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Hi, just North of the ferry Cumberland-Masson there appears to be an increase of light pollution related to the large weed plant /green houses. I knew it was there but I can now see it driving south from Mt Laurier as far as 50 km away (more clearly than Ottawa itself). Did anybody notice it from the west end or central Ottawa? Thanks, Marco Sent from Rogers Yahoo Mail on Android
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I had a bit of fun messing around with making short animations. Thought I would share my most successful "test" . The experience in making this has given me an idea of what sort of data I need to make a longer, smoother one.
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With a shadow transit of Io in progress.
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Lunar eclipse
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I couldn’t bring myself to get up early enough. Anyone see this morning’s eclipse? How was it? matt
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Not tonight's double shadow transit (I enjoyed it visually) from the backyard, but last nights single moon transit. Seeing seemed okay so gave it a shot..
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Made a bad call last night, thinking the thin clouds would stick around I decided to stay home. I was wrong, so set up in the backyard and, after some enjoyable visual, I decided to try a little more planetary imaging. This time with a goal of getting a few moons in the shot. This is typical of what I ended up with. Thinking my next goal may be to try making a short gif of rotation.
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Sorry, I accidentally deleted my first post (trying to remove duplicate images from post and hit wrong delete key) I've been looking into purchasing a large dob to replace my old C-11. Part of that has been thinking about what to do with my current scope, an old C8 on a wobbly wedge-pod. I was thinking astrophotography would be fun to try out, but that would require a significant investment in a new mount (and those dollars would be better spent on aperture, me thinks). I ended up reading about lucky imaging techniques for planetary work and discovered that I was already equipped to give it a go. I have a Canon T4i with Magic Lantern installed, which means movie crop mode (1:1 pixel ratio) and raw videos at ~30 fps. I had a barlow with T threads and a T-ring adapter for the camera. So, last night, despite the poor seeing, I sat in the backyard shooting videos of Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. I still have a lot to learn, but I'm very pleased I was able to pull off a few decent images on my first try. Here's a few shots that I processed from my videos. Any tips or tricks would be welcomed, I've only just dipped my toes in.
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Saturday Sidewalk Astronomy at chapters Kanata?
The long range forecast is for clear skies saturday evening. We'd have the 24%-illuminated moon until no later than 8pm when it drops to 5 degrees elevation. Saturn and Jupiter will be up at sunset. But Jupiter wont clear the walmart until about 6:40. So I'd suggest a 6:30pm start. Personally, i'm still watching the ottawa covid wastewater levels. Who's up for it?
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Sept 29/30 Observing at FLO
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Took a last minute trip out to FLO on Sept 29th. Set up on the North mound and observed for a few hours with my C-8. Sketched NGC 7331 (well, the core of NGC 7331) and later, the goblular cluster NGC 6760 (with more success). Just before midnight, I turned my attention to Jupiter and was surprise to witness the occultation of Europa, which was like watching a small, yellowish ball bearing first touch, then slip behind the limb. Pretty neat. Seeing was good too, so had nice views of Saturn and details on Jupiter. Matt
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Canon Hack Development Kit, built on Magic Lantern for Canon DSLRs. It is only for the Powershot. It removes ASA and exposure limits among many other things like an intervalometer. I used CHDK on my PowerShot 730HS ... 33 x 2 minutes subs, 2000 ASA, piggybacked on my Celestron C8. I need to nudge the alignment before I can do 3 minute exposures and more. Sized down from 20 MP. Focus is being worked on.
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FLO Scopes
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I understand FLO has a 16 inch dob which approved users are free to use. I like the idea of imaging planets with a large scope. How busy is this scope on a clear night with good seeing? Would it be feasible for approved users to spend 1 hour doing lucky imaging? Thanks, Greg
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Visted Nirvana Sept 12 during the day. The most important observation is the sign at the front entrance. Fuzzy picture attached warning us of road-delaying construction. It's unclear if the construction they're warning us about will block the road. But the date range they're warning us about covers the dark-of-the-moon for September. I'm guessing the real reason for the sign is that the construction guys will be pissed at anyone else use the road while they are tearing it up. In tiny letters at the bottom of the sign was "Ron Nowell Construction inc" 613 484 5134 which may be of interest for those who want to ask them for details. I later looked up their website: <https://naturallyla.ca/local/business_listings/ron-nowell-construction-inc/> Also for those who havent been to Nirvana before: The right turn off the entry road, that rises steeply up to the runway is completely impassible. Which is probably there is a new and completely passible road forked off the impassible one about 30 degrees counter clockwise. It doesnt look it, but it also leads to the runway. It has a washout along the south edge but that didn't cause a problem for a comfy passenger car. NMR says we should not setup on the runway. Most of the non-runway areas are covered in 4 foot tall vegetation. However, we saw two patches were one might setup scopes withut having to mow. One along the last bit of road that leads to the runway where the gass was sparse and only a foot tall. Another is rectangular patch a few hundred meters south of the access road along the west side of the runway where someone has planted low vegetation (only a couple of inches high) and added a fire-place ring. The second looked like a comfortable place to setup telescopes -- assuming who ever gardened that place doesnt feel violently territorial about it. Also about not setting up on the runway: at the north end of the runway perhaps a 50 meter west, there is remains of a taxiway. It's parallel to the runway and separated from it by grass. I expect NMR cannot complain if people part RVs there. It's paved with asphalt, so i'd still prefer not to setup on it because of the bad ground-seeing it will produce as it releases it's daytime heat at night. Oh, and there were still a few mosquitos. Finally, for those who want to know where Nirvana is, The "road map" link on the Nirvana clear sky chart is accurate: <https://www.cleardarksky.com/c/Rod1ArsrpONkey.html?1>, but turn on satellite view. -ad
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Carp star party this friday Sept 30
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The long range forecast is for clear this friday. The ottawa rasc is holding a public starparty at the carp library/diefenbunker parking lot <https://ottawa.rasc.ca/starparties>. Who is going? -ad ps. the ottawa rasc invites non RASC members to bring scopes.
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Observing at FLO - Sept 22/23
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Not sure if anyone cares to see observing notes or not. I used to post them all the time years ago and I always enjoyed reading notes from others, so though I'd get back into the habit again. Let me know if we'd rather not have stuff like this clogging up the board. Session # 22-003 Date: September 23/24, 2022 Time: 8:00pm – 3:30am EDT Visual Limiting Mag: 5.9 Seeing: 3/10 Location: Fred Lossing Observatory, Almonte Equipment: Celestar 8 SCT (FL = 2100mm w/2inch diagonal), ES82 14&18mm, 1.6x Barlow, DGM NPB filter Weather: Cool (3 deg), Heavy dew Notes: At approx 8:37 pm, a bright fireball was observed falling southward, from about 45deg high, straight down through the spout of Sagittarius. It appeared reddish in colour and “crumbled” into various particles before burning out just above the horizon. Observed Saturn a few times throughout the night, never stumbled upon a time of “good seeing”. M 80 (NGC 6093) Globular Cluster in Scorpius EP: 18mm (117x), 14mm (150x) Visual Notes: Low on horizon, still in twilight. Small, tight ball. Unresolved. Compact, but brighter core surrounded by small halo. Averted vision partially resolves halo. Other Notes: M4 (NGC 6121) Globular Cluster in Scorpius EP: 18mm (117x), 14mm (150x) Visual Notes: Low on horizon, still in twilight. Large, relatively loose, granular ball. Mostly unresolved, though hints of resolved stars at threshold of vision. Other Notes: M8 (NGC 6523) Lagoon Nebula Emission nebula in Sagittarius EP: 18mm (117x) Visual Notes: Using NPB filter, appeared large (? of FOV), bright. The dark lane easily spotted. Nice view considering how low on horizon and not fully dark. Other Notes: M20 (NGC 6514) Trifid Nebula Emission nebula in Sagittarius EP: 18mm (117x) Visual Notes: Low, faint. Averted vision used most of the time. NPB filter helped to show the “Y” shaped dark lanes. Pair of stars near the intersection of the dark lanes obvious. Other Notes: M57 (NGC 6720) Ring Nebula Planetary Nebula in Lyra EP: 18mm (117x), 14mm (150x) Visual Notes: Overhead, nice bright view. NPB filter slightly improved details visible, but overall not a major improvement. Other Notes: NGC 6830 Open cluster in Vulpecula EP: 18mm (117x) Visual Notes: Loose cluster in star rich field. Moderately separated, evenly bright stars, 15-20 obvious members. Star chains running N-S and W-E drew the eye. Other Notes: NGC 6823 Open Cluster and emission nebula in Vulpecula EP: 18mm (117x), 14mm (150x) Visual Notes: Loose cluster, faint reddish stars noted near center. Averted vision reveals many faint threshold stars in cluster. With 14mm, reddish star seems pared with blue companion, an elongated diamond like asterism noted centrally. Using 18mm with the NPB filter reveals a faint glow encompassing the entire cluster. Very faint, but easily confirmed by moving FOV away from cluster. Other Notes: Did not look for NGC6820 and it was not noted. Jupiter EP: 14mm (150x) Visual Notes: 10:10pm. Shadow (Io) noted on the planet's eastern limb, just on the northern edge of the very faint SEB. NEB obvious. Occasionally, spotted a bright, yellowish ball trailing shadow. Suspected to be Io during moments of improved seeing. Other Notes: Seeing mostly poor, moments of good seeing occurred. NGC 6939 Open Cluster in Cepheus EP: 18mm (117x) Visual Notes: Faint cluster, appeared in the center of an asterism resembling the cross of Cygnus. Chain of brighter stars running NNW-SSE on western edge of cluster. Other Notes: NGC 6946 Galaxy in Cephus EP: 18mm (117x), 14mm (150x) Visual Notes: Large, very faint. Barely visible with direct vision. Using 14mm, takes ? FOV. Triangle asterism noted on southern edge. Other Notes: NGC 7380 Wizard Nebula Open Cluster with emission nebula in Cephus EP: 18mm (117x) Visual Notes: Filled approximately 1/3 FOV of the 18mm. Cluster stars showed uneven brightness, with contrast between brighter and dimmer stars giving a mild 3-D feeling. A rough “V” shape formed by some of the more prominent stars, with the vertex pointing north. The cluster appeared “foggy”, like the eyepiece was fogged slightly.
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The great red spot will be on the face of jupiter tonight around 22:29, accompanied by Io and Io's shadow. This is unusual becaues Io and it's shadow will be less than an arcsecond apart and are both right on the north edge of the GRS. Usually, Io is near impossible to see when its in front of jupiter. But tonight, with the GRS and IO's shadow localizing it, it may be possible to spot it. You'll know when you see IO, it is distinctly yellow.
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Any Plans for Nirvana this weekend?
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Just curious if anyone was planning to observe at Nirvana this weekend? I know there is the North Frontenac Star Party happening..and the weather is not certain. Just testing the waters. Matt
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Any recommendations on a budget friendly H-apha solar telescope? Used would be great. Cheers, Albert.
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Frank Bayerl
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Hi Folks, Frank was a very kind, soft spoken gentleman. I first met him at the Texas Star Party decades ago! Ginny and I wish his friends and family our condolences. Have a great day. Bob
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One of our OAFs passed away recently Jim ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Michael Wilson <mickwilson20@...> To: Chris Teron <chris@...>; Art Fraser <a-fraser@...>; Membership Department <mempub@...> Cc: RASC Council <rascottawacouncil@...> Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 06:37:09 p.m. EDT Subject: [RASC Ottawa Council] Re: Frank Bayerl obit Thanks, Chris. Will you or anyone else wish to do a remembrance for Frank? Cheers. Get Outlook for Android From: rascottawacouncil@... <rascottawacouncil@...> on behalf of Chris Teron <chris@...> Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2022 6:18:28 PM To: Art Fraser <a-fraser@...>; Membership Department <mempub@...> Cc: RASC Council <rascottawacouncil@...> Subject: [RASC Ottawa Council] Frank Bayerl obit Hi I noticed in the Ottawa Citizen that one of our long-time members passed away a few days ago - Frank Bayerl. The database shows that he has been a member since 1998. I worked with him in the early days of SmartScope and he regularly attended our monthly meetings at CASM. Chris -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RASC Ottawa Council" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rascottawacouncil+unsubscribe@.... To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rascottawacouncil/EC449039-F8A2-4EFD-9D7D-820A20DBBC71%40teron.ca. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RASC Ottawa Council" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rascottawacouncil+unsubscribe@.... To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rascottawacouncil/GVXP189MB20541490BBA4B6D3A5148418C14B9%40GVXP189MB2054.EURP189.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM.
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Image Name
Sat 8:39am
Sat 8:39am