Pictures Moon & Jupiter

Got some images last night of The moon and Jupiter. The Jupiter pictures weren't to good. Posted them in my photo section.

sunspot 1029

sunspot 1029 is just about to go off the edge of the sun. The last day to see it is 10/29/09 . hey look at that! Sunspot 1029 is leaving us on 10/29! This has been the most active sunspot this year!



CS!

Sunspot

big sunspot out right now. its almost near the eastern edge so you only have about a day or two left to catch it. To bad its cloudy here. This has been the most active sunspot of the year so far. And i can't view it!!!!


Photo credit: SOHO/MDI

Monday Moon!

Monday evening October 26th the Moon and Jupiter will be side my side! So Monday look to the south around 6:30pm.


click image to enlarge

CS!

Jupiter images

Just got some new Jupiter images from last night 10/21/09. posted in the photo section

Moon mission

Well, everyone was wondering why there wasn't a plume after LCROSS smashed into the moon. Well The LCROSS team has just come out and said there was indeed a plume, and they have some pictures of it

When the Centaur hit the moon it caused a plume about 4 miles wide. Here is a picture the LCROSS spacecraft took 15 seconds after Centaur hit the moon. you can see a plume.

The had Nine cameras and spectrometers on LCROSS captured every second of the Centaur's impact.

The LCROSS teams hasn't yet determined if there is any water on the moon. It could take weeks going through all the data before knowing.
The LCROSS team is calling this "a smashing success."

This whole thing is quite fascinating. Well done LCROSS Science team!!

Here is more information from NASA

moon mission

This is a animated video of what it will look like.
video

CS!

moon mission update

On October 9th 7:30am (est) You will be able to watch the LCROSS lunar impact on NASA.tv LIVE.
I can't wait, it looks like its going to be cloudy here. Glad NASA will be broadcasting it!

CS!

moon mission

Friday October 9th around 7:30am (EST) LCROSS will crash into the moons southern pole. why? to analyze the presence of any water and hydrocarbons. And you might be able to view it with your telescope.

Where exactly will this happen? Its going to collide in the Cabeus crater in the southern pole. it will be hard to locate, so you might want to try finding it now, before it happens. When it happens there will be a cloud coming from Cabeus, thats how you will know you found it. The mission scientist say the cloud of debris could be 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) over the rim of Cabeus. that's pretty high! Here are some images of the crash site here to help you locate the site.

Another satellite (LRO) will be orbiting the moon at low altitude about 31 miles examining the crash. For about a year.

so get your telescope ready!


location of the moon Oct. 9th 7:30 Virginia.


the impact site (image from NASA)

Taking a break.

You might have noticed i haven't posted much. I'm taking a break from Observing. I don't think i will be posting much if anything on the blog.

I will return!

CS!

The sun is having some activity. two sunspots have popped up.


Photo credit: SOHO/MDI

hubble telescope images.

Nasa has released some really awesome images from their Hubble telescope and wow they are stunning.

you can view these images here

number 3 looks soo cool!

Big bright moon.

wow was the moon bright last night. i did get a chance to take some images. images

Jupiter impact

Some more news on Jupiter's impact. The impact site is not just growing larger, but it also seems to be developing two lobes.

spaceweather.com has had continues updates about this. to read more go to spaceweather.com

and to find when you will be able to view the impact--> "The cloud is located near Jupiter's System II longitude 210°. For the predicted times when it will cross the planet's central meridian, add 2 hours and 6 minutes to Sky and Telescope's predicted transit times for Jupiter's Great Red Spot." quoted from Spaceweather.com

New toy!

find out what! my equipment !!

Jupiter 7/24/09

have some new photo of jupiter from last night in my photo section.

didn't get the impact site. maybe some other time.

NASA confirms something hit jupiter.

NASA has confirmed something hit jupiter. the hit is located at the south polar region of the planet. exactly 15 years ago Jupiter was impacted by a comet Shoemaker-Levy 9.

for more about this NASA



Image credit: NASA/JPL/Infrared Telescope Facility

IMPACT ON JUPITER

Some amateur astronomers have notices a black area on jupiters clouds. it was discovered On July 19th. It looks pretty cool. if you have a telescope and its clear check it out. its on the top of the planet.

here is a link to the picture from spaceweather

as soon as it clears i will see if i can get some images.

CS!

Sunspot

my first sunspot pictures are in my photo section.

CS!

Happy 4th

Happy Independence day Everyone. Be safe out there and have a great day! Enjoy some fireworks!

CS!

Sunspot for the 4th of July. A rapid sunspot has emerged. Its located on the southern hemisphere Sunspot 1024.


click image to enlarge

Back to blogosphere/ Moon mission.

Well hello young ones. Haven't posted in awhile. Been all over and busy.

If you haven't heard about the lunar mission then pay attention.

On June 18th LCROSS & LRO aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida took off to the moon.
Both spacecraft are on missions of lunar discovery, but they have two completely different missions. LCROSS will destroy itself in a collision with the Moon at about 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 9, 2009, creating a debris plume that will be analyzed for the presence of water and hydrocarbons. However, LRO will orbit the Moon at a low altitude of about 31 miles for at least a year. The spacecraft's seven scientific instruments will hunt for water, map the Moon's surface in 3D, assess the radiation environment for future explorers, and much more.

And the really cool thing is. Is that amateur astronomers may be able to observe the destruction of LCROSS with a small telescope.

Here is a link to Nasa.gov about this

CS!

Saturn-focal reducer.

saturn images just posted to the image section of the blog. My best images of saturn to date! i'm very happy.

Also a review of my brand new focal reducer will be coming soon to the equipment section. its a good piece of equipment.

CS!

allposters.com

If you are interested in getting some astronomy posters. Allposters.com has some really nice posters at great prices. I just got a few for a very good price and got 22% off. They have sales all the time and their prices are good.

Check them out. They ship fast. good company! Allposters.com

CS!

ISS

The ISS has gotten so big you can see it in front of a full moon with a small telescope of course. You can also see it in front of the SUN. With the right equipment ( a solar filter) you will be able to see the ISS go pass the sun. When it fly's pass the sun.

You can check when and where the ISS is and when it will be flying over you, with this very easy tool. Just put in your zip to find out. Satellite tracker .

check out this Video Raymond Dubois took.

now you have a reason to big the solar filter back out!

Homemade crosshair eyepiece

I made a crosshair eyepiece today. you can check it out here. I tell how you can make it and what you need! with pictures!!!

CS!

Update 3/5/09

A small Review is now up on the eyepiece.

pictures

got some picture for tonight 3/19/09. You can see them in the photo section. Thanks for looking!

Update

well today i bought a DC adapter for my mount. i will be back outside within the next week with some new pictures to share with you guys!

CS!

ISS

The International Space Station got new solar panels up and running on the 20th of march. The astronauts added more than 8000 sq. feet of solar panels. This is the largest addition of solar panels added to the ISS.

here is a link to a video of the ISS taken by Dirk Ewers.

Venus

Venus is looking pretty cool right now. If you have a chance and its clear you should check it out with your telescope. Venus looks like a rainbow. This is because Venus is very low in the sky so the Earth's atmosphere acts like a prism which makes Venus resemble a Rainbow.

Look at the western part of the sky to check the very bright Venus out. and check it out sooner then later Venus will disappearing into the glare of the spring sun.

CS!

Two satellites have collided

This is quite remarkable. Two satellites orbiting the earth have collided! On February 10th Iridium 33 crashed into Kosmos 2251. Both satellites were destroyed completely, Leaving more than 300 fragments floating around in space. NASA is saying the International Space Station is in no immediate danger.

Saturn

some Saturn images for last night in "my photo" section of the blog. First time with the etx-125.