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HomeMacastronomer

Macastronomer

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@macastronomer

Active 6 days, 13 hours ago
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  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic Messier Marathon in the forum RAC Events 1 year, 3 months ago

    I agree. Spring Grove Pop anyone?

    It will be a GNfA (Glorious Night for Astronomy)!

    This one’s for you Dean! Miss you buddy!

    Duane

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer started the topic Forum Issues in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 3 months ago

    The Forum pages were falling apart on me. I had a heck of a time trying to get the StarParty page to load properly to post a Eagle Bluff star party update.

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer started the topic February 28th-29th, 2025 Eagle Bluff in the forum Star Parties 1 year, 3 months ago

    I’m awaiting confirmation that Eagle Bluff is available to the RAC for tomorrow and Saturday.

    Tomorrow is not looking good as clouds go, but Saturday is potentially a GNfA (Glorious Night for Astronomy)!

    I will post throughout the day as I find out more.

    Happy Observing!

    Duane

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic January 31st Eagle Bluff parking lot is available in the forum Star Parties 1 year, 3 months ago

    I’m awaiting confirmation that Eagle Bluff is available to the RAC for tomorrow and Saturday.

    Tomorrow is not looking good as clouds go, but Saturday is potentially a GNfA (Glorious Night for Astronomy)!

    I will post throughout the day as I find out more.

    Happy Observing!

    Duane

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic Observing tonight? in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 3 months ago

    Friday is looking decent before until 1AM. I’m going to be at a retreat (bringing my scope to show a bunch of kids Jupiter) so I won’t be around. But, I wanted to give a heads up that I think the first half of Friday night will be a glorious (half) night for astronomy!cleardarksky

    It will also be about 8° out there. If you go out, keep warm!

    Duane

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer started the topic January 31st Eagle Bluff parking lot is available in the forum Star Parties 1 year, 4 months ago

    The parking lot is available both Friday and Saturday (January 31st, 2025) at Eagle Bluff.

    I may or may not attend. Sky-wise, tonight looks okay, Thursday looks even better except for some wisps around midnight—then the transparency gets bad Friday evening and eventually clouds start to roll in around 2-3AM. Saturday looks like a wash t…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer started the topic January 31st Eagle Bluff in the forum Star Parties 1 year, 4 months ago

    I reached out to Eagle Bluff, but I just found out our contact is out of the office. I’m awaiting a response after leaving a message.

    It is the New Moon this Friday. I’m not sure I can make it. Cloud-wise is also iffy. Currently it says clear all day Friday with clouds rolling in by 3AM on Saturday and transparency not good after 3PM on Friday. I…[Read more]

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer started the topic Messier Marathon in the forum RAC Events 1 year, 4 months ago

    Who all is up for a Messier Marathon on March 28th or 29th? If the sky is clear, and Eagle Bluff is available… I would like to get it on the calendar.

    If Eagle Bluff isn’t available, is there another location that would work? We’d need some pretty good horizons.

    Duane

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer started the topic Miscellaneous Astronomy Related Topics in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 4 months ago

    How cool is this?

    https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?code=84378

     

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 7 months ago

    Nice one, Bob.

    I hope that sungrazer survives its trip around the Sun. If it does we’ll have another comet to focus on before the end of the year.

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    The comet was barely visible last night. I was wondering if it had faded that much or was it this thing’s fault?

    This was a few shots, a couple exposed for the Moon and a couple exposed for the silhouetted land.

     

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    Nice. Keep ’em comin’.   :).    The last shots I took last night was 8 shots with my iPhone. I stacked those tonight, aligned and stacked them, corrected the horizon, and stretched the image with curves to get this.

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    So glad to see several of you out there tonight.

    I processed my first comet images from tonight (Oct 15th 2024) and got a surprise. M5 is up and to the right of the comet!  In this image you can also make out the other tail (pointing forward). I’m so glad I got out!

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    Thank you Bob, for spotting it first. Once you directed my eyes to the right spot I could see it. Before that it was invisible.

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    Nicely done, Josef. We were at Root River Park. It’s a dim naked eye comet, but longer exposures can pull it out nicely. Here’s a vertical image with it a bit higher up in the sky.

    C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS
    2024-Oct-12 194mm 2sec f22 ISO3200

    C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS 2024-Oct-12 194mm 2sec f22 ISO3200

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS

    2024-Oct-12

    103mm 2sec f22 ISO3200

    C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS 2024-Oct-12

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    If you’re already heading there then I will try to get out there as well.

     

    darn cloud situation has changed quite a bit in the last 2 hours.

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    Clouds are getting iffy again. I might observe from Autumn Ridge Church. Anybody have plans yet?

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    Going to check out the comet at Root River tonight. I’ll try to be there before around 7:00 and wait for the sky to dim. I’ll be there until about 8 when the comet sets.

  • Profile picture of Macastronomer

    Macastronomer replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion 1 year, 8 months ago

    I’m hoping to make it too. My son had a seizure today and I’m in the ER right now waiting for tests to be done.

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Public Sky Observing 2026-06/19 @ Watson Soccer field | Rochester | Minnesota | United States
Public Sky Observing of the young Moon – 5.1 days after New Moon, planets Venus bright stars, double stars, and more by telescope with guidance members of the Rochester Astronomy Club. What to expect at Public Sky Observing – click here. Reload this page before you leave for the event. Event can be cancelled in case of cloudy weather or [...]
9:45 pm Public Sky Observing 2026-06/19 @ Watson Soccer field
Public Sky Observing 2026-06/19 @ Watson Soccer field
Jun 19 @ 9:45 pm – 11:45 pm
Public Sky Observing 2026-06/19 @ Watson Soccer field | Rochester | Minnesota | United States
Public Sky Observing of the young Moon – 5.1 days after New Moon, planets Venus bright stars, double stars, and more by telescope with guidance members of the Rochester Astronomy Club. What to expect at Public Sky Observing – click here. Reload this page before you leave for the event. Event can be cancelled in case of cloudy weather or [...]
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