Sun Spot AR2529

While playing with the telescope setup this afternoon I thought I’d take a quick shot at the massive sunspot (AR2529) that everybody has been talking about lately.  I also grabbed a quick shot of sunspot AR2532 as well.

AR2529_20160417
Sunspot AR2529 AP130EDT f/8 at Prime Focus Baader Solar Film Lumenera Lu070 CCD Atlas EQ-G Tracking
AR2532_20160417
Sunspot AR2532 AP130EDT f/8 Baader Solar Film Lumenera Lu070 CCD

Pickett Astronomy Weekend April 1 – April 3, 2016

Field_setup
The first arrivals setting up on the astronomy field

On April 1st through April 3rd Pickett State Park, a newly designated IDA Dark Sky Site, held its first Astronomy Weekend Star Party. We were clouded out Friday night but clouds on Saturday finally yielded to clear skies albeit with some very gusty winds until the wee hours of the morning.

Waiting for Clouds to Clear
Waiting for Clouds to Clear while Orion sets
MW_Rising
Early morning Milky Way rising over the astronomy field
Star Trails over the astronomy field
Star Trails over the astronomy field
Polar Region Star Trails
Polar Region Star Trails
Leo_Triplet2
The Leo Triplet – M65, M66, & NGC 3628
Stellarvue SVQ 100, Apogee Ascent A694, AP900GTO Mount, Exposure 4 hours, SQM 21.48
Rho
Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex stretching down to the Lagoon Nebula Canon 6D with 40mm f/4 ISO 1600 4min single exposure