As I was walking into work this morning (5:30am) I saw a picture that I could not pass up. It was the waning moon rising up above one of our satellite dishes on the roof at work in Hartford. Below it is the planet Venus. A great way to start the week, especially if you did not see many Perseids at all last night. … [Read more...]
We image the ISS, and the ISS images us
Below is one of the pictures that I have shot of the International Space Station as it regularly passes overhead here in Connecticut. Many times as it has come over the horizon and into view, I have always wondered if any of the astronauts were up there taking pictures of us on the ground. They sure have! We might be in darkness most of the time we see it, but the … [Read more...]
Full Worm Moon
It was a wonderful evening to go worm hunting. That's Worm Moon hunting! With great weather upon us I took advantage of it and chased down the full Worm Moon last night. This time trying to get it coming up in back of the historic New London's Ledge Lighthouse. Everything was going to plan until a bank of low clouds moved in. The moon slithered through the cloud layer, … [Read more...]
Castle Moon over Meriden, Connecticut
If comets, asteroids, planets, and winter storms can be named, I could name my own moon images. Keeping it local I present to you for the first time (drum roll please).....The February Castle Moon, Meriden, Connecticut! The sun was about to go down, and the "Golden Hour" of photography was approaching. I set up my equipment about 5.5 miles away in Cheshire, CT. where I … [Read more...]
The Full Beaver Moon Fly-By
The clouds were slowly coming in, and the moon was coming up. In November it's named the Beaver Moon. This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now preparing for winter. I wanted to capture some images of the … [Read more...]
McGee School Astronomy Club outing
Battling an almost full moon, and frosty ground conditions, the McGee School Astronomy Club in Berlin, Connecticut, held an observing session on Nov. 19th. The viewing grounds were just down the street at the Willard School field, which provided plenty of parking, and a large field to set up in. Assisting club mentor Laurie Averill, were several members of the Astronomical … [Read more...]
Lunar transit captured – Aircraft in front of the moon
I have been trying to capture this lunar transit for a number of years, and unexpentantly I managed to capture it tonight without any warning. While looking at the moon at the town green in Marlborough, Ct I saw a number of aircraft flying near the moon at about 7:00pm. Just by chance I took out my camera and had it ready in case a plane did fly across the first quarter … [Read more...]
M33 autumn image gets some serious television time
It was a surprise this morning when I got into work and saw Rachel Frank, one of our FOXCT meteorolgists showing my colorful autumn image of M33 the Triangulum Galaxy during her weather segment. Nobody on the morning show knew what a M33 was, never mind it was in the constellation of Trianglulum. Without missing a beat, Rachel explained what it was, and who took the image. Some … [Read more...]
Best yet M31 image in one minute
It's been quite a astrophotography weekend (read posts below) starting with comet Hartley 2, a neat shot of the M33 Galaxy in the trees, and now to top it off a personal best of M31 in a single one minute exposure. This time taken with a 300mm lens at f/4 at 3200 iso. Three nights of great weather and great skies. I love the fall! … [Read more...]
M33 and autumn colors
After finally getting an image of comet Hartley 2 that I liked, I had some rare astronomy time to explore the skies. Using my pair of 20x80 bino's I spotted a smudge of light in between some branches of an oak tree next to my house. Upon further exploration I found it to be M33 the Triangulum Galaxy at a magnitude of about 6.3. Putting on a 300mm lens on my camera I took … [Read more...]