Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Sept 12, 2011 6:07:55 GMT -6
SuperNova Alley
11 September 2011
11 September 2011
My garage doors face due north, with a pretty good vista. The Big Dipper was prominent, but sky conditions were not greatly transparent.
I wanted to search for the New rare type Supernova in the Pinwheel galaxy - M101 ( PTF11kly). I was not able to travel to darker skies like a couple of Chicago Astronomer members did this evening, but at least I had the comfort of home at hand...and neighbors.
I set-up at the C11 at 8:00 pm and started the search. Not easy with all the alley glare about me, but using star charts and the image that Chicago Astronomer Bill took recently, I spend quite awhile hopping, attempting to recognize star patterns. The on-board laser on the C11 is a great help, and with conjunction with the Rigel and confirming in the 50mm finderscope helped my narrow into the isosceles triangle with the two handle stars of the Big Dipper. (Here, the smaller 9x30 finder scope was useless...
)I traced the line of stars up to the whirlpool area, but really, uncertain if I was in the right area. I approached the spot from different angles and came to the conclusion that this had to be the area. In the finder scope, I found the two stars that bracketed the SN, but could not see it. Switching to the main scope and a 56mm 2" eyepiece, I saw a dimmer "star" in the mix...and had to be it. Absolutely no hint of the Pinwheel galaxy.
Attaching the camera, I set to capture it - but first some focusing aid...
Using the Bartinov/Marzec mask that Chicago Astronomer supporter Rick made for me, (so cool), I got my focus on Mizar first and then slewed back to the area of the SN.
I used a variety of exposures and this was the best of the lot.
ISO 400
5 Seconds
Tungsten
40mm 2" eyepiece
Canon Powershot S3 on timer
Got to be it.
Even though I had the Extended Dew Shield on, I still had horrible lighting pouring into the tube - even with Astro-brella jr attached. I must have spent a couple of hours searching for the SN, with tweaking, setting up and neighbor talk. But cool that I think I got it. You can barely make out the beginnings of the central core in the pic. That or it's a smudge...
I also attended to a few visitors throughout the session, sometimes when I was narrowing in and was kinda annoyed, but I can't be so selfish as to be sour and understand that a telescope is a tool to the Universe and should always be shared. The Supernova would not impress anybody but astro geeks like me. I tried to explain, but it really didn't sink in. So...dragging out the 90mm scope and setting up across the alley, I focused on the Moon and Jupiter....much better....
My neighbors are cool. Always offering me stuff and actually de-weeded in front of my garage earlier in the day...
With that, I slewed over to Jupiter, rising behind a alley light and I figured since the C11 was set-up anyway....
Stellarium says that Io was making a transit and a very sharp silhouette was observed...
Atmospheric conditions were not best, as Jupiter displayed much unsteadiness this session. Showing my neighbors Jupiter, they enjoyed the banding and shadow much...
It was a very successful session, made new friends who stopped by and re-enforced Chicago Astronomer Rock Star status with my neighbors...
