7/6/2017 – Lightning Strikes

I’ve got multiple items across our home, garage, and the observatory which suffered from a local discharge on 7/6.  The observatory was the worst hit with the computer, mount, 2 ethernet switches, powerline ethernet adapters, weather monitor, and possibly other items damaged.

Work continues to repair, replace, and rebuild.  Unfortunately, I think I’ll be down for a little while as I continue to evaluate the extent of the damage.  Hope to be back up in time for some summer nebula imaging but not holding my breath.

 

Solar White Light – April 2, 2017

Getting ready for the eclipse and testing one of the imaging setups today.  Took a single DSLR shot of a couple sunspots.  Sun spot 2648 is on the left, 2645 is the most prominent group closer to center, with 2644 on the right.

 

4/2/2017: AP130EDT, Canon 6D, Atlas EQ-G, Kendrick White Light solar filter (film)

Star Cloud NGC 206 in the Arms of the Andromeda Galaxy

 

NGC 206 is the brightest star cloud in the arms of the Andromeda Galaxy visible to us here on Earth.  You often see M31 imaged wide field but there is a wealth of detail to be found in the star clouds and dust lanes that start to pop out with a little more focal length.  Taken late last year from my back yard.

NGC 206 in Andromeda
SVQ100, Atlas EQ-G, Apogee A694 CCD