Sketch of Mars - CM 265° - UnfilteredDEC 14, 2009 - 11:30 UTMove mouse over image to view labels. Click to view larger version. Sketch of Mars - CM 265° - Filter: Wratten #80ADEC 14, 2009 - 11:30 UT Observation Notes: It has been a long time since my...
December 2009 Archives
Digital Illustration: Jupiter-Neptune Conjunction Move mouse over sketch above to view labels.Click for larger version. Observation Notes: Jupiter and Neptune have spent the last several days passing within a degree of each other. I finally got out to observe the pair tonight when they were separated by about 48...
The winter Milky Way is moving into view. Although it's not as bold as its summer counterpart, it still has much to offer the naked eye from a dark site. In the January issue of Astronomy Now, we'll look at some methods you can use to capture the Milky Way...
Sketch of the Winter Milky Way (Auriga to Canis Major) Move mouse over image to view labelsClick for larger version. Observation Notes: From a true, dark sky, nothing can compare to a naked eye view of the Milky Way. During the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere, we face...
Digital Illustration of Struve 1604 Move mouse over image to view labelsClick for larger version. Observation Notes: I observed this triple star nearly a year ago for Sue French's May 2009 Deep Sky Wonders column. I was out at Sunset Crater National Monument so I could get a good...
On the morning of Dec 9th, many in Norway were treated to a beautiful sight. An enormous, pearlescent, spiral lit up the twilight sky. Of course, some suspect it to be of extraterrestrial alien origin. There is a better explanation though: it was a twilight-affected rocket launch. A no-fly alert...
Sketch of Alpha Herculis (Rasalgethi/Struve 2140)Click image to view larger version. Observation Notes: Rasalgethi is a fantastic, colorful double. The bright primary shone a yellowish orange with--get ready for it--a sage green secondary. The diffraction pattern was captivating in better than normal seeing. SubjectAlpha Herculis (Rasalgethi / STF 2140 /...
Sketch of 95 Herculis (Struve 2264)Click image to view larger version. Observation Notes: 95 Herculis/Struve 2264 is another beautiful, bright pair in Hercules. The primary was sky blue with a hint of green and it's companion was a rich, golden yellow. The diffraction pattern looked great. Rings buzzed out to...
Sketch of Xi Scorpii (Struve 1998) and Struve 1999Click image to view larger version. Observation Notes: There are a number of double-doubles scattered across the sky. Although Epsilon Lyrae may be the best known, there's really some great competition out there. Xi Scorpii/Struve 1998 and its southern counterpart, Struve 1999,...
Sketch of Struve 2259Click image to view larger version. Observation Notes: Struve 2259 hit the top of my double star favorites the moment it came into view. It is a beautiful gold/blue pair at the heart of a starry bow-tie dominated by the brilliant white Nu Herculis. It looked best...
Sketch of Struve 2194Click image to view larger version. Observation Notes: Struve 2194 consists of a 6.5/9.3 magnitude pair separated by 16 arc seconds at 8°PA. I measured this pair at 18 arc seconds and 7°. There is also another 9th magnitude C star further south that I plotted, but...
Sketch of Struve 1369Click image to view larger version. Observation Notes: Color in Struve 1369 appeared best at 120X. The primary was yellow, with a dull red-orange component to the south-southeast, and a dull gray-orange component further to the north-northwest. SubjectSTF 1369 (DI Lyncis / ADS 7438) ClassificationMultiple Star Position...
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