Astronomy
January 24, 2012
There are two significant events visbile in Northern California this year: the transit of Venus across the sun in June and a partial annular eclipse in May.
Local Observing Info
Some Planetary Photos from Meade ETX-125
We have a Meade ETX scope that we use for observing the night skies. A set of binoculars works well here too, you can see most of the Milky Way on a dark night. Trees block more of the view around here than any light pollution from Silicon Valley. Membership in the San Jose Astronomical Association allows us to borrow telescopes like the 10" Dobson. Below are links to local astronomy sites & other spots around the web. Astronomy sites are everywhere and below are just some of the sites I've used.
Solar Photography |
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Ssunspot 0652 taken 20JUL04 using ETX-125 and Kendrick solar filter with Meade LPI camera. |
Astrophotography |
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After reviewing some starter astrophotography setups it was easier and cheaper to use a Meade LPI versus getting all the adapters necessary for the Dimage 7 digital camera we own. I used a Xmas gift certificate to get the LPI and a Kendrick solar filter for the ETX-125 from Oceanside Photo & Telescope. Below are examples of a beginner's attempts at astrophotography. |
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Jupiter taken 10 FEB 04 using ETX-125, LPI, and a 2X Barlow lens. 180 frames stacked and processed to sharpen the image. |
Saturn taken 10 FEB 04 using ETX-125, LPI, and a 2X Barlow lens. 50 frames stacked and processed to sharpen the image. |
Jupiter taken 07 FEB 04 using ETX-125, LPI, and a 2X Barlow lens. 20 frames stacked and processed to sharpen the image. North is down. |
The Moon taken 31 JAN 04 with ETX-125 and LPI.
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Saturn taken 21 JAN 04 using ETX-125, LPI, and a 2X Barlow lens. 30 frames stacked and processed to sharpen the image. |
Saturn taken 21 JAN 04 using ETX-125, LPI, and a 2X Barlow lens. 30 frames stacked, but no processing.
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Saturn taken 10 FEB 04 using ETX-125, LPI, and a 2X Barlow lens. 50 frames stacked and processed to sharpen the image. |
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Venus Transit 2004 |
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| The transit was not visible on the western US coast, but it was easy to watch on the web with photo and video updates. Below are some pictures of the transit. | |
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