The Suffolk Sky

Satellite Tracking Software

I ran across this http://www.astronomylog.co.uk/2009/08/20/satellite-tracker/ over at Astronomy Log.

Have not had a chance to check it out yet, looks like it was designed for a Meade scope but there are options to set it up for a Celestron.

Will let you know when I get a chance to try it out.

Great DeepSkyStacker Tutorial

Flintstone Stargazing put together an awesome tutorial for using DeepSkyStacker check it out here http://flintstonestargazing.com/2009/06/26/my-quick-deepskystacker-tutorial/

Trip to see the Shuttle Launch

I know it has been awhile, between bad weather and just being busy I have not had a chance to get out and do any observing in over a month.

This past weekend Sandy and I decided to take a trip down to Florida to try to catch the launch of the Shuttle Endeavour – STS-127 with was scheduled to launch at 7:17 AM on Saturday, June 13, 2009. The launch was scrubbed due to a problem with a hydrogen leak while fueling.

We did not find out about the problem and the canceled launch until we had already arrived at Space View Park in Titusville, FL at around 3:00 AM the morning of June 13th. So here are a few shots I took of the view across the river to launch pad that was all lit up.

Space Shuttle Endeavour on the Launch Pad June 13, 2009 approx 4:00 am from Space View Park Titusville, FL

Shuttle Endeavour - STS127 - June 13, 2009 - approx 4:00 AM

Suttle Endeavour on the Launch Pad at Kennedy Space Center

Space Shuttle Endeavour - STS127

The bright “star” in the upper left of this image is the planet Venus

Venus and the Space Shuttle Endeavour on the Launch Pad at the Kennedy Space Center

Shuttle Endeavour - STS-127 - June 13, 2009

Kind of a bummed about the launch being scrubbed, still a good trip and it was neat to see the launch pad all lit up. I hope that we can make it back down there for another launch.

M81, M82, Saturn and Something ??? – 04/26/09

Pretty warm out but the sky was very clear. First time in several weeks that time and the weather allowed for some stargazing. Also the first time I have been out this year where I did not need a jacket. Biggest problem with the warmer weather is the bugs and there were plenty of them out. I still had a great time observing.

I was able to observe M81, M82, Sombrero Galaxy (M104), Whirlpool Galaxy (M51), Ghost of Jupiter, and Saturn.

Here are a couple of piggy back shots I took.

M81 and M82 - Piggyback 100mm 2 Minute

Below is a piggy back picture of Saturn using the 100mm Sigma on my Nikon D60. Anyone have any idea what that green fuzzy up and to the left of Saturn is?

Saturn and ??? - Piggyback 100mm 2 Minutes

I checked Stellarium and looked around the ‘net but I have not been able to identify what this object is. Please leave a comment if you can identify it. Thanks.

Suppose to be clear again tonight so I hope to get some prime focus shots of M51, M104, M81, M82, and maybe the Ghost of Jupiter.

Rainbow – April 20, 2009

Lot of storms in the area this afternoon. There was a great rainbow but I got home in enough time to catch the end of it.

Here are a couple of shots of the rainbow just before it faded away.

Rainbow

Rainbow

I also noticed something on my camera lens. Will clean that up in a bit.

Stellarium Version 0.10.2

A new version of Stellarium was released earlier this month. Download the Stellarium 0.10.2 from http://www.stellarium.org/

Stellarium is planetarium software that allows you to get a view of the sky past, present, and future. Awesome tool for planning your observation sessions.

ISS Flyby

Looks like the ISS will be visible over the Suffolk area on March 30, 31 and April 1, 2. Hoping for clear skies.

Check out SpaceWeather.com’s Simple Satellite Tracker to find out when it will be visible in your area.

Sun Cult

Cool little FireFox add-on that displays the Sun rise and set times, moon phases, and moon rise and set times.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1915

Can be configured for your locale, and set to display just about anywhere on the browser.  Mouseover it and it displays the info. Pretty neat.

Saturn and Lulin on February 24, 2009

I took this picture on the 24th around 10:00 PM.

Saturn and Lulin on February 24, 2009

It’s a wide field shot piggy back mounted on my scope – 50mm at f/3 for 1 minute.   Saturn is the very bright object  down and left of center and comet Lulin is up and to the right.

Comet Lulin – 02/21/09

Very cold and clear this morning, started observing at 3:00 AM. I set the scope up and polar aligned it earlier in the evening so I would not have to spend as much time aligning it in the cold.

Checked the alignment, made a couple of adjustments and then went searching for comet Lulin. Found it in binoculars in the West/Southwest just a bit east of Saturn.

Took 21 1 minute piggyback shots that came out pretty good, but all of my prime focus pictures are out of focus. The dew and frost got to the scope about 4:45 AM.

Here is the piggy back shot. Kind of sucks that the Prime Focus shots did not turn out. Hopefully I will get another chance at getting some images of it in the next couple of days.

Comet Lulin - Piggyback - 21x1min - ISO800

Here is the best single one minute exposure I took. No stacking, but I did apply the dark frames that I took.

Comet Lulin - 1 minute Wide Field - 50mm f/3.5 ISO800