Category: Astro knowledge
Astro knowledge / Deep Sky / Gear / Long Exposure Photography
M27, The Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula
Another attempt. I’m getting the idea that longer integration times lead to better detail and noise reduction…
Astro knowledge / Deep Sky / Gear / Long Exposure Photography
NGC 4725, Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices
Trying to round out the set of the largest galaxies visible from this latitude. This is another galaxy that I would not have known about if not for “The List” (see M106 […]
Astro knowledge / Deep Sky / Gear / Long Exposure Photography / Observing Reports / Optics
M42, The Great Orion Nebula
fullsize image I finally decided to try out Veronica (the 8” f/5 Newtonian) in the observatory, instead of the ED80. The reflector has two distinct advantages over the ED80; first, it’s about […]
Astro knowledge / Long Exposure Photography
spectral lines
…unless using a pretty narrowband Ha filter, Ha and SII are basically the same (656 vs 671). OIII should be the next filter to get. http://www.narrowbandimaging.com/images/crab_composite_hd.jpg
Astro knowledge / Solar System Photography
Analemma
This is a detail of my pushpin analemma (in progress). The gnomon’s shadow only shows up for about 30 minutes each day, and during late spring and early summer, its shadow was […]
Astro knowledge / Solar System Photography
Analemma
This is an overview of my pushpin analemma (in progress). You can see the gnomon, the shadow of The Offending Column, the 4 points on the analemma (with date/timestamps), and the extra […]
Astro knowledge / Solar System Photography
Analemma
This is a shot out the window that I use to make my analemma. Note “the offending column”, which cast its shadow over my pushpin analemma from Memorial Day through Independence Day. […]
Astro knowledge / Solar System Photography
Analemma
This is a detail of my desktop analemma (in progress). The tape marks along the right were made once I realized how fast the gnomon’s shadow moves and therefore how accurate the […]
Astro knowledge / Solar System Photography
Analemma
This is an overview of my desktop analemma (in progress). The pushpins in the wall are just what I do with extra pins when I’m bored. (: (I used a red one […]
Astro knowledge / Solar System Photography
Analemma
This is a detail of how quickly the shadow of the gnomon moves. The lens cap was not moved. The rightmost piece of tape in the upper images is the one detailed […]
RECENT UPDATE
Polar Alignment Calculations
Here’s a page that derives Polar Alignment Calculations. (update 5/2020: the original site is gone, so I found the text on Wayback and am inserting it below. This is by the original […]
Gear / Observatory / Telescope
Special Guest Star takes the mount at Hilltop O
The Astro Jedi needed somewhere to store his light sab—- I mean, bucket, and I was only too happy to accommodate him. I have decided that I need to come to a […]
General / Maintenance / Observatory
Dome shutter is motorized again!
I finally decided to bite the bullet and fix the shutter motor. Things went sideways last winter, and I’ve been opening the shutter manually (and tying it shut with rope, so we […]
Trixie 2017 – tube mods
I finally got around to cutting the MTA-UTA tubes to length; the only eyepiece that would come to focus with the focuser spacer in place is the Televue 55mm Plossl. If I […]
MOST COMMENTED
Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – Time has come today!
General / Maintenance
First Light, a deeper look
Mount / Observatory / Telescope
Observatory 2.0 – Result!
Observatory
Observatory 2.0 – The Pier goes in
Gear / General / Maintenance
Martin Farmer Wormblock installation notes
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
NGC2244, The Rosette Nebula
Deep Sky / Long Exposure Photography
Another beautiful night.