If your looking to tease some extra detail out of planetary observation, consider using planetary filters. The filters are designed to only allow certain wavelengths of light to pass through to the eyepiece. This is useful to bringing out features on planets that may ordinarily be difficult to distinguish. Here are a few tips:
-Typically, a filter that is the color opposite of the feature your aiming to enhanced is used. For example, if your wanting to bring out the detail in Jupiter's ruddy brown cloud belts or the Great Red Spot, try using a blue filter. This is not always the case however. By using a red filter on Mars, which is already red, you can bring out detail on the surface. Try experimenting with different colors to see what effect they have.
-Treat the filters the same as an eyepiece. The filters are made out of optical glass, and may or may not be coated. Clean and care for them the same as you would for any other optics.
-Some filters are threaded on both sides. This can allow stacking of multiple filters.
-If your using a small aperture telescope, it's best to avoid using the darker tints because they block out a lot of light. This combined with the small aperture will result in very dark images.
For a visual demonstration of the use of filters on Jupiter, check out my newest video on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hAOP6Dnrl8
Monday, December 31, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Meteor Shower: Quadrantids
Take a look Northeast in the early morning hours of Jan. 3rd to catch a glimpse of the year's first meteor shower.
The Quadrantids will peak in the morning on Jan. 3rd, with the best times to look from 1:00am to dawn. The rate can exceed 60 per hour, but unfortunately the waning gibbous moon will be putting out some unwanted glare. The radiant will be in the area south of Ursa Major, between Draco and Bootes. Be sure to dress warm if you decide to go out!
The Quadrantids will peak in the morning on Jan. 3rd, with the best times to look from 1:00am to dawn. The rate can exceed 60 per hour, but unfortunately the waning gibbous moon will be putting out some unwanted glare. The radiant will be in the area south of Ursa Major, between Draco and Bootes. Be sure to dress warm if you decide to go out!
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Update: Comet C/2012 K5 Linear
Comet K5 Linear is cruising it's way out of Ursa Major and will soon cross over into Lynx. As it does, K5 will slightly brighten and should be as bright as it will get (mag 7.3) on December 29.
Unfortunately, this is the day after the full moon! It will only be observable in a moonless sky for only a short time after sunset, perhaps half an hour. Afterwards, most of the comet will likely be washed out by the glare of the nearly full moon.
Instead, wait two days and observe on the 31st of December. The moon won't rise until well after 8:00pm, giving you more time to observe and even image K5. By this time it will be just about into Auriga, under the binary star system Menkalinan (beta Aurigae, mag 1.9), making it easy to find. And it will have only lost a tenth of a magnitude in brightness.
Moonlight can make it very difficult to observe comets, especially those of a higher magnitude. A sky bathed in moonlight can make a comet hard to find and completely wash out the comet's tail and the thin atmosphere around the nucleus, called a coma.
Unfortunately, this is the day after the full moon! It will only be observable in a moonless sky for only a short time after sunset, perhaps half an hour. Afterwards, most of the comet will likely be washed out by the glare of the nearly full moon.
Instead, wait two days and observe on the 31st of December. The moon won't rise until well after 8:00pm, giving you more time to observe and even image K5. By this time it will be just about into Auriga, under the binary star system Menkalinan (beta Aurigae, mag 1.9), making it easy to find. And it will have only lost a tenth of a magnitude in brightness.
Moonlight can make it very difficult to observe comets, especially those of a higher magnitude. A sky bathed in moonlight can make a comet hard to find and completely wash out the comet's tail and the thin atmosphere around the nucleus, called a coma.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Christmas Conjuntion/Jupiter
The Christmas conjunction was partially marred by clouds in my area, but I was able to go out and observe once the clouds started to thin out and break apart. I was even able to observe Jupiter for a short while in between cloud breaks.
Here is a image of the conjunction taken with my Canon point and shoot:
This image of Jupiter was obtained from an AVI taken with a NexImage 5 planetary imager. The image is composed of about 250 of the best frames stacked together with Registax. The GRS is clearly visible:
Here is a image of the conjunction taken with my Canon point and shoot:
This image of Jupiter was obtained from an AVI taken with a NexImage 5 planetary imager. The image is composed of about 250 of the best frames stacked together with Registax. The GRS is clearly visible:
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and here's hoping for a better and brighter New Year.
Don't forget to check out the Christmas Conjunction tonight. Look east after sunset to find the moon and Jupiter hanging together.
Did Santa bring you a new telescope this year?
Don't forget to check out the Christmas Conjunction tonight. Look east after sunset to find the moon and Jupiter hanging together.
Did Santa bring you a new telescope this year?
Christmas Conjunction
How about a celestial light show to round out your Christmas holiday? Take a look east after sunset and you'll see one.
The moon and Jupiter will be in conjunction on the night of the 25th, and will only be separated by 2 degrees. Directly above Jupiter will be M45 (the Pleiades), and below and to the right of the moon will be the red giant Aldebaran. Together these celestial objects will be a stunning sight.
Did you get a new scope for Christmas? This is an excellent opportunity to try out your new scope! The moon and Jupiter are easy and fascinating objects to observe. The moon will be nearly full, so you may find it a bit too bright in the eyepiece. Try stopping down the aperture or using a neutral density moon filter if your scope came with one. Jupiter will be a sight to behold. The four Galilean moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto will be visible, and the great red spot will be near Jupiter's meridian at around 9:30pm PST, or 6:30 EST.
The moon and Jupiter will be in conjunction on the night of the 25th, and will only be separated by 2 degrees. Directly above Jupiter will be M45 (the Pleiades), and below and to the right of the moon will be the red giant Aldebaran. Together these celestial objects will be a stunning sight.
Did you get a new scope for Christmas? This is an excellent opportunity to try out your new scope! The moon and Jupiter are easy and fascinating objects to observe. The moon will be nearly full, so you may find it a bit too bright in the eyepiece. Try stopping down the aperture or using a neutral density moon filter if your scope came with one. Jupiter will be a sight to behold. The four Galilean moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto will be visible, and the great red spot will be near Jupiter's meridian at around 9:30pm PST, or 6:30 EST.
Comet Alert: C/2012 K5 (LINEAR)
Looking for a comet to observe , for beginners and the experienced alike? Comet C/2012 K5 (LINEAR) is here for the taking.
K5 is currently moving through Ursa Major and is shining at about magnitude 7.7. It is forecast to slightly brighten over the next few days as it moves out of the Big Bear and into the constellation Lynx. It should reach it's maximum magnitude around DEC 29-30.
If you want to see it, K5 can be found between the stars Dubhe and Muscida in Ursa Major from now until DEC 27, and then making a run towards Lynx afterwards.
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