check it out!

Mars 2012.2

Better conditions, but still not as good as I would have hoped. I've seen the blue on the sides in other folk's pictures, so I guess it's a real thing and not an imaging artifact.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX

Camera: PGR Flea2

Scope: Celestron C11, TeleVue 2.5x Powermate

Mount: Celestron CI-700

Filter: Orion LRGB

Software: AstroIIDC, RegiStax, Photoshop

Mars 2012.1

That's just, ungh. But it's as big as Mars is going to get this year. Really crappy seeing for the opposition--maybe tonight will be better.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX
Camera: PGR Flea2
Scope: Celestron C11, TeleVue 2.5x Powermate
Mount: Celestron CI-700
Filter: Orion LRGB
Software: AstroIIDC, RegiStax, Photoshop

xkcd: The Orion Nebula

Also on the agenda: what's with his hips?

Don't Stop Believin'

Don't Stop Believin' Demo (60 sec)

Even though Garage Band's been around for a few years now, I'm still amazed at what one guy, with only limited talent, can produce sitting alone at his desk.

Job Hunting

A little too close to reality to be funny.

How to Make Tape

1. Get a tape-making machine.

2. Turn it on.

My Poor Child

Rub some dirt on it. You'll be fine.

Stratocaster

100% vector art. Drawn with Adobe Illustrator CS5.