68 replies to this topic

[kgb]

Yes! Tonight will be the 1st clear night since April 9th and only a 1st quarter (48%) moon! What could go wrong?

 

[Dave Mitsky]

If it's not one thing, it's another.

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[kgb]

Obviously that graphic is a daytime measure. The problem with smoke at night, especially in a 18.5+ sqml like me, is the additional light scatter due to light pollution.

If it's not one thing, it's another.

[Dave Mitsky]

https://www.cloudyni...res/?p=14164162

[Ben Diss]

Yes! Tonight will be the 1st clear night since April 9th and only a 1st quarter (48%) moon! What could go wrong?

 

IMG_3748.jpeg

Can you tell me what app you're using there?

[RetiredDave]

Can you tell me what app you're using there?

That looks like the Astrospheric app interface.

[kgb]

Correct. Astropheric. https://www.astrospheric.com/

[Dave Mitsky]

The wildfire smoke on Monday night was awful.  I could only see the waxing crescent Moon, Arcturus, and a bright pass by the Tiangong space station without optical aid.

[Dave Mitsky]

(continued)

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[RetiredDave]

I think I'm going to stop using the term "galaxy season" to describe the March-June time period. I think I'm going to refer to it as "find something else to do" season. Nothing but rain and clouds and smoke for all but a couple days out of the last 3 months.

[kgb]

I think I'm going to stop using the term "galaxy season" to describe the March-June time period. I think I'm going to refer to it as "find something else to do" season. Nothing but rain and clouds and smoke for all but a couple days out of the last 3 months.

I am with you. Comparatively, though, this year seems to stand out and I think poor skies will likely extend well into this summer.

[GSwaim]

Another day of big beautiful dark clouds covering the sky here in East Texas. Yesterday it rained on and off...

[Peter Besenbruch]

There were a lot of high altitude clouds last night, so I spent a fair bit of time on the moon. Galaxy season has been spotty, but it hasn't been a total loss. I can assure folks that they are still there and waiting for you.

 

[dan_hm]

Nothing to do until late June anyway.  Who knows, maybe by then the smoke will be less bad.  And if it's not good by June, maybe late July. 

 

Looking through my Astrobin, I captured 4 images I was very happy with - one of which is my favorite image I've captured - in the summer of 2023.  Yes, that was the summer that followed Martian-surface NYC.  And one of my other favorite images was captured in the midst of the fires on a night where the smoke only rendered the transparency "average."  

[jrussell]

Another day of big beautiful dark clouds covering the sky here in East Texas. Yesterday it rained on and off...

It was partly clear last night here in DFW so I managed to get a little lunar observing in. It was cloudy this morning but it looks clear now from what I can see. If that holds I may see if I can do a little more moon gazing tonight.

[kgb]

Well, although it is a full moon and the wild fire smoke is still significant, at least it’s clear! Was going to do some narrowband, but decided to shoot globular. M92 is well placed in the NE right now and it is a beautiful target to shoot. At least I am under the stars! Astronomy is a great escape from this tumultuous world, I wish more people would look to the heavens and gain a little perspective.

[Dave Mitsky]

If it's not one thing, it's another.

This weekend, June 14-15, 2025, a layer of Saharan dust is forecast to be present over parts of the United States, primarily impacting Florida, the Gulf Coast and parts of Texas. It’s the 2nd major dust plume to strike the U.S. so far this June. This dust crosses the Atlantic Ocean from Africa in about a two-mile-thick (3.2-km-thick)layer of the atmosphere called the Saharan Air Layer (SAL). When it reaches the U.S., it can cause hazy skies and vivid sunsets. It can also suppress thunderstorms in locations where the dust is especially thick.

https://earthsky.org...atlantic-ocean/

[kgb]

Well gee whiz golly gee. I don’t care if it’s going to be disgustingly hot (although my camera sensor window might fog) and that it’s a school night. I’m going to be scopeside in my boxers tonight folks.

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[RetiredDave]

Well, I had about 6 hours of average seeing and below average transparency over 2 nights last week to test my new setup. Now we have this:

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Edited by RetiredDave, 05 July 2025 - 05:43 PM.