The Moon Visits Venus Again

Yeah, I know. It's been forever.

I stepped out on the back porch this evening and saw this combination of the Moon and Venus, and couldn't let it go past.

That's Mars in the lower right!

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