Rochester Astronomy Club | fealeybob14 | Activity https://rochesterskies.org/member/titanicrivers/activity/ Activity feed for fealeybob14. Mon, 13 Apr 2026 02:21:35 -0500 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-US 30 hourly 2 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.

]]> 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]

]]> 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.

 

]]> 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.

]]> 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.

]]> 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!

 

]]> 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.

 

]]> f9c9bc1889bf3736a011d7c2750ba3c3 fealeybob14 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-15474 Mon, 28 Jul 2025 20:35:27 -0500 Lovely images Duane! TcorBor refuses to budge from mag 9 to mag 10 according to SpaceWeather.com. A new forecast suggest either Nov 10th 2025 or Jun 25th 2026 for the star to nova. I missed both Eagle Bluff and Frontenac but was out observing in my backyard.

]]> 076669f70de9b2c892e7255a385206c5 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-15465 Sun, 20 Jul 2025 03:17:15 -0500 Just wondering if other members got out to see Titan’s shadow on Saturn. Perhaps Josef?

]]> 2a453dd71339e6376831aa36ac067a85 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-15461 Fri, 18 Jul 2025 19:29:24 -0500 It seems the Stellarium online view of the event today doesn’t show Titan’s shadow on Saturn’s disc (see Forum topic area on home page). I have Stellarium on my laptop and the shadow does appear.
For the image above seeing conditions were not the best with very high humidity and atmospheric turbulence and I went to bed thinking I did not see the…[Read more]

]]> e9226f813b728735b4178bc3a87fc802 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-15459 Fri, 18 Jul 2025 18:51:50 -0500 Finally teased out Titan’s shadow on Saturn early this am (taken about 4 am).  Used the 6″ scope (Quattro) and took a 100 frame video.  Processed with AS3, and Registax6.

 

]]> 17b424213c2cdb92e0aa19f362379acc 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-15451 Tue, 15 Jul 2025 21:14:43 -0500 Getting ready for a possible Titan shadow on Saturn.  The photo was taken at 3 am today (7-15-2025) with a 6 inch reflector.  I’ll use an 8 inch on Friday, (weather permitting).  The image is from a video with stacking using Sharp Cap Pro and Autostakket3.

]]> 11e0d22ceba914de9583d74c11c54061 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-15444 Wed, 09 Jul 2025 19:53:50 -0500 I do not know why the above attachment is blacked out!!! I will try to load the file as a Word file.
Also I have not been able to edit the above post?! Not sure why.

]]> 0f526745e4b41be4bfd5fa68dd81043b fealeybob14 started the topic Titan Shadow Transits on Saturn in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/titan-shadow-transits-on-saturn/ Wed, 09 Jul 2025 19:33:10 -0500 As mentioned during the 7/8/2025 club meeting the next 4 months provide an opportunity to see the shadow of Titan in transit on Saturn. The table below from Sky & Telescope has the dates and times to see this relatively rare event!

]]> 5f10421750581c067b2804aff9ec4d12 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2025 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-observing/page/2/#post-15366 Tue, 08 Apr 2025 22:50:07 -0500 Nice images Rob!  Lots of tutorials on Siril online.  Maybe you can briefly mention your experience with this tonight !

]]> fda92606a1e25874063e66a71e428245 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2025 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-observing/#post-15352 Tue, 18 Mar 2025 23:12:57 -0500 Galaxies are everywhere in the skies during this season (late winter-early spring).  Sky and Telescope’s May 2025 issue has some great articles on galaxies and the cover highlights Messier 106.  My attempt at imaging M106 appears below.  Stellarium views of the sky were used to help identify some of the galaxies present.

]]> 4d8d107f67c1ed365d20f53fb1014652 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2025 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-observing/#post-15339 Thu, 06 Mar 2025 21:20:33 -0600 M35 and NGC 2158 photographed using my 6 inch 150P Quattro scope and ZWO183 MC camera and Sky Watcher HEQ5 Pro mount on Jan 31 2025.  300, 5 second .frames were stacked.  M35 is much younger and closer than NGC 2158, but both often appear together in small telescope photos.

]]> 261c064ebc0249f8d111040e6c04a601 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2025 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-observing/#post-15272 Thu, 16 Jan 2025 02:45:10 -0600 Here is the amazing orbital motion of Comet/2024G3 around the sun as seen by the C3 coronagraph on SOHO

]]> 5ff9473dba054cc5fdd91040fa25b75b fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2025 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-observing/#post-15271 Wed, 15 Jan 2025 20:41:27 -0600 On close inspection of the above mentioned cell phone pics they are of the C/2023 A3 comet and NOT C/2024 G3. (Bummer!)

]]> e3e90f3d18f24310efbba4c3c6a1aa40 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2025 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-observing/#post-15270 Wed, 15 Jan 2025 19:36:09 -0600 I was out in and north of Root River Park and had a good view of the setting sun.  I observed for an hour but was unable to see the comet with the naked eye or with my 10×50 binoculars however I did capture a cell phone image of it (I just looked now at the images!).  I’ll put them in the next post.

]]> 4d71c65ca04f3ce548027b4a6e8ef180 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2025 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-observing/#post-15267 Tue, 14 Jan 2025 21:25:25 -0600 Maybe 4:45 to 5 pm today we’ll get a chance to see the comet?

]]> abf6b54fc4cee27f8affcf54372fcfd3 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2025 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-observing/#post-15264 Mon, 13 Jan 2025 17:56:48 -0600 Comet Atlas g3 still going strong! Below is SOHO C3 animation over the last 2 days

 

]]> 2bbcdf880dc20f579f465d6fdbba021e fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2025 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-observing/#post-15261 Sun, 12 Jan 2025 19:28:38 -0600 C/2024 G3 is still intact in SOHO C3 images from today.

]]> 23af9b395750ba15f58bce71750be544 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2025 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2025-observing/#post-15259 Sat, 11 Jan 2025 22:19:26 -0600 Sungrazing Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) has just entered the field of view of SOHO’s C3 coronagraph (see image below).  Should be great viewing of the comet’s fiery passage near the sun.

 

 

]]> 2d7fc84b9fcb5bbb45c7edfd185f14ea fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/6/#post-15228 Wed, 18 Dec 2024 21:17:15 -0600 Our Reflector magazine for December 2024 has a cover topic “A FLYING SAUCER IN CETUS”.  I wondered if this might  be referring to the near edge on galaxy NGC 1055 that I noticed when observing and photographing M77.  Sure enough!  On page 5 and 6, NGC 1055 is pictured and described by author Dr. James R. Dire as looking like a flying sau…[Read more]

]]> 674f14e653bc62eddb197d043487380a fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/6/#post-15226 Wed, 11 Dec 2024 23:22:14 -0600 Glorious M42 (Orion Nebula) returns to our skies!  The image below is the first one taken with my 6 inch Quattro f/4 reflector of M42 as one can tell from the spikes on the brighter stars due to the secondary mirror supports.  82, 5 second frames were stacked and contrast stretched.

 

]]> 662032140b55401ecd57098b7a3617bd fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/6/#post-15214 Tue, 26 Nov 2024 20:23:11 -0600 Comet 2023 A3 was 1/10th of a degree from the star Alya, a beautiful double and the tail star of Serpens on 11/22 but cloudy skies prevented viewing until last night (11/25). The comet was about 2 degrees away from Alya then and so I used this star to find the comet. Alya is nicely split in a small telescope (22 arcseconds apart); both components…[Read more]

]]> 91c1dffb27a7995e922504a47f5550c8 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/6/#post-15213 Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:49:27 -0600 Whoops, the above photo is from 11/27 and not the 26th.  Nineteen 5 second frames were stacked.  A satellite crossed just below the comet in one of the early frames.

]]> a07dfe6d5110e8d464d343e58e4d476b fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/6/#post-15211 Tue, 19 Nov 2024 01:15:29 -0600 Getting out 11/26 before the clouds, rain and cold prevent viewing.  Wanted another view and photo of C/2023 A3 as it appeared near an isolated star SAO 123928 in Serpens.  Upon viewing the 6.3 mag star I could see the comet (mag 8.1) a half degree away.  Below is a stack image of the encounter.

]]> 5f902c46073c5155c4e9e7d72ab9ff89 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/5/#post-15203 Fri, 08 Nov 2024 17:37:44 -0600 Motion of C/2023 A3 over a 24 hr. period from 11-6 to 11-7 2024.  The comet has moved about 1 degree further from the star 74 Oph’s (bright star at bottom of image) position and it’s brightness has attenuated about 0.14 magnitude.

]]> 1d2d81c87641606a32b96be5ecf413a9 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/5/#post-15201 Thu, 07 Nov 2024 18:48:20 -0600 Another one of C/2023 A3!  The star 74 Oph (SAO 123377) was used to locate the comet.  The comet shines at around 5.0 magnitude.

]]> fdbffc46c326eed795480134a9a93508 fealeybob14 replied to the topic Meade DS2114ATS in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/meade-ds2114ats/#post-15198 Thu, 31 Oct 2024 17:43:00 -0500 I can bring my laser collimator to the meeting (it is an inexpensive one, $21 on Amazon) that works well with my 6 inch f/4 scope.  Might try it and if it also works with Colin’s scope he can get one for himself.  With reflectors, it’s a good idea to check collimation every time you observe.

]]> 439f0f740215f01cd19fb6df09629605 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/5/#post-15172 Mon, 28 Oct 2024 07:26:34 -0500 Comet C/2023 A3 among the stars of Ophiuchus (R) this evening (10-27).  Some stars are identified with their magnitude and SAO number or just their magnitude. Left part of the image is courtesy Stellarium.

]]> 8ce05d2d055c9df4890da28c919e7e4e fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/5/#post-15168 Sun, 27 Oct 2024 22:00:55 -0500 Probably however, the comet will be consumed by the sun in its closest approach. https://spaceweather.com/.  The latest SOHO image shows a small comet approaching the sun.

]]> ba27b04f94fcc60840af38b82d085d2d fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/5/#post-15158 Sat, 26 Oct 2024 18:27:17 -0500 That gif file looks poorly up close.  Below is a reduced PNG file instead.

 

]]> bf6b7067bec41a79449a2a5eb8a587c6 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/5/#post-15156 Sat, 26 Oct 2024 18:14:00 -0500 Observing last night from my observatory.  The SW sky isn’t too light polluted and the comet was viewed and photographed from 8 to 9 pm.  Was using my 6 inch 150P Quattro scope and ZWO183 MC camera and Sky Watcher HEQ5 Pro mount.  Stacked six 5 second frames.  The image below is a relative closeup of the comet when it was near star SAO 122368 in Ophiuchus.

]]> acc942c8566edc76906ae4e9f99b510f fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/5/#post-15154 Thu, 24 Oct 2024 01:44:21 -0500 Tonight (10/23), viewing from dark skies in NE Wisconsin near Trego, comet C/2023 A3 is a naked eye object in the middle of Ophiuchus.  The comet is glorious in binoculars.  It is about 12 degrees below Rasalhague and 8 degrees or so above the two globular stars clusters M10 and M12.  I estimate the tail at 8-10 degrees and it appears intact in sp…[Read more]

]]> badb3eec6a4f8dd431b691a25a2c134a fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/4/#post-15086 Thu, 17 Oct 2024 06:54:39 -0500 Superb stacked image Duane!

]]> 652c2abbfea3a2560e39d4e839790589 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/4/#post-15081 Wed, 16 Oct 2024 21:10:21 -0500 Great shots Duane that show the extent of comet C 2023 A3’s long tail.

I’ve selected a cell phone picture that was taken through the 50 mm finder scope-2x Barlow lens- 20 mm eyepiece concoction that was guided by my telescope mount.  I’ve identified some stars and the globular cluster M5 as well.

 

]]> f75d65f26ce205c90ff651493d4fdacb fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/4/#post-15073 Tue, 15 Oct 2024 18:50:27 -0500 One more time: a view last night 10-14 at RRP

]]> d7026baa5978ef4ae44e99ce9c5c28cc fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/4/#post-15072 Tue, 15 Oct 2024 18:44:02 -0500 Getting this message when posting: https://wordpress.org/support/topic/there-has-been-a-critical-error-on-your-website-134/.  Is there a work around or what am I doing wrong!?

]]> 442973c9c9a16c9f70324d4abf2c3cb9 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/4/#post-15070 Tue, 15 Oct 2024 02:00:12 -0500 The comet is now a pretty obvious naked eye object.  I was alone at Root River Park tonight and can heartily recommend this site as a great place to view the comet as it climbs higher in the western sky.  I had no trouble seeing the comet’s 10 degree tail and will be here tomorrow to take some pics.

]]> c9d15d0dedaabfa500f66cc28b931335 fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/4/#post-15062 Sun, 13 Oct 2024 14:30:33 -0500 Very nice pics Duane and Kirk!  We spotted the comet just east of due W and close to  the elevation of Venus.  Was difficult to see until the western sky darkened a bit and then it was a good binocular object with a 7 to 10 degree tail.  The photos above nicely capture what could be seen with binoculars.  As the comet climbs higher in the west…[Read more]

]]> 57f4b37ee7f9384f3b01b8537cadd62a fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/3/#post-15050 Sat, 12 Oct 2024 17:21:45 -0500 I would try to see it around 6:30 to 7 pm tonight.  It will be almost due West and at the same elevation as Venus above  the horizon.  The comet climbs higher over the next few days and I’d love to see it next to M5 on the 15th at 7 pm or so.  Root river has a good view of the due W horizon.

]]> ead5d98f5afc963201a05a86b3eca7ad fealeybob14 replied to the topic 2024 Observing in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/2024-observing/page/3/#post-15038 Fri, 11 Oct 2024 04:54:06 -0500 Very nice Josef.  Here another view from my backyard.

]]> a544e1dfedd8c6bee77b72625e5ebbd7 fealeybob14 replied to the topic Observing tonight? in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/observing-tonight/page/176/#post-15036 Fri, 11 Oct 2024 02:14:51 -0500 Geomagnetic storming with nice aurora over 2/3 of sky NOW! (9 pm 10-10-2024)

]]> 4afc19691c13384621cd25e876309de1 fealeybob14 replied to the topic What's your astronomy story at the moment? in the forum General Discussion https://rochesterskies.org/forum/topic/whats-your-astronomy-story-at-the-moment/#post-15034 Wed, 09 Oct 2024 19:04:19 -0500 Look at this fantastic pic from SOHO today of a massive CME and the comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS near the sun!  We may get another G4 geomagnetic storm on Oct 10 and the comet may lose it’s tail!

 

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