Images, In the News, Observation Log, Video

Night Launch

3 Comments

This past Saturday they had a night launch of the shuttle (Discovery STS-116). I was on my way off to work but I delayed 15 minutes to bring the video camera outside and catch it. There were some hazy clouds near the horizon that weren’t visible to me until illuminated by the launch. I’m about 150 miles from the space center as the crow flies, so any launch from there takes about 10-15 seconds to clear my horizon and come into view.

I’m sure you’ve all seen amateur video of small objects moving against the sky and mumbled to yourself “Why couldn’t this idiot keep the camera still and in focus?” Well, mostly-still wasn’t too hard but the focus? …Sheesh! I tried to keep some foreground objects in the frame but it didn’t help much. My next camcorder is going to have a manual focus option if such a thing exists!

Here’s the video from my front yard. Watch it HERE (5.7 MB).

You’ll need Apple – QuickTime to view this movie file.

For some really spectacular on-scene photos visit For the Birds: Night Launch

I have the next 4 nights in a row off so I hope to finally see first light on the new scope. Keep your fingers crossed.

Thoughts & Ramblings

New Scope

5 Comments

I had not intended to purchase a new telescope as I’m barely finding the time to use the one I have. My wife had gone out shopping with a friend who works at a well known retailer. This friend was enjoying a 50% discount on EVERYTHING in the store today by virtue of it being “Black Friday” and the fact that she was also an employee. I should mention that this particular retailer is NOT known for it’s electronics/optics… in fact I expect it’s rather shunned in this regard, but I digress.

I was sitting at home with the kids when I received a call from my wife, whose keen eye had spotted a lonely Meade box up on a shelf. She’d asked the clerk if this was included in the 50% off and was told yes. She was calling to see what scope I had and/or if I was interested in a Meade ETX 125EC. The box was labeled $720.99 but she would get it for $310 plus tax…

?!?!?!?!?! … HECK YES I WAS INTERESTED!

But the story does not end here my droogies, for when your humble narrator — yours truly — opened the box at home he found not an electronic controller (EC), but a #497 Autostar. Further, upon examination of the optical tube assembly (OTA) he discovered a UHTC label… Ultra High Transmission Coatings. This particular scope with the Autostar and UHTC sells for $1094.

Nearly all of my ETX 90AT accessories will work with the new scope. I will need to purchase a new solar filter and motorized focuser at some point, but doing without isn’t going to stop the show. The only downside to all this is that I think I just got my Christmas present. 🙁

Needless to say I can’t wait to get it outside!

Images, Thoughts & Ramblings

Pumpkin Pitatus?

1 Comment

First have a look at this LPOD – lunar photo of the day entry.

Then examine this photo I took of a similar feature… 🙂

click for larger

I wonder if any analogies can me be drawn between the way my pumpkin pie cooled and the way crater Pitatus cooled after it initially formed. Are there similar dynamics at work here or is it just coincidence? After extensive core sampling of pie (yum!) I am no closer to an answer.

At any rate I thought the name was apt.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Observation Log

Mercury Transit 2006

3 Comments

We’ll I’m happy to say that the skies miraculously cleared and I was able to pull the scope out and get some shots of the November 8th solar transit by Mercury. The sun was perched right above my neighbors heat radiating rooftop so it could have been better, but I’m glad to have seen it. Mercury was one of the 3 remaining planets I’d yet to image in some form or fashion. In fact I’d only even laid eyes on it once… by accident. A few years back during an evening Mercury-Venus conjunction just after sunset.

Here are a few shots I took if the transit event.

click for larger

click for larger

When I had the Canon EOS 300D at prime focus I took about 3 dozen shots at various settings hoping I get one at a decent exposure and focus. After viewing them it occurred to me I might make an animation from the shots. In this animation there is about a 15 minute gap where I was shooting through and eyepiece with an Olympus D460 and answering a phone call. If I’d realized I might make an animation I’d have taken more care to shoot images at regular intervals. All in all it came out OK.

click for larger (3.1 MB)

Due to my frantic work schedule these days I don’t now how much scope time I’m going to be getting this season. I’m typically rolling into the driveway between 1 and 3 AM, then it’s up a 6:30 AM to get the boy off to school. After 4 or 5 days in a row of this the only thing I really want to do on my off days is SLEEP.

At any rate, I was really pining for a nap and almost didn’t take the scope out for this. I’m most certainly glad I did.

Experiences in Urban Backyard Astronomy