Hi guys, Last night proved to be such an excellent night that I'd like to share some of my observations with this group. All observations were done with my 6"...
Following the discussion Brian Skiff and I had a few weeks ago about estimating sky transparency, I did some tests during my observing run this month. The aim...
A couple weeks ago I said I would look up some differential photometry I did of two companions to Vega. I have finally remembered to do so: the data (along...
Since folks have been curious in the past about the sky brightness at the Lowell Anderson Mesa site, I'll note that I made first measurements with an SQM last...
According to DSS images, and more prominently on the POSS blue frames, NGC 6804 sports an outer halo (probably a recombination halo). Through the 10-inch...
My Vixen f/6.5 102 ED apo saw first light last night and after years at f/11 I am in focal length shock. Inevitably poor transparency followed the OTA's...
Hi guys, Tonight I got the chance to reexamine NGC 6814 under slightly lesser circumstances. More lightpollution, lots of fog and the galaxy was lower in the...
Last night, I was able to take advantage of the current lull in the Southwest US summer monsoon and do some observing from a dark sky site north of Flagstaff...
I was looking at Alpha-2 Cap last night and wondered if anyone has the current separation of the close 11th magnitude companion (h 608) to Alpha-2 which is...
... In my big spectral types file I have not used USNO-A2.0 coordinates for any star where I had not already adopted it from 'legacy' lists of my own. But I'm...
Well, I knew trying shooting the Messier full well that the ToUcam camera isn't designed for long exposure, DSO imaging. Some people have hacked the camera so...
Hello Everyone, Much has happened to me and my Light Cup. I've recently acquired a 5-inch (12.7cm) Tele Vue NP127 f/5.2 APO refractor and also just before the...
Another field which recently caused me some similar grief is the field around Z CMa. At least three fairly bright stars are missing in most astrometric...
A new variable star has been discovered on image of M27 in the past week. According to Arne Henden, it appears to have risen in brightness by at least 9...
This is reported today on the Sky & Tel website: http://skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1573_1.asp We all know S&T is often a little behind the times in what...
Wouter, In reference to your observation of 6814... could it be that you have astigmatism? I do, and since I do not observe with my glasses on, I often...
Hi all, A few weeks ago I visited the south of France and enjoyed some very dark skies. I took the occasion to try for as many objects possible in the ...
Is this an easy of difficult split at low altitudes, and is the difficulty-to-split akin to Almach or more like Vega? I'm mostly used to lining up Antares as a...
Where can one find modern information about the optical components to Vega? The data for the double star components in Sky Catalogue 2000.0 Vol II, Burnham's...
Does anyone out here have a feel for what the Otto Boeddicker atlas of the Milky Way drawn during his time at Birr was about. Was it any good ? What happened...
I have been observing from Arizona for nearly two solar cycles, and I cannot say that I have been able to detect the associated, periodic rise and fall of the...
Somebody who calls himself "Beta Persei" posted this to s.a.a. today. It appears to be a detailed, independent review of the Sky Quality Meter. ... Now a deep...
Hi all, With what diametre can we see of the colour on M20?? The blue of the nebuleuses by reflexion is very visible with my 12.5". But no red on M20... Clears...
Sometime ago, Steve Gottleib asked if I had some kinda of writeup on what interesting things I did while observing planetary nebulae in Western Australia. I...
At zenith you are looking through one airmass. At 60 deg from zenith (30 deg altitude) you are looking through two airmasses. If the same observer was to...
Hi Timo, yesterday evening I measured the two optical companions to Vega. I used my 5 inch refractor at prime focus (f=1m) and made 4 Webcam videos with around...
I am seeking information and advice on what type and size of instrument would be most suitable for Crossen's new book, Sky Vistas. I really like wide-field...
Hello, all, Has anyone chanced to look at the remarkable 50 page illustrataed essay on Messier and his times, in Ken Graun's new book, The Nest Step: Finding...
