Post by patrickm on May 16, 2010 11:21:18 GMT -6
Was bummed that the Adler session was cancelled, but there was no reason not to. All signs were bad. Watched the end of Amazing Race and was going to try to get some work done when I looked out and was blown away to see clear skies above!
Started taking gear to the backyard and saw that Venus and the crescent moon were stunningly beautiful. Unfortunately because of the trees, I couldn't get the moon into my scope. I ran upstairs, yelled at Julia in a panic to grab the camera, and started hiking the scope to the second story deck. We have not practiced night, long exposure photography, but I did manage to get one good shot of both while Julia wrestled with the tripod before it got too dark.
Note our neighbors' aeriel. I wonder if they still use it?
I spent much of the evening wrestling with the collimation again, determined to have it not suck. It got worse. Then a little better. Then much, much worse. Now perhaps a tiny bit better. <shrug>
From the north-facing deck I couldn't see Saturn. I checked out Mars, which is much less impressive than it was when it was really cold outside. Just for fun, I decided to see if I could image it on my iPhone. Turns out, with some patience, YES! Doesn't look like much, but there it is.
I think Nicola Tesla would approve!
gizmodo.com/5530841/nikola-teslas-uncanny-cellphone-prediction
I found M44 again and called Julia up to look at it. She was less than impressed. "Am I not seeing something? It's just some stars. I must not be seeing something..."
<sigh>
Couldn't nail down M13 and took a stab at M65/66, which I've never seen. No luck.
As I started to pack up, I noticed that Saturn had come into view for me over the western corner of the roof. I tried for 20 mins with the iPhone and for some reason, it was much more difficult to grab. I think I was tired and cold and a little retarded at this point. Here's the best of the bunch. Whether that's the rings or just a happy accident blur, I dunno.
I have way too much to learn about astronomy and telescope basics, and am WAY too obsessive—as you can no doubt tell—to let myself fall down the rabbit hole of astrophotography just yet, so this is probably it for me for a while except for some spotting shots.
A completely unexpected, fun, and sometimes frustrating, night.
All photos ©2010 pkm
Started taking gear to the backyard and saw that Venus and the crescent moon were stunningly beautiful. Unfortunately because of the trees, I couldn't get the moon into my scope. I ran upstairs, yelled at Julia in a panic to grab the camera, and started hiking the scope to the second story deck. We have not practiced night, long exposure photography, but I did manage to get one good shot of both while Julia wrestled with the tripod before it got too dark.
Note our neighbors' aeriel. I wonder if they still use it?
I spent much of the evening wrestling with the collimation again, determined to have it not suck. It got worse. Then a little better. Then much, much worse. Now perhaps a tiny bit better. <shrug>
From the north-facing deck I couldn't see Saturn. I checked out Mars, which is much less impressive than it was when it was really cold outside. Just for fun, I decided to see if I could image it on my iPhone. Turns out, with some patience, YES! Doesn't look like much, but there it is.
I think Nicola Tesla would approve!
gizmodo.com/5530841/nikola-teslas-uncanny-cellphone-prediction
I found M44 again and called Julia up to look at it. She was less than impressed. "Am I not seeing something? It's just some stars. I must not be seeing something..."
<sigh>Couldn't nail down M13 and took a stab at M65/66, which I've never seen. No luck.
As I started to pack up, I noticed that Saturn had come into view for me over the western corner of the roof. I tried for 20 mins with the iPhone and for some reason, it was much more difficult to grab. I think I was tired and cold and a little retarded at this point. Here's the best of the bunch. Whether that's the rings or just a happy accident blur, I dunno.
I have way too much to learn about astronomy and telescope basics, and am WAY too obsessive—as you can no doubt tell—to let myself fall down the rabbit hole of astrophotography just yet, so this is probably it for me for a while except for some spotting shots.
A completely unexpected, fun, and sometimes frustrating, night.
All photos ©2010 pkm
