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I will probably plan a June 24-25-26-27 Star Party (roads and weather permitting) for Table Mountain proper. Or maybe call it "Lion Rock" to avoid confusion?
That would put the Northwest New Moon schedule:
Spring Delany: April
Pixieland: May
Table Mountain Proper: June
Eden Valley: July
Oregon Star Party: August
I am going to try to do all of these, except maybe OSP and opt for Goldendale instead.
Pacific NW Mt St Helens Eterna Thread Pt 7
Started by
csa/montana
, Aug 29 2013 01:18 PM
1693 replies to this topic
#251
Stacy
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Posted 16 November 2013 - 06:14 PM
#252
Spaced
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Posted 18 November 2013 - 06:39 PM
Thanks for posting the summary, Stacy. I hope I'm free to attend *all* of these. Time will tell.
#253
BradleyB
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Posted 19 November 2013 - 10:33 PM
Is anyone going to make an attempt at comet ISON?
Brad
Brad
#254
andysea
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Posted 19 November 2013 - 10:45 PM
I may try to get it this weekend. I am heading to the Yakima Canyon on Thursday night for imaging and probably also Friday and Saturday.
I'm going to bring my DSLR.... it seems very low tho.
I'm going to bring my DSLR.... it seems very low tho.
#255
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Posted 20 November 2013 - 11:38 AM
Jupiter was high & bright this morning! I think I'll get up earlier tomorrow and, if it's clear, take a look at it.
I'm going to hold off on ISON viewing until its reappearance in early December. I know the odds are against clear weather but I think it's too low in the sky right now for a quick, casual look to be successful. I need to figure out a good site for views all the way to the eastern horizon. I'll check out a certain VFW parking lot this morning and, if it's a suitable site, go back in the afternoon and talk to them about permission to go there in the mornings. It would mean looking across the lights of Tacoma but I gotta work with what I have.
Good luck to all!
I'm going to hold off on ISON viewing until its reappearance in early December. I know the odds are against clear weather but I think it's too low in the sky right now for a quick, casual look to be successful. I need to figure out a good site for views all the way to the eastern horizon. I'll check out a certain VFW parking lot this morning and, if it's a suitable site, go back in the afternoon and talk to them about permission to go there in the mornings. It would mean looking across the lights of Tacoma but I gotta work with what I have.
Good luck to all!
#256
andysea
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Posted 20 November 2013 - 12:28 PM
Yes it seems to be way too low now. It would be nice to photograph it and also get some landscape in the foreground. Perhaps if it gets brighter and bigger
#257
Stacy
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Posted 20 November 2013 - 01:59 PM
Yes it seems to be way too low now. It would be nice to photograph it and also get some landscape in the foreground. Perhaps if it gets brighter and bigger
I vote for that!
#258
Spaced
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Posted 20 November 2013 - 04:09 PM
I did stop at the VFW this morning. I think it will be a decent viewing site. I sweet-talked the GM into giving me her business card, with "permission" written on the back, in case I have an early-morning chat with the attentive boys in black and blue. I also met the morning janitors, so they'd recognize me. I even got into a conversation with one of the vets, Rusty, and invited him to meet me in the lot tomorrow morning.
I'm about to look up and maybe print viewing charts. I believe that even if ISON is too low now, others may be visible: C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) is in southern Ursa Major, at Mag 8.0; 2P/Encke will be low on the eastern horizon, just below Mercury*, in Libra at Mag 4.6; and ISON 7 deg. west of Encke in Virgo, at Mag 6.7.
Also, S & T's viewing charts, at least those accessed through the website, don't go quite to this late date.
*The comet is at the corner of a right triangle with Mercury above and Saturn to the left, looking east.
I'm about to look up and maybe print viewing charts. I believe that even if ISON is too low now, others may be visible: C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) is in southern Ursa Major, at Mag 8.0; 2P/Encke will be low on the eastern horizon, just below Mercury*, in Libra at Mag 4.6; and ISON 7 deg. west of Encke in Virgo, at Mag 6.7.
Also, S & T's viewing charts, at least those accessed through the website, don't go quite to this late date.
*The comet is at the corner of a right triangle with Mercury above and Saturn to the left, looking east.
#259
zerro1
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Posted 20 November 2013 - 10:39 PM
I'm running a session tonight with my DSLR. M33 for now, will switch to M45... we'll see what happens after that.
Edit: ohhh the moons still pretty big and just rising
. Well I'll still try M45 but after that 
#260
andysea
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Posted 21 November 2013 - 01:36 AM
Yeah the moon is bright. I was able to get about 1.5 hours of luminance on NGC89 before it was too bright....planning to continue imaging it for as long as it stays clear.
#261
Spaced
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Posted 21 November 2013 - 12:09 PM
I got up early and went over to the VFW parking lot. I got in little actual viewing, but it was still fun.
As soon as I got out of the truck I could see a fairly bright satellite moving west to east high in the north. I just now checked Satellite Safari and no, it wasn't the ISS.
First, I realized I had forgotten to scope out lights in the parking lot. There's a bright dual sodium vapor light set where I planned to set up. But in their lower lot the light was turned off and I found a place where some decorative evergreens blocked the glare from the first. None the less, it's an overall fairly bright area, illuminated by other lights in the near distance.
It only took a couple of minutes to set up. I decided to start with Jupiter. Seeing was superb. The problem was that a thin layer of frost soon started forming on my EP. That was a problem I wasn't equipped to deal with. I used pretty much all of my EPs for a couple of minutes each, but no joy. At some point I looked up and realized it was brightening in the east.
Anyway, as I say, it was fun. I'd do it there again, possibly in early Dec. with the goal of comet spotting.
As soon as I got out of the truck I could see a fairly bright satellite moving west to east high in the north. I just now checked Satellite Safari and no, it wasn't the ISS.
First, I realized I had forgotten to scope out lights in the parking lot. There's a bright dual sodium vapor light set where I planned to set up. But in their lower lot the light was turned off and I found a place where some decorative evergreens blocked the glare from the first. None the less, it's an overall fairly bright area, illuminated by other lights in the near distance.
It only took a couple of minutes to set up. I decided to start with Jupiter. Seeing was superb. The problem was that a thin layer of frost soon started forming on my EP. That was a problem I wasn't equipped to deal with. I used pretty much all of my EPs for a couple of minutes each, but no joy. At some point I looked up and realized it was brightening in the east.
Anyway, as I say, it was fun. I'd do it there again, possibly in early Dec. with the goal of comet spotting.
#262
zerro1
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Posted 21 November 2013 - 12:53 PM
with only an hour of 2 minute sub exposures and a third of them taking punishment from the moon, I'm not too disapointed in my m33 from last night..
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#263
Stacy
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Posted 21 November 2013 - 01:51 PM
with only an hour of 2 minute sub exposures and a third of them taking punishment from the moon, I'm not too disapointed in my m33 from last night..
I am (disappointed). What is that? Did someone sneeze on your objective?
Just kidding. Jealous really. I went out last night to check conditions and had a haze/fog around my house. Not worth braving the cold for that. Of course at bedtime (12:30AM) a substantial improvement. But I'm old and tired.
Stacy
#264
Spaced
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Posted 21 November 2013 - 01:59 PM
You wouldn't be so tired if you went to bed at a decent hour, Stacy. 
But you'd still be old.
Pretty cool, Robert! If M33 was at 12:00 for you, what direction was the moon? With the seeing so good this might be a good time to try Jupiter or Luna.
But you'd still be old.
Pretty cool, Robert! If M33 was at 12:00 for you, what direction was the moon? With the seeing so good this might be a good time to try Jupiter or Luna.
#265
Stacy
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Star Partyer
Posted 21 November 2013 - 02:05 PM
Pretty cool, Robert! If M33 was at 12:00 for you, what direction was the moon? With the seeing so good this might be a good time to try Jupiter or Luna.
Yes! Do a planet Robert!!!
#266
andysea
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Posted 22 November 2013 - 02:43 PM
Does anyone know of a good spot south of Seattle that is dark enough for AP?
Rattlesnake lake has horrible seeing most of the time and I am looking for alternate locations.
Rattlesnake lake has horrible seeing most of the time and I am looking for alternate locations.
#267
zerro1
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Posted 23 November 2013 - 09:25 PM
Sorry Andy, I've never ventured that direction for imaging. I've never found anything on this side of the passes that really stands out due to the marine air from the Pacific.
Thursday night was pretty good out here. I setup my Quantix and spent the whole night with the OIII filter.
I combined the OIII with some Ha for a bicolor of M42 but didn't have any short exposures to tame the core. Solution: I dug up the LRGB I shot last year with the Quantix...
Thursday night was pretty good out here. I setup my Quantix and spent the whole night with the OIII filter.
I combined the OIII with some Ha for a bicolor of M42 but didn't have any short exposures to tame the core. Solution: I dug up the LRGB I shot last year with the Quantix...
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#268
Stacy
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Posted 24 November 2013 - 12:06 AM
Nice Robert!
#269
Spaced
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Posted 24 November 2013 - 12:41 PM
Wow!
#270
andysea
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Posted 24 November 2013 - 01:13 PM
Nice Orion!
I ended up going to the Yakima Canyon. I compared my subs from Rattlesnake Lake and from Yakima and there is a dramatic difference in sharpness. I think for small targets Rattlesnake Lake is just a waste of time for luminance. For RGB data it should be OK tho.
I ended up going to the Yakima Canyon. I compared my subs from Rattlesnake Lake and from Yakima and there is a dramatic difference in sharpness. I think for small targets Rattlesnake Lake is just a waste of time for luminance. For RGB data it should be OK tho.
#271
zerro1
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Fly Me to the Moon
Posted 24 November 2013 - 03:24 PM
Thank You Stacy, Mike and Andy.
Thats what I mean, Andy. Sometimes the conditions come together and imaging on the west side can be good, but most of the time...not great. The East side has better conditions due to dryer air. It may not always be great in all aspects, but that reduction in moisture go's a long way to reduce the impacts of other factors.
Thats what I mean, Andy. Sometimes the conditions come together and imaging on the west side can be good, but most of the time...not great. The East side has better conditions due to dryer air. It may not always be great in all aspects, but that reduction in moisture go's a long way to reduce the impacts of other factors.
#272
Stacy
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Posted 24 November 2013 - 05:28 PM
Nice Orion!
I ended up going to the Yakima Canyon. I compared my subs from Rattlesnake Lake and from Yakima and there is a dramatic difference in sharpness. I think for small targets Rattlesnake Lake is just a waste of time for luminance. For RGB data it should be OK tho.
Where in Yakima Canyon do you go?
#273
andysea
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Posted 24 November 2013 - 11:33 PM
I usually go to the Lmuma Creek recreation area. Its protected form the headlights of passing traffic and it has a fairly open horizon.
#274
MadHungarian
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Posted 25 November 2013 - 01:40 AM
The last time i set up there with my scope, i was amused by the educational signs there that were contrasting the daytime canyon wildlife with nighttime wildlife -- they could've added a section on human-life as well. The daytime human-life (fishermen) were just leaving and the nighttime human-life (starwatchers) were just showing up.
The sky exposure was fairly good, but i remember it being pretty cold though. This was February, i think. I like my comforts, and i've really got to come up with some better arrangement next time i go there. Maybe i need to buy a tent and air-mattress, or something. Or maybe a big fancy motorhome with a 40" flat-panel TV that i can hook the telescope too...
The sky exposure was fairly good, but i remember it being pretty cold though. This was February, i think. I like my comforts, and i've really got to come up with some better arrangement next time i go there. Maybe i need to buy a tent and air-mattress, or something. Or maybe a big fancy motorhome with a 40" flat-panel TV that i can hook the telescope too...
#275
andysea
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Posted 25 November 2013 - 09:49 AM
Yes I was there on Saturday night and it was about 18F. The seeing was excellent and there was no dew at all. I usually nap in my truck, I have a sleeping bag that is rated for -20 and it works.
I was only able to get about 6 hours of Luminance on my target but it's a start.
Here is what I have so far.
http://www.flickr.co...581906/sizes/o/
I think I should have framed it better to feature the galaxy group at the bottom right corner but I had no idea that it was part of my shot!
I was only able to get about 6 hours of Luminance on my target but it's a start.
Here is what I have so far.
http://www.flickr.co...581906/sizes/o/
I think I should have framed it better to feature the galaxy group at the bottom right corner but I had no idea that it was part of my shot!
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