While I had internet access, regrettably I was not able to get to my email this afternoon. After the promising clear skies during the day faded to clouds, I was concerned whether our observing session with the public was going to be canceled or not at Parks Canada Discovery Centre. So assuming the occasional breaks were a sign that we’d be able to do some viewing, I packed the car.

I got to the PCDC early to check out possible viewing locations and give myself enough to set up all the gear I brought. The ground was quite soggy in some spots and snow covered in others. Plus the clouds were looking worse, so I held off on the setup.

By the time 7:30 rolled around, I realized I was still the only HAA member present. I started to call around and found that everyone I tried to reach was either not home or wasn’t coming down. No one could give me a confirmation whether the event was still a go or not. I finally reached Jackie and she indicated she was going to come down shortly after 8.

At 7:45, I still hadn’t seen any members, nor any of the public. I was getting concerned. But just before 8, Heather N showed up and a small family. I set up my binoculars to try and glimpse the moon as it appeared between the nimbus clouds, when only obscured by the cirrus clouds. Needless to say, the view was disappointing. I did enjoy talking to the family and the kids took a look at the moon.

Shortly after 8, Jackie arrived along with Mike J and Steve K. Eventually we got one more member of the public to join us and we had 5 each of club members and public – all out to see the clouds and the fleeting glances at the moon.

HAA Troopers smiling even without breaks in the clouds

While we were all enjoying the discussion in the parking lot, eventually we decided to pack up (just my binos – one of my fastest tear-downs) and the HAA members retired to a local Tim’s for more friendly chat. (P.S. I’ve been having great luck with the Roll up the Rim contest. On Sat I won 2 more chances to “Play Again”. Wow – everytime I play.) Wrap-up occurred just before midnight. As we left, we could barely make out Saturn and Regulus and a halo around the moon from the ice crystals high in the atmosphere. Not a stellar observing night – but fun none the less. Hopefully we’ll try this again soon, but with better sky conditions. Unfortunately Mars is receding quickly and it will be even less impressive than it would have been tonight, had we been able to see it. It has been a tough winter for observing, so here’s hoping Spring will be better.

Noticing the Clear Sky Clock (CSC) predicting a fine night, but checking the maps and knowing lake effect cloud could roll in, I nonetheless packed up and headed for Lynden to do a dry run of the messier marathon to see how I could do on the M74, M77, M33 and M110 while they are still pretty high in the sky.

The SQM read about 17.6 and 16.42 at the zenith and crescent moon respectively.

The Messier Objects taunted me for about 2 hours, while i tried various means to ascertain I was definitely looking in the right direction. The sky-glow over St George is pretty strong and it washed M110 right out of the image, as far as I could tell.

I had 3 mishaps which i plan to avoid next time. I forgot the water bottles and had to rig something up that was using a jug of washer fluid and some baling twine. I neglected to bring my Messier Marathon object list, and therefore, after the first 6, I would have to do some serious book flipping. I knew that it would cloud over around 4 am and that there’s no way I would finish the marathon tonight, so I carried on, regardless.

The third mishap was that Cartes Du Ciel installed on my laptop had only the bright star catalog, and I could not figure out how to add the tycho catalog without the internet. When I zeroed in on something, i was planning to call up the star field and compare it, but alas, not this time.

This was the first time using the GWS since the Astrophotography mod, and as a result I had to realign it. I was pleased that the marked struts repositioned the laser dot in the center of the primary without adjustment.

When I tried the Meade 26MM series 4000 eyepiece, I had to adjust it outwards a bit more before I could bring stars to a focus. (ie, it’s not resting against the focuser stop).

I noticed, to my chagrin, that pointing the scope in a different direction (altitude angle) resulted in a slight shift of the laser dot. I wonder what it means to be aligned, and how far off an unaligned scope is. I know how far it can get when it’s really bad, just not what’s necessary for ‘acceptable enough alignment’. My guess is that the answer is eyepiece specific.
I do know that when it comes to finding messiers, a sharp focus is essential, as some of them appear like fuzzy stars (when there’s skyglow to wash them out).

I looked for M31 and was able to clearly see cassiopia but not much of andromeda, so I had to
verify relative positions of stars to guarantee the place was right. Eventually I got M31 and M32 in the frame, and proceeded to search for M110, but without a decent star chart, there’s no way the pocket sky atlas was going to afford me an unequivocal confirmation of the location matching the eyepiece.

I managed to navigate to M77 and study the space around it. It’s sure faint. Mira was too dim for me to positively identify it against the twilight, skyglow, and approaching haze, and lack of detailed star charts.

Hmmm. I wonder. Is the messier marathon a pointing challenge or a seeing challenge. Since goto is not allowed, I suspect it’s the former. If it was a viewing challenge, then a goto scope should be OK. My 2 cents. So sketching the star field around the putative nebula should count as a ‘sighting’ even if the skyglow precludes positive identification of the item itself. Even the GWS was having trouble cutting through the haze. I am starting to think i need a darker farm. The SQM never read more than 19.7 for the location, even at 10 PM. I will admit the snow reflects a lot of light, but I would love to have equivalent figures from Binbrook for last night.

Dave came to visit me. After explaining what I was attempting, I decided to do some outreach… I slewed to Saturn (actually, a gloved hand can do that pretty fast) and showed my buddy the view. He was impressed. He thought that the yellow spec in the sky might also show rings to the naked eye. I explained that he could probably not see the rings on the planet by looking in the sky without a telescope. I guess he insulted the GWS and I did not notice it.
We also checked out Polaris. I explained it’s a quintuple star, but not the brightest star in the sky.

He wisely headed inside after that, while I considered what to do next.

With M74 all but hidden in the sky-glow, (even though it still had another hour above the horizon) I decided to declare defeat on that one, and try some AP.

Turns out that the GWS is still not astro-ready, (at least for DSLR),
since my T adapter and T ring are collectively still too long.
I can crank the mirrors up some more, but according to my estimate i need another inch,
which is impossible, so i must have something wrong with my estimation.

Without a bright object to operate on, a test of the focal distance on paper was not worth doing.

So it looks like winter 3, smrg 0 for tonight. I will re-pack the car and anticipate the next opportunity. Perhaps lunar observing is the best lemonade.

Well last night was supposed to be very hopeful for observing. I had some HAA friends/regulars come over to do some observing on my driveway. I had the 12in LB out and my AP setup ready to go. There was a really nice turn out with three cars, a few extra scopes and 6 amateur astronomers (including me). Unfortunately we only had about about an hours worth of viewing before unexpected clouds developed over us. Even with the shortened observing session, we still enjoyed ourselves with great stories, cookies and hot chocolate.

IC405 and IC410

I managed to get this image of a faint HA region in Auriga (IC410 and IC405 flaming star nebula). I was very happy with the nebulosity that I was able to squeeze out of this considering I only had 4×4 minute frames (16min) with my unmodded camera and the celestron UHC/LPR filter. This filter is great!!! and I think it (or something similar) is a must have for unmodded cameras. I have tried this region without the filter and the red portions barely show and end up looking more of a dark burgandy colour. Originally I was hoping to get about 1.5 hrs of this target last night. Hopefully I will have more opportunities before it starts to set behind our tall trees.

KerryLH

Click here or on the blog entry title to read a recent letter to Mike Jefferson and John Gauvreau remembering the late Norman Green.

It’s that time of year again when you are asked to go outside and count how many stars you can see from your location. Don’t panic – you don’t have to count the entire sky (that would keep one busy for a while – unless its cloudy).

Globe At Night is a program where you count as many stars as you can see in the constellation Orion and report to their website. This is an annual program to track how skies are brightening over the years with increasing urbanization and light pollution. It’s been estimated that more than half of the world’s population now lives in cities.

This is a simple observing program but provides useful information which in turn can be used to help promote policies to preserve dark skies. It is sponsored by GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) and NOAO (National Optical Astronomy Observatory). It is international in scope. Last year more than 8000 observations were reported from more than 60 countries.

To make determining the limiting magnitude of your skies easier, the website has some charts . You simply match the number of stars you can see in Orion with one of the charts and it tells you how dark your skies are. Print yourself a copy of the charts, take them outside, and begin counting. If you have one, you can optionally use your Unihedron Sky Quality Meter to take a reading.

You’ll also need to know the date and time of your observation, along with your location. Your latitude and longitude which, if you don’t know it, can be found using a GPS or websites such as MapQuest or Google Maps. Or you could use a topographic map – and even city or provincial road maps. The more accurate the better.

Once you have your count and determined the limiting magnitude of your sky that night, go to their website and report your result. You’ll need at least Windows 2000 with a current version of Flash viewer to be able to enter your results. Internet Explorer 6 or later and Firefox worked for me.

It’s a quick and fun observing project and doesn’t require setting up telescopes or standing out in the cold for long hours. However if you’re feeling ambitious, you can even collect data from multiple sites.

The program runs between Feb 25 and Mar 8. Have fun!

Well after mid month, thankfully we’ve been getting more clear sky opportunities. So I have had about 4 occasions where I was able to get out and image. The conditions weren’t perfect… poor seeing and transparency, but that has never stopped me in the past 🙂

NGC2903 is a little Galaxy in Leo. I couldn’t see this one in my 6in SCT when it was low in the eastern sky. I imaged this target over two separate nights. Once just after the first quarter moon, then Saturday night before the waning gibbous rose. I combined the results in Deep Sky Stacker. 3min exposures totaling 3 hrs ISO 800, C6 SCT, ASGT mount, Canon 40D unmodded.

Last night wasn’t perfect either there were thin wisps of cirrus, but mainly in the northern sky. Looking at the satellite and profiles I figured I’d get a few hour in before the clouds rolled in and the moon rose. The Rosette was a target that I was going to skip this year but ended up changing my mind especially since I have seen some really nice pics in the past. I was really happy with the nebulosity that was picked up with the help of the Celestron LPR/UHC filter. This image is comprised of 3min exposures totaling 1.5hrs, ISO800, Equinox 80mm, ASGT mount, Canon 40D unmodded.

Larger Sizes: http://www.weatherandsky.com/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=1154&g2_imageViewsIndex=2

KerryLH

Click here or on the blog entry title to view a larger version of my collage of 3 images from the lunar eclipse of Feb. 20, 2008.

Well, I wasn’t able to join the rest of the gang at Binbrook as I was up in Collingwood at Blue Mountain for the week. I did manage to get out for the eclipse though (and despite the extreme cold – managed to convince some of my family to come out of the warmth and watch also). I imaged using a Canon EOS 40D with a 50-500mm zoom lens. I watched the eclipse from the start (before 9:00pm) until just before totality at which time clouds rolled over – as such I wasn’t able to image the complete eclipse – but got fairly close.

Our HAA members were true to form, braving cold and ice, to set up numerous scopes, binoculars and other equipment, at the Binbrook alternate site.

I was impressed by the clear skies and view of Orion even from my car
as I drove to Binbrook. Unfortunately I could not be there early… as i had another meeting to attend, but when I arrived, the eclipse was about 3/4 total, and there was a convenient parking spot for my car in the front row.

I arrived to find about 14 cars and as many scopes set up in the field adjacent to the parking lot. All the regulars were there, as well as more than a dozen guests who came to see the eclipse first-hand, so to speak.

As has been mentioned, the eclipse is great to see with just about any equipment, including just your unaided vision, but the prospect of an hour of comparative dark skies during such a full-moon-induced clear spell was irresistible to me.

John provided not only an excellent pair of binoculars on a parallelogram so anyone could see the view, but also a keen commentary on what to look for at each stage of the eclipse. He pointed out that there’s a strip of the moon between the partial part and the total part which actually looks bluish, due to the earths ozone layer absorbing the red light from the direct illumination of the sun.

Deeper into the Earth’s umbra, the moon looks reddish, lit by sunsets from all parts of the world at the same time.
I thought about the sun’s elevation below the horizon… as seen from the moon, even the sun which just disappears behind one side of the earth is only 2 degrees (like the view of a sunset 8 minutes old) below the horizon on the other side.

So indeed the perimeter of the earth must look spectacular from the moon when the earth eclipses the moon.

I wondered why we don’t have any cameras on the moon for just such an occasion. I seem to recall the next x-prize is for landing a rover on the moon and driving it around. With any luck they will put an upward facing camera (with appropriate shielding from the sun) on it, and we can have an earthcam vantage point.

I brought my trusty Sky Quality Meter (SQM) and took a reading on arrival. The zenith at 9:45 PM was registering 19.50 (magnitudes per square arcsecond) which is actually not so good. Shining straight at the moon registered 19.01.

Even with the moon eclipsed, the zenith still read 19.75, so I would have to say that even the eclipsed moon, the light reflecting from the snow covered ground, and the residual sky-glow of surrounding communities still added up to about an extra magnitude, as we usually get about 20.5 at Binbrook on dark nights.

I set up the GWS as the eclipse wore on, hoping to catch a glimpse of a few Deep Sky Objects during totality. In particular, I wanted to view M49, but Saturn would also be out and was worth the drive just for that.

Several members had goto scopes set up, and were tracking nicely.
I saw M79, a globular close to the horizon, in Heather’s scope.
M42 had the appearance of a dark nebula in front of a bright nebula.

Jim recorded a video of the moon during the approach to totality.
He also crafted an excellent warm-up tent, with a gas heater and a supply of tim-bits, under the hatch of his minivan. Anyone who was feeling the cold could duck in there for a few minutes and emerge re-energized and toasty warm.

Several members took still photos of the moon from various equipment. Looking forward to viewing their galleries in the next few days.

While the moon was eclipsed, we also were able to tour the sky. Saturn was ideally positioned, and showed 3 tiny sharp moons close-in to the planet, and perhaps 2 more far out. In the FFI with a 13 mm Ethos eyepiece, I could, (once told to look) make out the 3 moons.
Its kind of neat being able to look all around in the eyepiece and see the rest of the sky.
In the GWS I could also see the 3 moons, with a 26 mm 4000 series eyepiece and a “Big Barlow” – Effectively also a 13 mm eyepiece.

Once the moon came out of the umbra, the background brightened up and i could no longer make out the closest of Saturn’s moons in the GWS, but still could see it in the FFI… (I need to clean the GWS mirrors, it’s true).
Saturn was only about 4 degrees from the moon by then, and some moonlight was shining into the GWS and reflecting off the dust on my mirrors, but that’s another story.

My toes were getting pretty cold towards midnight.
It’s true all the advice about dressing warmly. I had on summer clothes and a decent coat, and my boots were safely at home,
but I maintained circulation, literally and figuratively, by making numerous trips to different scopes and sampling the views.

We packed up at about 11:45 PM and reconvened at Tim Hortons on Nebo Road. Excellent conversation and discussions persisted well past 1:30 AM, which is part of the reason HAA is such a great club.

Images By KerryLH

As you can see, I ran out of heat before the end and unfortunately stopped imaging before it was totally over. It was just soooo cold and I couldn’t bare to snap another frame.
Link to the large version: http://www.weatherandsky.com/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=1135&g2_imageViewsIndex=3

I think I captured that occultation star… am I right?

THe entire gang.. wait a minute where did everyone go???

Wow look at all the stars… totality just ending

Images by Don Pullen
(My first attempt at AP with the Canon 40D so be gentle with the comments.)

Eclipse under way

Orion Belt stars with nebula through 100mm f/5 achro scope and Canon 40D at prime focus, 30 sec exposure at ISO 200.

Another group shot. 40D Night portrait mode, 50mm f1.8 lens.

Hopefully some more later once I figure out how to process the other images I captured.

Holy Cow, was it COLD out there! But Holy Cow, what clear skies, and what an eclipse! Despite the cold, I managed to drag my butt out to my townhouse complex parking lot, set up my rig, and snap half-second exposures every 5 minutes from 10-ish PM thru 11:15 PM, at f/4 through my Tamron 300 mm lens and Digital Rebel.

This image is just one of many. More images to follow, as I get more time in coming days to process them.