Recent Observations, Projects and News

"Now & Laters"

Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) 2020

Comet NEOWISE C/2020 F3 Celestron C8 @ F1.9 Structure and striations in the dust & sodium tail visible off the nucleusNote the Striations in the dust and sodium gas tail

Comet C/2019 U6 (Lemmon) 2020

SN 2020 jfo Supernova 2020

Supernova SN 2020jfo May 11 2020

Located In the galaxy Messier 61 a member of the Virgo cluster. This galaxy is well known for events like this of which many have been observed and documented.

Plate Solve For SN 2020jfo


Center (RA, Dec):(185.495, 4.476)Center (RA, hms):12h 21m 58.701sCenter (Dec, dms):+04° 28' 33.948"Size:42.9 x 32.1 arcminRadius:0.446 degPixel scale:1.97 arcsec/pixelOrientation:Up is 266 degrees E of N

Comet 2017 T2 Panstarrs 2020

Comet 2017 T2 Panstarrs May 5 2020

Plate solve 2017 T2
Center (RA, Dec):(102.789, 76.313)Center (RA, hms):06h 51m 09.453s
Center (Dec, dms):+76° 18' 48.173"Size:42.9 x 32.1 arcmin Radius:0.446 degPixel scale:1.97 arcsec/pixelOrientation Up is 266 degrees E of N

Asteroid 1998 OR2 2020


18 x Subs

Plate Solve for the field

Asteroid 1998 OR2

April 29 2020186 x 3.0 subs The line is the Asteroid moving during the expose stack. The galaxy NGC 3463 sis at 11 o'clock.Center (RA, Dec): (163.899, -26.069)Center (RA, hms):10h 55m 35.850sCenter (Dec, dms):-26° 04' 09.600"Size:42.9 x 32.1 arcminRadius:0.447 deg Pixel scale:1.97 arcsec/pixel Orientation:Up is 86 degrees E of N In the Constellation Hydra
1998 OR2 Movie.mp4

Asteroid 1998 OR2

Video


April 29 2020




Made from 3.0 subs Approximately 23 Minuets of movement across the field.


Recent images learning settings and histogram with the new ZWO ASI 224mc

March 11 2020


March 11 2020

M 51
M 104
M 57



Comet Atlas 2019 Y4 2020

Comet Atlas 2019 Y4

May 5 2020





The Corona Comet!

Breaking up but still going strong!

Atlas 2019Y4.mp4

Comet Atlas 2019Y4

Video

March 28 2020
The Corona Comet!
Distance Kilometers 156,771,172 or AU 1.047951 Light Travel Time 8 minutes and 42.9323 seconds Estimated Magnitude (JPL) 14.02 Observed Magnitude (COBS )8.2 Coma Diameter (COBS) 11.0'Video using a new CMOS camera ZWO ASI224MC. A new type of imaging for me with subsequent learning curve! Good success for a first light run.
This comet has the potential to become a naked eye object. It very well may breakup before that happens. Only time will tell.In human history Comets have always been associated with bad events. Even in These modern times I predict this will happen again with the coronavirus pandemic. It will be interesting to see if that history repeats itself.

M 51 the whirlpool Galaxy


first light trials March 28 2020C8" fastar F1.9ZWO ASI224MC

M 100

first light trials March 28 2020C8" fastar F1.9ZWO ASI224MC

GOES 16 Geostationary Satellite Norad ID 41866 01/29/2020 February 2020

Recent images from an Satellite imaging experimentation project with PhD student David Zuehlke and advisor Dr. Henderson Of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Aerospace engineering department Daytona Florida. Specifically the project involves Multi-site observations using photometry and Astrometry for orbit estimation of satellites using affordable off the shelf equipment.David is teaching and working on his dissertation research involving imaging, tracking and orbit estimation of satellites.He is also an amateur astronomer enjoying astrophotography while pursuing dark skies.
David ZuehlkeGOES 16.2 exp raw Fits converted for web viewing.
.2 exp raw Fits converted for web viewing.SIMPLE = T / file does conform to FITS standard BITPIX = 16 / number of bits per data pixel NAXIS = 2 / number of data axes NAXIS1 = 1164 / length of data axis 1 NAXIS2 = 880 / length of data axis 2 EXTEND = T / FITS dataset may contain extensions COMMENT FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) format is defined in 'AstronomyCOMMENT and Astrophysics', volume 376, page 359; bibcode: 2001A&A...376..359H BZERO = 32768 / offset data range to that of unsigned short BSCALE = 1 / default scaling factor OBJECT = '41866_unity_gain_try2' / The name of Object Imaged INSTRUME= 'ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool' / The model Camera used DATE-OBS= '2020-01-29T04:57:32' / The UTC date and time at the start of the expoHIERARCH CAMERA-DATE-OBS = '2020-01-29T04:57:32' / The UTC date and time at the EXPTIME = 0.2 / The total exposure time in seconds CCD-TEMP= 15.1 / Temperature of CCD when exposure taken XPIXSZ = 15.2 / Pixel width in microns (after binning) YPIXSZ = 15.2 / Pixel height in microns (after binning) XBINNING= 4 / Binning factor in width YBINNING= 4 / Binning factor in height XORGSUBF= 0 / Sub frame X position
Plate solve



Center (RA, Dec): (127.684, -4.780)Center (RA, hms): 08h 30m 44.206sCenter (Dec, dms) :-04° 46' 48.838"Size: 1.59 x 1.2 degRadius: 0.998 degPixel scale: 4.92 arcsec/pixelOrientation: Up is -103 degrees E of N
David ZuehlkeGOES 16.2 exp raw Fits converted for web viewing.
David ZuehlkeGOES 16.2 exp raw Fits converted for web viewing.SIMPLE = T / file does conform to FITS standard BITPIX = 16 / number of bits per data pixel NAXIS = 2 / number of data axes NAXIS1 = 1164 / length of data axis 1 NAXIS2 = 880 / length of data axis 2 EXTEND = T / FITS dataset may contain extensions COMMENT FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) format is defined in 'AstronomyCOMMENT and Astrophysics', volume 376, page 359; bibcode: 2001A&A...376..359H BZERO = 32768 / offset data range to that of unsigned short BSCALE = 1 / default scaling factor OBJECT = '41866_unity_gain_try2' / The name of Object Imaged INSTRUME= 'ZWO ASI1600MM-Cool' / The model Camera used DATE-OBS= '2020-01-29T04:58:37' / The UTC date and time at the start of the expoHIERARCH CAMERA-DATE-OBS = '2020-01-29T04:58:37' / The UTC date and time at the EXPTIME = 0.2 / The total exposure time in seconds CCD-TEMP= 15.7 / Temperature of CCD when exposure taken XPIXSZ = 15.2 / Pixel width in microns (after binning) YPIXSZ = 15.2 / Pixel height in microns (after binning) XBINNING= 4 / Binning factor in width YBINNING= 4 / Binning factor in height XORGSUBF= 0 / Sub frame X position
Plate solve



Center (RA, Dec): (127.956, -4.779)Center (RA, hms): 08h 31m 49.332sCenter (Dec, dms) : -04° 46' 45.928"Size: 1.59 x 1.2 degRadius: 0.998 degPixel scale: 4.92 arcsec/pixelOrientation: Up is -103 degrees E of N
David is using a 11" Celestron Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph {RASA} on an Equatorial mount with a ZWO ASI 1600mm imager. Exposures of .2 secondsImages have been converted from FITS file type to a format for this website.
Terry MEOGOES16 passing through orion
05_38_01Z.avi
Video of GOES 16 with mount tracking off. GOES 16 is just left of center following another Satellite.
05_48_47Z.avi
Video of GOES 16 with mount tracking off. GOES 16 is just left of center following another Satellite.
Terry MEOGOES16 passing through orion

Click here for the history of Satellite observing with amateur astronomers.

The history of satellite observing goes way back to "Operation Moonwatch" an amature science project initiated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in 1956. Its initial goal was to enlist the aid of amateur astronomers and other citizens all over the world who would help professional scientists spot the first artificial satellites. Until professionally manned optical tracking stations came on-line in 1958, this network of amateur scientists and other interested citizens played a critical role in providing crucial information regarding the world's first satellites.

Amateurs continue to make their sightings and analysis public on the internet via electronic mailing list such as SeeSat-L just as they have since those early days of the first artificial satellites.

The history of planetary transits and their importance go back.