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Re: M 81 M82

 

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?
Brian,

Looking good so far! Your narrow band results should bring out more detail in the galaxies than what one typically gets with just an unfiltered color camera.Cant wait to see the results.?
Myron?

On Apr 27, 2025, at 10:05?AM, Brian Barbre via groups.io <brianwbarbre@...> wrote:

?
Between the clouds and wind and trying to fine tune my mount, this is what I have for galaxy season so far. If the wind calms down I hope to double or triple my data on these targets. I’m working on monochrome galaxy imaging with the full LRGBSHO pallet. I’m hoping to use the LRGB for stars mostly and full lrgbsho for the galaxy targets to pull out some extra depth and detail.
M51 and the Leo Triplet. Looks like I’m going to need a galaxy season scope for next year.?
Enjoy
<M_51_LRGBSHO-2.1.jpeg>
<LeoTriplet-RGBSHO_1.1.jpeg>
--
WO GT81 20th anniversary edition
SVB 50mm guide
Mount, ES EXOS2 PMC8
ASI 533MC Pro/ASI 533MM Pro
ASI 120 MM Mini
ZWO EFW7 1.25”
Pegasus Focus Cube?
Stellarmate Pro 64gb, Kstars & Ekos
Astro Pixel Processor, StarNet++, Affinity Photo


ARP 84 (The Heron)

 

Dear RAC,

Here is our latest color image from MSRO Station 2 (10" R-C and QHY 294 M Pro with filter wheel containing UBVRI and spectroscopy filters) taken over two nights. Its 60 minutes in each B,V,R filters and 90 minutes in the open position (no filter). This was a project requested by CAS member Marshall Faintich who is an accomplished ( and published!) wildlife photographer. He wanted a "bird" themed astro image to use as his profile picture capturing his two avocational interests. Pete and I worked together on this project gathering the data-but this color rendition is based on my eye so any flaws noted are mine alone.

Our Station 3 telescope continues to provide spectacular results as well and should be ready for fit testing into its roll-off roof enclosure soon. I will keep RAC membership up to date on this as well.

Myron


Re: M 81 M82

 

Between the clouds and wind and trying to fine tune my mount, this is what I have for galaxy season so far. If the wind calms down I hope to double or triple my data on these targets. I’m working on monochrome galaxy imaging with the full LRGBSHO pallet. I’m hoping to use the LRGB for stars mostly and full lrgbsho for the galaxy targets to pull out some extra depth and detail.
M51 and the Leo Triplet. Looks like I’m going to need a galaxy season scope for next year.?
Enjoy
--
WO GT81 20th anniversary edition
SVB 50mm guide
Mount, ES EXOS2 PMC8
ASI 533MC Pro/ASI 533MM Pro
ASI 120 MM Mini
ZWO EFW7 1.25”
Pegasus Focus Cube?
Stellarmate Pro 64gb, Kstars & Ekos
Astro Pixel Processor, StarNet++, Affinity Photo


May sky maps from the Astronomical League

 

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: May sky maps from the Astronomical League
Date: 2025-04-25 20:32
From: BarbDon Knabb <barbdon12@...>
To:


Greetings MERAL Presidents, ALCors, editors, officers, and others,

Attached are JPG versions of the sky maps that are provided by John Goss
of the Astronomical League. I also have PDF versions so please let me
know if you need those versions of the sky maps. I am hoping the JPG
files will suffice because it reduces the number of attachments and
therefore the chance that the internet email bots will think my email is
spam.

Please share these maps with your club members. Use them in your
newsletters or post them to your websites and social media accounts.

Clear skies,

Don Knabb
MERAL Chair


May NASA Night Sky Network article and What's Up with the AL

 

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: May NASA Night Sky Network article and What's Up with the AL
Date: 2025-04-26 10:33
From: BarbDon Knabb <barbdon12@...>
To:


Greetings MERAL Presidents, ALCors, editors, officers and others,

Attached is the May article from the NASA Night Sky Network. Feel free
to use this article in your club newsletters, send it to your club
members, post it to your website and your social media sites.

Also attached is the latest What's Up with the Astronomical League.

Clear skies,

Don Knabb
MERAL Chair


Re: M 81 M82

 

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Awesome!


On Apr 26, 2025, at 5:55?AM, Brian Barbre via groups.io <brianwbarbre@...> wrote:

?
Myron,?
?
I agree that the station 3 FOV and crisp nature of the images is very exciting! Thanks for sharing.?
?
BWB
--
WO GT81 20th anniversary edition
SVB 50mm guide
Mount, ES EXOS2 PMC8
ASI 533MC Pro/ASI 533MM Pro
ASI 120 MM Mini
ZWO EFW7 1.25”
Pegasus Focus Cube?
Stellarmate Pro 64gb, Kstars & Ekos
Astro Pixel Processor, StarNet++, Affinity Photo


Re: M 81 M82

 

Myron,?
?
I agree that the station 3 FOV and crisp nature of the images is very exciting! Thanks for sharing.?
?
BWB
--
WO GT81 20th anniversary edition
SVB 50mm guide
Mount, ES EXOS2 PMC8
ASI 533MC Pro/ASI 533MM Pro
ASI 120 MM Mini
ZWO EFW7 1.25”
Pegasus Focus Cube?
Stellarmate Pro 64gb, Kstars & Ekos
Astro Pixel Processor, StarNet++, Affinity Photo


Asteroid Harvard in MSRO S 3 image

 

Dear Marshall,

You were correct in noting we captured an asteroid in the M 95/M96 image I sent out. Here is a highly cropped section of two images that were taken 75 minutes apart showing the orbital motion of the asteroid Harvard. Im sure there are probably more in the image awaiting identification!

Myron


M 81 M82

 

Dear RAC,
And now the final MSRO Station 3 test image from last night. Full frame 12 5-minute guided subs.
Myron


M 35 and NGC 2158

 

Dear RAC,

Here is an image of the open galactic star clusters M35 and NGC 2158 in Gemini. This is a stack of 4 5-minute guided subs using the MSRO/RAC Station 3 telescope (StellarVue SVX 102T-Raptor with ASI 2600MC duo_). This is another test image as I am working on adjusting the spacing between the focal reducer and camera. i am also testing all the sub systems of the station to make sure everything works before it goes live online.I have one more test image from the session last night of M81 and M82 that I will send out soon.

Myron


More Station 3 images

 

Dear RAC,

These galaxy images were cropped from the wide field image I sent out earlier. Even though this telescope has a very wide field of view- it can still be used to get nice portraits of individual galaxies by cropping into the galaxy. The telescope has such high precision optics and the camera such small pixels that this is possible. In essence many pictures can be captured at the same time. It’s just a matter of zooming in and framing the galaxies how you want. Here are a few quick examples. As mentioned this telescope should be available for club members to either use directly or request objects to be imaged by MDRO staff very soon.
Myron


Resized M95/96 image

 

Dear RAC,

Here is a resized version of the image I sent out. It won’t give the ability to zoom in to see all the fine detail but gives a good idea of the field of view the Station 3 telescope has. I’m going to get it operational very soon. Stay tuned…

Myron


Re: M 96/95 Group

 

Myron,
The image file was too large for .?
The limit is 15MB.

Glenn D. Faini
GDF Photography
Private and UAS Pilot
Chemical and Environmental Engineer, Retired

View my photos here, on Flickr

On Fri, Apr 25, 2025, 7:48 AM Myron Wasiuta via <myrnteryx4=[email protected]> wrote:
Dear RAC, Pete and Marshall,

We have decided to go with a new camera on our Station 3 telescope. This is the StellarVue SVX 102T-Raptor with a Field Flattner/Focal Reducer giving f/5. The new camera is an ASI 2600MC duo. This is a full frame shot showing the nice field of view. In addition the field correction is much better than it was possible to get with the larger chi in the QHY 367 Pro we were using.

This image is a stack of 24 5-minute guided subs using the on camera guiding chip. This worked very well with guiding well below local seeing! I know this is a large file and will compress in the future-but wanted Pete and Marshall to see the near full resolution capabilities. Hope to have this scope operational for club use son!

I also have a test image of M 35 and the M81 group Ill send out later.

Myron


M 96/95 Group

 

Dear RAC, Pete and Marshall,

We have decided to go with a new camera on our Station 3 telescope. This is the StellarVue SVX 102T-Raptor with a Field Flattner/Focal Reducer giving f/5. The new camera is an ASI 2600MC duo. This is a full frame shot showing the nice field of view. In addition the field correction is much better than it was possible to get with the larger chi in the QHY 367 Pro we were using.

This image is a stack of 24 5-minute guided subs using the on camera guiding chip. This worked very well with guiding well below local seeing! I know this is a large file and will compress in the future-but wanted Pete and Marshall to see the near full resolution capabilities. Hope to have this scope operational for club use son!

I also have a test image of M 35 and the M81 group Ill send out later.

Myron


Congrats to the Chapel Hill Club!

 

Posted by Virginia State Parks - well-deserved recognition for the Chapel Hill Astronomical and Observational Society!

Congratulations to the Chapel Hill Astronomical Observation Society for winning the Group of the Year Award for 2024.

For over 13 years CHAOS has been volunteering at Staunton River State Park. CHAOS not only volunteers their time with astronomy programs but also donates financial resources as well.

We are so thankful for their time and their dedication.
Read more about their contributions to the park here:





Re: Zoom link for Rappahannock Astronomy Club April 2025 Meeting

 

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Michael, I can set you up with the scope of your choice. Contact me at belmontobservatory@...

Scott Busby
Belmont Observatory
Spotsylvania, Virginia
(540)273-0063





On Apr 22, 2025, at 3:11?PM, Michael St. Vincent via groups.io <mike.st.vincent@...> wrote:

Myron,?
?

Here's the grammar-checked version with corrections and suggestions:

Taking a quick look at the equipment list, I could borrow the Celestron NexStar 8SE or the 5 SCT. The Orion SkyView Pro 8 would also be good.

I don't want to use motorized GoTo mounts as a crutch; I would rather learn the sky and use them as a tool later. If, in your opinion, another scope would serve me better, I would appreciate that advice.

I would be interested in purchasing one of the scopes that the group does not plan to keep, with priority given to other members.






Re: Zoom link for Rappahannock Astronomy Club April 2025 Meeting

 

Myron,?
?

Here's the grammar-checked version with corrections and suggestions:

Taking a quick look at the equipment list, I could borrow the Celestron NexStar 8SE or the 5 SCT. The Orion SkyView Pro 8 would also be good.

I don't want to use motorized GoTo mounts as a crutch; I would rather learn the sky and use them as a tool later. If, in your opinion, another scope would serve me better, I would appreciate that advice.

I would be interested in purchasing one of the scopes that the group does not plan to keep, with priority given to other members.





Re: Zoom link for Rappahannock Astronomy Club April 2025 Meeting

 

Hi Michael,

Glad you were able to view the link for our recent club meeting.

Starting with binoculars is a great idea as they can serve as a bridge between naked-eye astronomy and using a telescope. Once you are familiar with some of the constellations and stars, transitioning to a telescope makes sense. we usually recommend becoming familiar with the telescope in the daytime first, then starting with observing the moon. Its big and bright, and can really be a good way to see what the telescope can do with its different accessories and eyepieces. Of course eventually you will want to use it to find the fainter objects like star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. This takes some practice to locate manually, but is the best way to learn the positions of objects in the sky. however, if you would like to not have to worry aboutthat aspect of observational astronomy-you can check out one of our club GOTO scopes. These are more complex to learn how to use but when properly set up-the onboard computer will move the scope for you to locate the object of interest.

Scott Busby (our club equipment manager)recently sent out an inventory of our club telescopes available for checkout. If you did not receive that let me know and I will send it to you. Once you have reviewed it-let me know which scope you might be interested in checking out and I will make arrangements for you to pick it up from me and be trained on its use.

Once again welcome to the RAC-I think you will find the people and expertise in the RAC a great resource for enriching your journey of learning about the night sky!

Myron

On 2025-04-21 23:59, Mike St. Vincent via groups.io wrote:
Thank you for recording and posting the meeting.. I was unable to
attend, so I'm glad to see it was recorded
Quick Intro
I'm very new to astronomy. Right now, I'm exploring with a pair of
7x50 binoculars and using _Night Watch_ as my guide.
I Live in King George and work at Dahlgren as an Engineer.
I would definitely be interested in using a loaner scope. I could
also store a scope if the club needs the space.
Thanks for adding me the club
Links:
------
[1] /g/raclub/message/4304
[2] /mt/112374079/4397928
[3] /g/raclub/post
[4] /g/raclub/editsub/4397928
[5] /g/raclub/leave/7928615/4397928/1037380551/xyzzy


Re: Zoom link for Rappahannock Astronomy Club April 2025 Meeting

 

Thank you for recording and posting the meeting.. ? I was unable to attend, so I'm glad to see it was recorded
?
Quick Intro
I'm very new to astronomy. Right now, I'm exploring with a pair of 7x50 binoculars and using Night Watch as my guide.
I Live in King George and work at Dahlgren as an Engineer.?

I would definitely be interested in using a loaner scope. ?I could also store a scope if the club needs the space.

Thanks for adding me the club
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?


Latest RAC Equipment Status

 

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Scott Busby
Belmont Observatory
Spotsylvania, Virginia
(540)273-0063