As this year is about to end, I wanted to see if I could squeeze out just one more astrophotography session. I got dressed in all my cold weather gear as it was 35 degrees when I went out and was dropping rapidly. I went to one of my dark sky locations, so power from the house was not available. I had to depend on the batteries that I brought. I was not using a telescope … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2008
Skating on thick ice in New York City
It was on the road again today with my traveling buddy from work Pat Raycraft. Todays adventure was not climbing Mt. Washington, or climbing into a volcano (which we have both done on previous trips). Todays adventure was to New York City, to document the Big Apples ice skating rinks in Central Park. Here is one of them that we visited early in the day. It is the famous Wollman … [Read more...]
Venus and Jupiter meet a shooting star
About two weeks ago I managed to get some great triple conjuction images of the moon, Venus, and Jupiter. Tonight, I believe I outdid myself. I caught a shooting star, Venus and Jupiter (almost hidden in the trees) in the same frame! Boy, was it bright! Please enjoy this Astronomy Christmas picture postcard from Marlborough, Connecticut. The heavens keep amazing me everytime I … [Read more...]
Pleiades Bonus Round
I am sure that since you all have learned so much in our "Subaru Challenge" my friend Leo Taylor came up with this bonus round we can all try. Now that we know about the Pleiades, how many people know the names of any stars in this cluster? Now this is a real challege! Thanks Leo for making us energize some more brain cells. The answer is in this picture that Leo provided. Did … [Read more...]
NASA releases 2009 Calendar – Available Online
Here is a chance to get a great calendar for 2009 off of NASA's website. HOUSTON -- As part of NASA's celebration of the 10th anniversary of the International Space Station, the agency is providing a special 2009 calendar to teachers and the public. The calendar contains photographs taken from the space station. It highlights historic NASA milestones and fun facts about … [Read more...]
The Subaru Challenge
As winter sets in, possibly the most famous star cluster rises higher and higher in the sky. Known by many differnt names throughout history and around the planet, we know it as the Pleiades. Also know as the Seven Sisters, or M45, it can be seen even from the most light polluted skies. Containing over 3000 stars it is about 400 light years away and, a wonderful target for … [Read more...]
Conjunction images selected for Spaceweather.com
Spaceweather.com a news and information website about the Sun-Earth Enviroment, run by Dr. Tony Phillips, has put together a wonderful gallery of conjuction photos from around the world. CtCameraEye has been selected to have three pictures on their website on it's own Hartford, Connecticut conjunction page. A stop at their website is certainly in order. Thanks Dr. Phillips! … [Read more...]
Triple Planet Conjuction
December 1, 2008. A date that astronomers will remember for the great triple conjuction of the Moon, Venus, and Jupiter. Around here in Hartford, Connecticut viewing was not the best, as they say. As soon as twilight set in several low clouds and banks of showers moved quickly through the area. After that, the skies cleared and left pristine viewing for about an hour and a … [Read more...]