The image below was made from 56, 45 second exposures using the same equipment as above - just prior to astronomical twilight with the comet between 15 and 19 degrees above the horizon.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
C/2009 R1 McNaught
This morning I attempted to image comet C/2009 R1 Mcnaught. The comet was extremely low in the northeast sky just prior to morning twilight - only 10 degrees above my light polluted horizon. The image below is a sum of 22, 60 second exposures through a Takahashi Epsilon 160 astrograph using my Canon 5D mark II.
The image below was made from 56, 45 second exposures using the same equipment as above - just prior to astronomical twilight with the comet between 15 and 19 degrees above the horizon.
The image below was made from 56, 45 second exposures using the same equipment as above - just prior to astronomical twilight with the comet between 15 and 19 degrees above the horizon.
Friday, May 28, 2010
The Big Gun
Every once in a while I get to "play" with a telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. Typically this happens when something is wrong with one of my charges or there is maintenance to be performed on the beast. Now - this isn't your daddy's typical backyard telescope. I spend most of my time in my "day job" around telescopes that are housed in buildings many times the size of my house and worth more than a thousand times my annual salary. These "Big Guns" of astronomy are used by professional astronomers from around the world to explore the vast depths of the Universe. For me - they are just really, really, really long focal lenght telephoto lenses.
Last night I had to do some software work on the 2.3 meter Bok Telescope atop Kitt Peak here in Arizona. When the work was done I took the opportunity to put my puny little Canon 5D on the back of this monster and do some cursory astrophotography. The planet Saturn, The Ring Nebula, and the center of the the Whirlpool galaxy were a few of my test subjects. The moon was full (and the sky was bright - blocking the faint light of some of the more interesting features and more difficult subjects). The seeing was not great either - but I managed to collect a few fuzzy photons as seen below.
The telescope farm atop Kitt Peak.
The Bok 2.3 Meter Telescope.
Saturn.
The Ring Nebula.
The Whirlpool Galaxy.
Last night I had to do some software work on the 2.3 meter Bok Telescope atop Kitt Peak here in Arizona. When the work was done I took the opportunity to put my puny little Canon 5D on the back of this monster and do some cursory astrophotography. The planet Saturn, The Ring Nebula, and the center of the the Whirlpool galaxy were a few of my test subjects. The moon was full (and the sky was bright - blocking the faint light of some of the more interesting features and more difficult subjects). The seeing was not great either - but I managed to collect a few fuzzy photons as seen below.
The telescope farm atop Kitt Peak.
The Bok 2.3 Meter Telescope.
Saturn.
The Ring Nebula.
The Whirlpool Galaxy.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Red light, Rodents, Raptors and Red Wings
Another outing at Sweetwater Water Treatment Plant today with my student. He got a new "Better Beamer" and had to try it out. I took along my infrared modified camera for some IR shots. Here are some images from the session . . .
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Birding
Out with my student again today - he does love birds - so I humor him. Back at Sweetwater Wetldands today. I didn't get much. Here is a sample. Hope the Student got better.
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