Image of the day

Captured by
RICHARD COFER

VdB 141 Ghost Nebula

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Posts Made By: Maurice Clark

July 24, 2014 02:30 PM Forum: Comets

Churyumov-Gerasimenko up close

Posted By Maurice Clark
The latest images of comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko from the Rosetta spacecraft have been released on the Rosetta Blog website. The nucleus is now starting to reveal hints surface detail and topography.

http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/07/24/hints-of-features/

Cheers,

Maurice

November 12, 2014 04:05 PM Forum: Comets

ESA live streaming Rosetta landing

Posted By Maurice Clark
10:03 CST. They made it down successfully!!!!!!! grin

Congrats ESA!

December 31, 2014 03:55 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

ST-4 Autoguider

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi Joe,

I have an ST-4 and still use it as an autoguider with my DSLR. As others have said, the chip is quite small, but it does work great.

You can use the ST-4 for imaging, I started my CCD imaging this way. But there are 2 problems. Firstly is the small chip. This means it works best on small objects such as galaxies. The second is that it is only an 8-bit chip, and so will not show as much as more modern and more sensitive chips.

When using the ST-4 as an imager, you will need to connect it to a computer. you will also need software to control it. SBIG does have software as a free download for the ST-4 on their website. You can use either the dedicated ST-4 software (although this is DOS!!) or I think that CCDOps is available as a free download.

One warning though.... once you start CCD imaging, you will quickly become hooked and want bigger and better CCD's!!! grin

Hope this helps.

Maurice

March 13, 2015 03:08 PM Forum: After Dark

strange object

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi Richard,

When and where were you when you observed this?

I was out with a class last night just north of Lubbock TX when we all saw a small patch about 2 degrees across that looked like a tiny cloud, but was very unusual for a cloud. We first saw it at about 9.18 CDT, close to zeta tauri. The cloud drifted slowly eastwards towards Jupiter, almost reaching it at about 9.28. As it drifted, it became larger, faint and more diffuse, fading from view just before it reached Jupiter.

It did not look right to be a cloud and the rest of the sky was clear. When I first saw it, my immediate thought was that it was a fuel dump from a rocket booster. I see that NASA launched the MMS mission last night, but the timing looks too late.

Very intriguing.

Maurice

April 2, 2015 10:38 PM Forum: LUNATICS

Lost in space

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi Charles,

I have rotated and flipped your image so that it is easier to match to maps.

The large, partly flooded crater near the centre is J. Herschel, while the prominent crater towards the top right with the 2 central hills is Philolaus.

Hope this helps.

Maurice

August 10, 2015 02:44 AM Forum: Politics

Did anyone watch the debate?

Posted By Maurice Clark
For a non-partisan look at the debate, here is the BBC's take on how each candidate performed. Interesting.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33815103

And an interesting look at what has happened with Trump since.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33840025

Cheers,

Maurice

August 31, 2015 07:36 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

12 inch AT Ritchie Chretien

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi Klaus,

I do not own an AT RC, but I do own a 20" PlaneWave which is a Dall-Kirkham Cassegrain and I love it! It is streets ahead of the C14 that I was using for imaging. One of the best benefits of a carbon fiber truss is that the focus is stable through the night and from night to night. With the metal tubed Schmidt-cassegrains I find I am constantly adjusting the focus.

The scope also works quite well for visual observing, but not on planets. I have an 18" dob and it is far better on planets. I think the main reason is the very large secondary.

Regards,

Maurice

September 1, 2015 03:49 PM Forum: Solar System Observing

Total Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017

Posted By Maurice Clark
Hi Linton,

Nice write-up. The local astronomy club here in Texas is planning to go to western Nebraska. Although the chances of clear skies are a little below Oregon, it is only a day's drive away. My intention is to come back from Australia to join them. Looking forward to it. I have successfully managed to observe 2 total solar eclipses and they are just unreal!!!! Be warned.... it will be the fastest 2-3 minutes of your life!! Practice what you want to observe/photograph repeatedly beforehand... it will help... a little!

Cheers,

Maurice

December 9, 2015 02:16 PM Forum: Politics

No Trump

Posted By Maurice Clark
Russ Carroll said:

watch this bitch self-destruct.


Isn't that an insult to dogs??? 8)

January 18, 2016 03:37 PM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Deep Sky

M 101 and comet C/2013 US 10 Catalina

Posted By Maurice Clark
That is a seriously nice photo. Thanks for sharing.

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