Rochester Astronomy Club | Site-Wide Activity https://rochesterskies.org/activity/ Activity feed for the entire site. Mon, 25 May 2026 02:29:58 -0500 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-US 30 hourly 2 58a17a0f7e602f413c074b3e09bd4cfc Macastronomer replied to the topic May 2026 Dark Sky Evening. in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-2026-dark-sky-evening/#post-15695 Mon, 18 May 2026 17:47:26 -0500 I plan on attending Watson outreach this week. I got a light pollution filter for the SmartEye and I’m looking forward to trying it out!

]]> fd0038210e1cd561637d930c304ead90 fealeybob14 replied to the topic May 2026 Dark Sky Evening. in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-2026-dark-sky-evening/#post-15694 Mon, 18 May 2026 17:02:59 -0500 I might have the wrong key Duane. I’ll have to check with John A. as I got it from him at our meeting on Tues.

]]> 8581876d28b3c04afdf342ebaf6b3bbf Jeff Newland replied to the topic May 2026 Dark Sky Evening. in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-2026-dark-sky-evening/#post-15693 Mon, 18 May 2026 04:26:15 -0500 As a reminder, we do have our outreach on Friday, the 22nd, at Watson fields.

]]> e7af01533781ce275618704b77f307ee Macastronomer started the topic Website ?s in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/website-s/ Sun, 17 May 2026 21:46:40 -0500 How do you get to the club’s newsletter on the mobile website?

How do the submitted photos get updated to new photos?

]]> f77b27ae431510d121775d83868a8652 Macastronomer replied to the topic May 2026 Dark Sky Evening. in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-2026-dark-sky-evening/#post-15691 Sun, 17 May 2026 02:23:26 -0500 Tonight is not the night. I’ll keep my eyes posted for a clear night when I can take the next day off.

]]> c68fa14ae0dd3b690fbad418584c1bff Jeff Newland replied to the topic May 2026 Dark Sky Evening. in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-2026-dark-sky-evening/#post-15689 Sat, 16 May 2026 18:51:20 -0500 Sure, if you decide to go, let me here.  Forecast for the next week doesn’t look promising and then the moon will be shining bright.  You needed to do last weekend, 3 days in a row being clear.  🙂 😉

]]> 933bf60a10e5cfe35df690d3a88040ae Macastronomer replied to the topic May 2026 Dark Sky Evening. in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-2026-dark-sky-evening/#post-15688 Sat, 16 May 2026 01:17:05 -0500 I really want to get out. If this week has a clear night, and I don’t have any work appointments, does anybody want to hit Root River with me?

]]> fc31c758ca7fb308f781b5fb132558d4 Macastronomer replied to the topic May 2026 Dark Sky Evening. in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-2026-dark-sky-evening/#post-15687 Fri, 15 May 2026 22:03:01 -0500 Did they change the lock or did you just have the wrong key?

it’s not looking good for tonight. Clouds are popping out of thin air!

]]> f06622dfc387aea15c42707800d103db fealeybob14 replied to the topic May 2026 Dark Sky Evening. in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-2026-dark-sky-evening/#post-15686 Fri, 15 May 2026 20:38:52 -0500 Hi all. I went to Root River Park on 5/14 to observe and photograph galaxies. Unfortunately, the key I had did not fit the lock box on the parking lot light!! So I went home to enjoy the ‘Realm of Galaxies’. I’ll post a photo in a bit.

]]> 2cd8a3c6fdbbc7a68d4e8502895b04f0 Jeff Newland replied to the topic May 2026 Dark Sky Evening. in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-2026-dark-sky-evening/#post-15685 Fri, 15 May 2026 17:35:56 -0500 Duane, I won’t be heading out there at midnight.  If you do decide to head out, you may want to switch to Root River instead of Eagle Bluff.  Looks like it will clear in Rochester before it does in Eagle Bluff, maybe clear a couple of hours earlier.

]]> 8783778e065e50e4366f5311be0fdf71 Macastronomer replied to the topic May 2026 Dark Sky Evening. in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-2026-dark-sky-evening/#post-15684 Fri, 15 May 2026 13:46:32 -0500 It doesn’t look good. Unless anybody wants to start at midnight or 1:00am.

Honestly, I’m thinking about it.

]]> da8328dd2620796007a2bec9ca887022 Macastronomer replied to the topic May 2026 Dark Sky Evening. in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-2026-dark-sky-evening/#post-15683 Fri, 15 May 2026 10:19:06 -0500 If the clear sky clock is correct, Saturday is going to be much better than tonight. But when running it forward it’s not a set weather pattern. It’s predicting clouds will precipitate out of the humidity as temps drop. That’s less predictable.

I’m going to keep my eye on it.

]]> 8b31bc81d4fb77233dc53aff67c8a86e Macastronomer replied to the topic May 2026 Dark Sky Evening. in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-2026-dark-sky-evening/#post-15682 Thu, 14 May 2026 16:08:11 -0500 It’s shifting a lot. Right now it depends on how much those clouds get pushed up from the south. The norm is west to east, or north west to south east; either would be good. This is predicting south west to north east… which means warmer weather but not good for our nighttime skies.

We’ll have to keep an eye on it. Thanks for the heads up.

]]> 936ece8c5be0ad8601995fa096710beb Jeff Newland replied to the topic May 2026 Dark Sky Evening. in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-2026-dark-sky-evening/#post-15681 Thu, 14 May 2026 01:51:53 -0500 Hopefully Friday will be AGNFA.  Right now, the Clear Sky Chart for Friday has it clouding up the time you would get out there.

]]> b03d34c8199f366c5ce1ecd27d3b122f Macastronomer started the topic May 2026 Dark Sky Evening. in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-2026-dark-sky-evening/ Tue, 12 May 2026 13:11:20 -0500 Eagle Bluff this Friday (May 15th/16th)

I’ll post news here, but feel free to post if you can make it or not, and targets you want to observe if weather and life align.

I’m praying for a Glorious Night for Astronomy!

]]> 19932c6d50331c6a0b8facb74f664519 Macastronomer replied to the topic May 8-10 observing? in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-8-10-observing/#post-15677 Tue, 12 May 2026 13:07:41 -0500 Sorry, I didn’t make it out. The weekend was too busy with visitors and projects. This weekend is Eagle Bluff all the way. I hope the weather is good to us.

]]> 2ef1188695b1dd60afdc1620d23b6c2e Jeff Newland replied to the topic May 8-10 observing? in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-8-10-observing/#post-15670 Sat, 09 May 2026 00:17:18 -0500 It looks like it may clear up a bit tonight, not sure.  I’ll probably just put the scope out the back if it clears completely.

If you do head out this weekend Duane, please let me know, or anyone else.

 

]]> 1f26d735ca21dfceefca366764ea9e03 Macastronomer replied to the topic May 8-10 observing? in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-8-10-observing/#post-15669 Fri, 08 May 2026 19:15:01 -0500 I would like to, but I have company both tonight and tomorrow. If I got out, it would have to be Saturday and I would be starting late. Not sure I can even make that happen.

Maybe on Sunday I could get out for a couple hours.

Duane

]]> b47ec33b0a6daee45b4560506e150dd6 Jeff Newland started the topic May 8-10 observing? in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/may-8-10-observing/ Fri, 08 May 2026 03:14:38 -0500 Anyone thinking of going out anywhere observing this weekend?  It looks like it will be clear most every night, at least right now anyway according to the clear sky chart.  The moon doesn’t rise until well after midnight, so I’ll be home by then. 🙂

Jeff

]]> 9380ffb227b31a1368ad04a0f4399f9b Jeff Newland replied to the topic Observing tonight? in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/observing-tonight/page/177/#post-15666 Fri, 08 May 2026 03:11:37 -0500 Anyone thinking of going out anywhere observing this weekend?  It looks like it will be clear most every night, at least right now anyway according to the clear sky chart.  The doesn’t rise until well after midnight, so I’ll be home by then.  🙂

]]> 034dfe93d5a3723c3096133a0c9c4524 Macastronomer replied to the topic StarBQ in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/starbq/#post-15653 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:18:16 -0500 Nice M31. It is such a huge target and harder to capture than one would think.

]]> 4830320746e60876fe49a08e0088d885 Macastronomer started the topic Root River Tonight? (April 18th, 20206) in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/root-river-tonight-april-18th-20206/ Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:25:59 -0500 Anybody up for a chill night at Root River? Looks clear enough with a wisp of clouds passing over at midnight—giving us time to sit and say a cheers for Dean and Kirk.

DD

]]> 8a9f5cef8737505010ec01d5120a66ae bwyman replied to the topic 2026 Meeting Minutes in the forum Meetings https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2026-meeting-minutes/#post-15647 Mon, 13 Apr 2026 02:21:35 -0500 Meeting minutes and presentation notes from March 24th, 2026 meeting at RCTC.

 

]]> 4920d33c2b1c9d55d38dd0486450d7fe bwyman replied to the topic 2025 Meeting Minutes in the forum Meetings https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-meeting-minutes/#post-15628 Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:04:01 -0500 Minutes from August 12th, 2025.

Yes, these are ending up attached out of order. :-/

 

]]> 4873750ac83795377812ef5e3e450b48 bwyman started the topic 2026 Meeting Minutes in the forum Meetings https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2026-meeting-minutes/ Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:54:02 -0500 Starting a new topic to post meeting minutes for 2026.

January / Holiday meeting minutes 2026-01-16: (attached PDF).

]]> 27930368e1ab12ef9593c8382f1cc780 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2025 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-observing/page/2/#post-15622 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 21:20:31 -0600 On 2/24/2026 Jupiter was observed and photographed. Stellarium indicated the Red Spot would be visible. I just had to get out to a picture (shown below). A 10 in. SCT was used and a composite image was made.

]]> bbd4dd06071493c72fd2e2a343ee221f bwyman replied to the topic 2025 Meeting Minutes in the forum Meetings https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-meeting-minutes/#post-15551 Sun, 07 Dec 2025 03:44:17 -0600 Minutes from August 12th, 2025 meeting at RCTC.

 

]]> afeed8b6fba91361de9b7be6ff1936c5 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2025 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-observing/page/2/#post-15549 Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:31:41 -0600 Observing tonight with the 10 inch Meade SCT. Saturn and its moons was the target.  While the eyepiece appearance can nicely reveal the planet and moons together, imaging often means exposing the planet and moons separately and combining them when processing the final image as below.

The moons (I think) left to right, are Rhea, Tethys,…[Read more]

]]> b9d0e564275b3c5ade265517c8a8ac46 Josef Chlachula replied to the topic 2025 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-observing/page/2/#post-15544 Sun, 26 Oct 2025 17:17:22 -0500 In the good old times almost everyone was publishing on forum observing tonight? That topic had so many pages that it made sense to stop it and create topics 2024 observing or 2025 observing

Of course, everyone can start their own topic, and it is OK. The problem is that nobody knows about it, unless one would go on a regular basis to the forum…[Read more]

]]> 5cd4d10ab88acff35cea8d7ea77dd600 Macastronomer started the topic OCTOBER Star Party Misfire in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/october-star-party-misfire/ Sat, 25 Oct 2025 21:40:13 -0500 I’m sorry that my messages didn’t reach people yesterday. Many in the club showed up last night and they did get a few hours in before the clouds set in, so maybe that was for the best. Tonight is looking more clear but the winds are 12 to 16mph which is pretty high for a star party. Due to wind, and the fact that most everybody did go last night,…[Read more]

]]> 0a0fbf521700506903d9df501f6354c6 Macastronomer started the topic News from Dean Johnson Memorial field in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/news-from-dean-johnson-memorial-field/ Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:18:58 -0500 Hello Skywatchers,

Tonight’s skies look like a cosmic game of hide-and-seek. As the stars find a place behind the clouds we’re left counting on tomorrow. In short, tonight’s observation is a no-go.

Tomorrow is precariously promising, meaning there is greater chance of stars but they’ll be twinkling in the wind. If you don’t mind some wind we ma…[Read more]

]]> 9808d1f49e0767680359aaa323e89f4a fealeybob14 replied to the topic Comet Lemmon 2025 in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/comet-lemmon-2025/#post-15540 Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:28:09 -0500 A smaller version with better dark frame subtraction:

]]> b1e47fcffbadd2d07fafea0081a65013 fealeybob14 replied to the topic Comet Lemmon 2025 in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/comet-lemmon-2025/#post-15538 Fri, 24 Oct 2025 17:15:00 -0500 Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon is very photogenic.  I used my 6 in Quattro reflector last night for the image below as the comet was near the star SAO 83647 in Boötes.

]]> a8ef5d402d70a804ed89561ad48419b2 fealeybob14 replied to the topic Comet Lemmon 2025 in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/comet-lemmon-2025/#post-15536 Thu, 23 Oct 2025 16:14:18 -0500 Truly beautiful pics Mike.  Took another one last night at Keller.  Not as elegant as Mike’s but was fun to find and capture.

 

]]> 91e11c3c93079ec1a5064202853c8023 Mike Benson changed their profile picture https://rochesterskies.org/activity/p/731/ Thu, 23 Oct 2025 15:35:24 -0500 0 72cdd666fe6e6c6a7444af1cabba3d52 Mike Benson replied to the topic Comet Lemmon 2025 in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/comet-lemmon-2025/#post-15533 Wed, 22 Oct 2025 21:58:30 -0500 Got these pics a couple nights ago.

 

]]> 181fffcd3cedf1b600363105bda676f8 fealeybob14 replied to the topic Orionids in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/orionids/#post-15531 Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:54:42 -0500 Thanks Dwayne. I was out from 11 pm to midnight trying to photograph with my cell phone attached to my refractor. Orion was coming up over the trees in East and just then I saw a meteor streak by. Didn’t stay as I was going in at the time.

]]> 07193f94523973b8a8c40594a103c21f Macastronomer started the topic Orionids in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/orionids/ Mon, 20 Oct 2025 21:07:32 -0500 Orionids peak tonight and the sky is supposed to clear between midnight and 3am.

I don’t know if I’ll be up and able to find a decent sky at that time or not, but I thought I’d mention it just in case anybody else is thinking about it.

]]> 003abbf8ef6dee7a0823a6345046acc2 Macastronomer replied to the topic Comet Lemmon 2025 in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/comet-lemmon-2025/#post-15529 Mon, 20 Oct 2025 21:05:40 -0500 Nice! Thanks for sharing. Tell Jeff to share too. 🙂

]]> 9f3d0c02c8e1aee455d8cb57ba2bc1d6 fealeybob14 replied to the topic Comet Lemmon 2025 in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/comet-lemmon-2025/#post-15527 Mon, 20 Oct 2025 18:44:28 -0500 Jeff and I were at Keller WMA last night to observe Comet Lemmon.  Jeff obtained beautiful images with his telephoto lens camera. (Hope he posts some here!)

I had my refractor/camera setup (as in my previous post) and located the comet near the star SAO 63911 in CVn.  Image below is a stack of 12 frames each 5 seconds long.

 

]]> 8393af98bc81c69ae9986f08903431d1 fealeybob14 started the topic Comet Lemmon 2025 in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/comet-lemmon-2025/ Sat, 18 Oct 2025 04:37:27 -0500 Comet Lemmon was imaged tonight 10-17-2025 around 8 pm, while at Keller WMA.  This site has very good W and NW clear horizons and fairly dark skies.  I used my Astrotec 80ED refractor and ZWO ASI 183MC camera. 22 frames 5 sec each were stacked.  The comet was near the star SAO 63514 which has a magnitude of 6.1.

]]> 1e5df13ec58b166e47aef0fa6fbda394 Macastronomer started the topic Jonathan Tomshine TMB in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/jonathan-tomshine-tmb/ Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:30:19 -0500 Should I print up something for Jonathan Tomshine (vinyl decal) for the scope that was donated to the club?

If so:
What should it say?
What color? (keep in mind the scope is white and red will not be visible on a white scope with red lights)
How big? (It needs to fit somewhere on the scope that won’t be covered by rings)
What font?

Thanks!

Duane

]]> b69c6d7e7a8e34e6102a4cc8e18eda45 bwyman replied to the topic 2025 Meeting Minutes in the forum Meetings https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-meeting-minutes/#post-15511 Wed, 10 Sep 2025 06:17:16 -0500 Minutes from September 9th, 2025 meeting at RCTC.

 

]]> 50b7c9aaf6ba0430ba8cf3254d00ed88 fealeybob14 replied to the topic StarBQ in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/starbq/#post-15503 Mon, 25 Aug 2025 18:30:17 -0500 The RAC StarB’Q 2025 was held at the newly dedicated Dean Johnson Memorial Observing Field on August 22-23 at Jerome Taubel’s farm.  Many RAC members came and skies were cooperative. The zenith dark sky recording (NELM=6.3) an image of M31, M32 and M110 taken during the night of 8/23/2025 are shown below.  It was a glorious night for sure!

 

]]> 2dee8a4ff9bf7b0eaa6c8361501049d4 Macastronomer started the topic Predictive Cloud Cover for Lanesboro This Weekend in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/predictive-cloud-cover-for-lanesboro-this-weekend/ Fri, 22 Aug 2025 04:17:43 -0500 We’ve got some clouds to contend with, but it looks like we’ll get to see the sky if we’re patient (and lucky). Of course this is predictive and has changed a few times in the past 24 hours. Either way, it will be a good time and at times it will be a Glorious Night for Astronomy.

]]> 7d36882483abe768892c1bbaabc03992 Macastronomer started the topic StarBQ in the forum Star Parties https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/starbq/ Sun, 17 Aug 2025 21:17:38 -0500 Since attendees are now closed for the calendar event, should we pull that off of the calendar? It makes it look like we have an event at Eagle Bluff, which would be confusing for anybody visiting the site.

]]> 9399951c40bd78c7c351dfe3784b82d1 Macastronomer replied to the topic July 26th 2025 was aGlorious Night for Astronomy in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/july-26th-2025-was-aglorious-night-for-astronomy/#post-15496 Sun, 17 Aug 2025 21:14:30 -0500 Sounds like the Rochester Astronomy Club had a considerable portion of the sky observed that night. But, the stars still have us outnumbered. 🙂

]]> a6456fe60a7036c040016f92cfc04154 fealeybob14 replied to the topic Titan Shadow Transits on Saturn in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/titan-shadow-transits-on-saturn/#post-15479 Sun, 03 Aug 2025 22:41:23 -0500 Saturn with Titan’s shadow about 3 am, 8-3-2025.  Again skies were hazy, humid with less than ideal seeing.  I used a 10 inch SCT and a short video processed with Registax6.

 

]]> 7e1957af5fd332365e740303b4bd39bf Macastronomer replied to the topic July 26th 2025 was aGlorious Night for Astronomy in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/july-26th-2025-was-aglorious-night-for-astronomy/#post-15478 Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:05:57 -0500 Awesome. Can’t wait to hear about it. It was a beautiful night until fog rolled in at 2:30, which I welcomed or I would have been there even later. The fog basically told me it’s time to go home.

]]> 085854d53208fd9cffb4d2c17d172c95 Josef Chlachula replied to the topic July 26th 2025 was aGlorious Night for Astronomy in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/july-26th-2025-was-aglorious-night-for-astronomy/#post-15475 Tue, 29 Jul 2025 01:54:48 -0500 Duane, we had great night at Frontenac, gorgeous Milky Way, mosquitos were not so bad. We were thinking about Eagle Bluff and comparing it to Frontenac.

Nice pictures.

]]>