Astronomy field Trips

Also take a look at past years for interesting images and projects.I like to call my Images "Now & Laters". Observe Now and Share Later.
Images are made from a live stack of many images usually around 3 seconds for each frame. The stack itself is around 3 Minutes in duration.A dark frame is removed for each frame during the live stack.Minimal processing is performed during the live stack. No post processing is performed on the final image.These images can also be browsed in the object image page.Clicking on an image will open the full size image in another page or a GalleryCheck back often as I work on projects in the observatory

Mind's Eye Observatory in the Press Click Here

Holmdel Horn Antenna

Bell Telephone Laboratories in

Holmdel, New Jersey, 2023

Constructed in 1959 to support the Echo project. A microwave horn antenna that went on to discover cosmic microwave background radiation. Its operation with the work of Penzias and Wilson was awarded a Nobel prize for Physics.

The Jansky Monument

Bell Telephone Laboratories in

Holmdel, New Jersey, 2023

Badlands Observatory

Quinn, South Dakota 2021

Minor Planet Center "MPC" Site code 918

plus code 85MVXVR9+8P

Ron Dyvig is the founder and builder and operates the private observatory with Teresa Hofer.

On our summer family vacation to South Dakota we got a personal invitation to "talk shop" at the Badlands Observatory and meet Ron Dyvig & Teresa Hofer as they renovated and prepare their facility for public shows and tours. It was such fun to meet like minded people and share. I could have talked for hours. Oh yeah, I did! We had too much to share in such a short visit.

The Observatory has been Given discovery credit for 25 main belt asteroids; one of them officially named after the State of South Dakota. Additionally they have collaborated with Universities and students in research over the years . They are now focusing on adding Public outreach and education via programs at the observatory for the public. If you go to visit The South Dakota Black Hills and Badlands which I highly recommend, don't miss the opportunity to observe at the Observatory and soak in the exceptional dark skies.

https://www.badlandsobservatory.com/blog-trips-around-the-sun/blog-post-title-four-jncx5-4jhs4

https://www.badlandsobservatory.com/

$25,000 Observatory Helps Scientists Track Asteroids

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badlands_Observatory

Teresa, Ron and Myself

The 26" F4.8 Reflector with hand figured mirror by Ron

Friction drive equatorial fork mount with PC-TCS drive

Ashley, Terry, Cheryl and Jack

in the Dome

Asteroid "South Dakota"

# 26715

Oh yeah! It's dark out here! in the Badlands

Radio Telescope in progress at the observatory

Pikes Peak Observatory

Elevation 14,115 Colorado 2020

Under Construction

http://www.pikespeakobservatory.org/

P P O

Highway to the clouds!

Almost there

The end of the timber line.

Half way stop. Quacking Aspen

Summit selfie

Under difficultconstruction 2020

Famous High altitude doughnut

No driving mistakes allowed!

A little hard to breath here

Historic original summit house

Palomar Mountain Observatory

Hale 200" telescope

California 2019

https://sites.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/homepage.html

Beautiful day to be on the mountain. Sailplanes going over as we walked up the hill.

The walk up the hill!

Art deco dome

Such a work of art the dome is.

The famous horseshoe mount

The upper cage where the astronomer would sit at prime focus to take images in the past. Biter cold to say the least.

Humm. Is wearing a GreenbankT-shirt disrespectful.?

The instrument platform is used for the camera now.

The Polar axis.

The mirror cell.

Royal Observatory

Greenwich, England

2018

https://www.rmg.co.uk/royal-observatory

The path to the Observatory through a beautiful park. 360 view

Humm, there's that Greenbank t-shirt again. Quick trip across the pond maybe. Not hardly.

Standing on the prime meridian feeling a little split personality going on.

Time ball. Does this seem familiar? Used to signal time to ships in the Thames for setting the ships navigation clock. Just like times square! The same technique was used at the Naval Observatory to the ships in the potomac.

View from the observatory deck looking toward the thames river.

Transit scope doors

Transit scope

GreenBank Observatory

Greenbank, West Virginia

2017

https://greenbankobservatory.org/

Model of the GBT Robert C. Byrd dish. Notice the faraday cage around the visitors center windows to protect the radio telescopes.

Beautiful day for a trip through the mountains.

Looks small from here. Not! No close up pictures allowed unless you have film!

The original scope built by Grote Reber

Wow. It worked as well. I had to let the kids give it a try! No cellular service allowed around these parts. This area is in the quiet zone for radio astronomy.

Hiding scope

Early receiver used at the observatory.

A little afternoon weather moving in with some very intense lightning that followed.

Lowell Observatory

Mars Hill

Flagstaff Arizona 2016

https://lowell.edu/

Welcome to Mars Hill!

The rotunda

Inside the Rotunda for a lecture.

The Rotunda center light.

The Clark refractor looking nice after its restoration since my last visit. A Sears mail order frying pan aperture cover still being used!

The business end of the Pluto scope. The images were taken on glass plates with the holder seen in this picture. All images were hand guided requiring much patience and dedication in sub 0 temperatures.

The Pluto scope used by Clyde Tombaugh in finding Pluto and more.

Percival Lowell's tome

University of Florida

Teaching Observatory

Gainesville, Florida 2017

https://astro.ufl.edu/research/telescopes/campus-teaching-observatory/

Florida Astronomy Teaching Observatory was originally located on a small hill south of the University Police Station overlooking what is now the Medical Center.

Established in 1956 to house an historic 8-inch Alvan Clark refracting telescope donated by a wealthy Chicago architect, Richard Schmidt to the University of Florida.

By the late 1960’s the university decided to build a Centrex telephone system building on this side. Consequently, the Observatory was moved to its present location south of the Reitz Union about 1970.