The Moon, Jupiter, Venus and More....

Got the scope out tonight =)

The Moon is a waxing gibbous

I was a bit surprised to see Earthshine.....

I took a couple of Moon videos and merged them into one.  I used the 5X and 10X feature of Backyard EOS.  It's just like being there ~ lol ;)

Took a few videos of Venus at different exposures.  People often want to view Venus through the telescope and don't believe me when I describe it as "not much to see...."  =)

The final video I made was a short one of Jupiter <3

I've got a goal to photograph (or at least attempt to photograph) ALL of the Messier objects.  Tonight I got a few more "under my belt."  Quite possibly will photograph them again when the Moon isn't so darn bright.

M53, a globular in Coma Berenices

M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy (one of my favorites for the evening =)

Last but not least.... M64, the Black Eye Galaxy

With regard to the viewing temperatures, I hate to complain about ~ 35 F, but that's a bit chilly for the end of March.  Ready for warmer temperatures!  :-)

Miscellaneous Sunsets and Stars

So I've had on my list of "events" I want to capture the Zodiacal Lights.  I've got some pretty shots of the Sun setting ~ but nothing of what I think the glow of our solar system's ecliptic plane should look like.  Sigh!  =)  I might have better luck near the fall equinox toward the east at sunrise.  We shall see...

These were taken out at the Witte Observatory March 10 as the Sun was setting.  The fireworks are a from an outfit testing their product.... a bonus ;)

An assortment of other star photos that evening.



While in Mississippi over Spring Break here's my other attempt to capture the Zodiacal Lights at sunset.  I'm thinking it just wasn't dark enough... but they are a pretty series of photos.  Check out Venus looking like she's "all that!" <3



While I had the camera out, I took a few photos of stars through trees.  The green glow on the trees is from the security light.

Last and having nothing to do with astrophotography or even nature, I took a couple of short videos while passing over two bridges on the way home from Mississippi.  Don't worry ~ I was in the passenger seat - Hah!

In the first video I was riding in your newly acquired (in pristine condition with 30,000 original miles) 1985 GMC High Sierra Pickup Truck.

Here's to warmer weather, clear skies, and time to get the scopes out!  =)

Waning Love Joy.... Waning Gibbous =)

Saturday + Clear Skies + Descent Temperature = Time to get the scope out =)

 Comet Lovejoy
20" ISO1600

 30" ISO1600

Waning Gibbous

1/200" ISO200

 1/1250" ISO400

 1/4000" ISO400

 1/4000" ISO800

A bit of random video footage....

A few NGC and M Objects.... (without stacking from my porch =)

NGC 4631 - The Whale Galaxy

20" ISO3200

 30" ISO3200

M44 ~ Beehive Cluster

5" ISO 6400

 M63 ~ Sunflower Galaxy
30" ISO3200

While trying to capture the Rossette Nebula, the scope suddenly stopped tracking - I think because it "flipped"  Thought it was a pretty pic =)  30" ISO3200

Randomly gathering way too much light to see Jupiter's bands.... I thought these wispy things coming off Jupiter were pretty cool.  Some sort of aberration with the camera?  I don't know...

10" ISO3200

 30" ISO800