Activity

Took my 10 x 50 binocs to Keller Sunday night 9/25. Nice clear and dark sky especially towards the zenith. Milky Way was easily seen from N to SE. Binocular highlights included M22 M13 M3 M5 M8 Double Cluster M31 and M11. The last (Wild Duck cluster in Scutum) had the appearance of globular with a bright star in front of it in binocs. Seen…[Read more]

Sky should be clear tonight but it’s quite windy.  I’ll probably go to Keller and see how things are.  If winds die down later tonight could be good observing.

Bob

Great picture, Bob! Yes, the color is much closer to the visual experience. I put update2 at https://rochesterskies.org/carbon-star-v-aql/. I don’t understand “on the 9-6 picture was used“. 6 pictures was stacked? Or 9?

Here’s another image of the carbon star V Aquilae taken on 9-19 at 1 am (or so). The same camera and guide scope as on the 9-6 picture was used. The exposure time was 4 seconds and I used a different program Sharp Cap Pro. The star colors are closer to the visual appearance in the telescope.

I called Eagle Bluff today. The parking lot will be available for our use on both September 23 and 24. I will be back in touch with them later next week as the weather situation develops and post on this thread again. Sounded like they would appreciate having an idea as to when members would be coming. They will have a couple of groups there; I…[Read more]

Addendum:  In my post of Sept. 6th, I listed the magnitude of a star as ’89’ in the photo when in fact it should have been ’80’ as in Josef’s map.

Yeah, I was going to go to the last meeting but it didn’t work out. I’ll wait till I can bring it to an event. Thank you.

no, i just have the tools and not so good at collimating. next public event we have you could bring your telescope and someone could help you, particularly if Randy our prez is there.

Jim, I’ve been just using the collimation cap that came with my scope, it appears to my untrained eye that it’s pretty darn close. It would be nice to check it with a laser. Im in Red Wing , but would be willing to travel to get some training on the use of the laser. Is that something you would be interested in helping me with.

Colin

wow, just got back in town and see we lost Dean Johnson! very sad news indeed. missed the meeting but if
anyone brought up doing a StarBQ in his honor i’m in.
jim

the Orion Lasermate deluxe works well or the Howie Glatter if you want to spend the big bucks. i have both if you just need to borrow them? jim

Saturday night Aug 4th at the RAC outreach event we observed a ‘carbon star’ in Aquila. Below is the map Josef has provided on our home page along with a photo taken Sunday Aug 5th from my backyard of carbon star V Aquilae. The cropped photo aligns with the stars V Aquilae and 40 on the map and was taken with the Orion Mini 6.3 color camera and…[Read more]

Dark skies tonight 8-31 but seeing conditions only fair. Imaged Saturn and Jupiter the latter showing Io’s shadow (arrow in pic below). Camera Orion 6.3 M pixel and scope Meade 10 in. SCT

Ha ha!  Thanks Jim … go and get it!

nice pics Bob! makes me want to buy a c8 like i’ve been thinking of 😉

In the image above the SUN was taken with the Orion 4.5 in. Starblast with a sun filter and Jupiter was imaged by an ASI 183MC camera and my 10 inch Meade SCT.

It is too bad we are at the mercy of the weather! Yesterday (the 26th) the sun was out and in the early morning so was Jupiter. The sun remains active and Jupiter is starting to dominate the night skies.

The event is still a “go”. I’ll be at Mystery Cave from 3-6. (I have an indoor presentation ready if cloudy).

The evening event is on from 8-10:30 in the Forestville parking lot just before you get to the historic bridge. I’ll be over there around 7pm. Be sure to stop at the park office on the way in and say you’re a volunteer and they will give…[Read more]