Messages

16

General Discussion / Re: Armchair Observations

« on: October 31, 2020, 02:32:29 PM »

Was able to image sunspots 2779 and 2778 with the Orion StarBlast telescope and Orion 6.3 mpixel 'mini' color camera on Oct 30 around 12:30 pm.  Took a still image from the video and compared that to the SOHO sun image from earlier in the day as shown below.  (WOW so glad we can post images again!)

17

General Discussion / Re: Armchair Observations

« on: October 28, 2020, 01:49:51 PM »

Darn ... clouds moved in after 12 noon so I didn't image that sunspot group.  Maybe in a couple of days when the sun is out.

18

General Discussion / Re: Armchair Observations

« on: October 27, 2020, 05:49:44 PM »

Got a nice view of sunspot group 2778 at noon today with the Orion Starblast fitted with a sun-filter.  No time for a photo however.  Maybe try tomorrow.  Counted 12 individual spots in the group.

19

General Discussion / Re: Armchair Observations

« on: October 26, 2020, 02:58:34 PM »

A new sunspot group (AR27778) has just appeared on the sun since yesterday!  It bears watching to see if significant daily changes are evident and should be interesting to see in appropriately sun-filtered small telescopes. (Hoping to get a photo this week!)

20

General Discussion / Re: Observing tonight?

« on: October 25, 2020, 12:15:17 PM »

Perhaps I can post a link to a Mars photo taken on Oct. 6th.  The telescope was a Meade 10 inch LX90 equatorially mounted,  the camera a StarShoot 6.3 Mpixel mini color from Orion, imaging software was SharpCap Pro and Registax6 was used to stack and enhance the image.  I found a Hubble Mars image showing a similar view with identification of surface features, some of which can be seen in photo.  Link is here: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1530708690449619&set=a.254876668032834.  If the link doesn't work check out the photo below. (thanks John M. for fixing this!)

21

General Discussion / Re: Armchair Observations

« on: October 24, 2020, 03:30:39 PM »

Watch the sun eject a 'smoke ring' shaped CME on today's spaceweather https://spaceweather.com/ page.  The movie is from the C3 camera of SOHO https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/LATEST/current_c3.gif.  Just before the CME a small comet is seen on its way to crash into the sun! Here is the incoming comet on the C2 camera! https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/LATEST/current_c2.gif.

22

General Discussion / Re: Armchair Observations

« on: October 19, 2020, 11:39:20 AM »

Spaceweather, https://spaceweather.com/ has an interesting note and photo of the current sunspot (2776) that's easily visible at this time.

23

General Discussion / Re: Observing tonight?

« on: October 11, 2020, 11:09:36 AM »

Definitely agree with you Luka!  Obtained a reasonable video although the seeing was only fair at 12:30 am when taken.  I can't post the stacked final image here however as the upload folder is full (as I understand it).

24

General Discussion / Re: Observing tonight?

« on: October 07, 2020, 02:22:00 PM »

Just checking to see if I can post anything.  I've been unable to do so for the last 3 days or so.  Will try again today Oct 8.  No, didn't allow a post; same message: the upload folder is full.

25

General Discussion / Re: 2.5 gigapixel, 500+ hours of Orion

« on: September 29, 2020, 12:38:38 PM »

Absolutely spectacular!  It is great to have all the details on how Matt Harbison made this awesome photo of the Orion constellation.

26

General Discussion / Re: Observing tonight?

« on: September 19, 2020, 01:09:05 PM »

Dang it!  I have other obligations for tonight and will not be able to go to Root River Park nor Eagle Bluff.  Hopefully some club members will be at both sites for some great observing!
Bob

27

General Discussion / Re: Boundary Water designated Dark Sky Sanctuary.

« on: September 12, 2020, 01:53:19 PM »

Very interesting Luka!  Must admit having been to BWCA many times I have only observed with binoculars at mostly overhead objects ... many campsites have skies partially obscured by trees!  The article's photos are great. 
Wonder if Ann Schwaller, BWCA program manager for the Superior National Forest, used a sky quality meter like the Unihedron. https://optcorp.com/products/uh-sqm-l-sky-quality-meter-with-lens-sqm-l?gclid=CjwKCAjw4_H6BRALEiwAvgfzq_K_vwJVbFuZRWEc1hnY7uAdd_WLM10akMN_VieeOkVgq9fFToVZlBoCeygQAvD_BwE. I saw one in use at Newport State Park in Wisc. several years ago when the NCRAL was held nearby.

28

General Discussion / Re: Armchair Observations

« on: September 08, 2020, 12:33:42 PM »

Spaceweather https://spaceweather.com/ from today (Sept 8th) has a neat picture of Mars and the moon at sunrise. Photo and details here: https://spaceweathergallery.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=167889
And check out what appears to be several coronal mass ejections captured on C2 SOHO imaging over the last 2 days. https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/LATEST/current_c2.gif

29

General Discussion / Re: Armchair Observations

« on: August 25, 2020, 02:52:21 PM »

Mercury is exiting the SOHO C3 fov. https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/LATEST/current_c3.gif
EDIT.  And watch this tiny comet dive into the sun! https://spaceweather.com/

 

30

General Discussion / Re: Armchair Observations

« on: August 19, 2020, 01:07:43 PM »

A new sunspot group has appeared today!  Will try to get a Starblast image to compare with SOHO's!