About six years ago I got my first iPhone and stumbled across a free app called planets. It shows the position of the planets, major constellations, and major stars in real time. I found it entertaining to locate these objects in the sky while I sat on my porch smoking.

About 6 months ago I bought a very cheap 3" reflector telescope and have spent many hours taking a little closer look at the cosmos.

Today I bought a second hand Orion XT10 10" dobsonian telescope.

As the moon is 98% full, viewing conditions are poor, but I have already seen Jupiter in much greater detail than I ever had before. All of the four largest moons are visible as well as 4 bands. I'm going to look again later tonight in hopes of having better conditions.

I have already ready observed about 1/3 of Messier's list with my 3" scope. I hope to complete the entire list in the next year.

awesome J. I got a 5" reflector years back, but I live inner city so it's living with my parents on their farm. When I get the chance it's great, nearest town is 5 miles away and they are only small towns. I need to dust it off.

well ........

me and my friends do some astrophotography.

Here is a pic

500px.com/photo/23665409

We had a great Astronomy merit badge teacher when I was a kid. The class was taught on the parade ground of our summer camp, on top of a hill in the middle of nowhere and obviously at night. I don't know about the specifics of his telescope, but it was the largest privately owned one I've ever seen. I thought it was awesome, and could find constellations for years (which strangely I also learned is a good way to impress girls). Over time I've gotten rusty at it though, and wish I could remember half of what I learned. It's a cool hobby... Very peaceful.

Enjoy your new telescope J. I'm a little envious.

Nice photo. Did some 20 minute exposures on the farm, will try again this summer when there is no moon.

thats actually done by my friend.
Not me

many of my friends are very good photographers.
One of them has an 800mm lense along with a cannon eos 6D

There are a couple of cool things happening over the next few weeks:

Venus (the brightest object in the night sky, excluding the moon) is visible as a very thin cresant in the early evening western sky.

Jupiter (the second brightest) will reach opposition on January 5th. This means it will be as close to the earth as it gets. Take a look at Jupiter thru a telescope or even binoculars and you will get a view that doesn't get any better. Jupiter rises shortly after dusk in the eastern sky, however the best views come later as the planet rises higher in the sky.

Dust off your observing equipment and take a look



These comments are for observations made from the northern hemisphere.

More importantly what does this mean for my star sign when; looks good for Capricorn I think you will be coming into money, Sagittarius I see change in your life. Leo it's time you got up the courage and asked her out. Libra your gunna get dumped I'm afraid with Venus so strong.!

Heff006 wrote: More importantly what does this mean for my star sign when; looks good for Capricorn I think you will be coming into money, Sagittarius I see change in your life. Leo it's time you got up the courage and asked her out. Libra your gunna get dumped I'm afraid with Venus so strong.!

Sorry Heff, I know a little about the science of the cosmos, but I'm clueless when it come to witchcraft, magic, and other make believe aspects of the sky's.

Hi --J-- !

I found out a couple of pictures saved from a precedent computer that crashed.

This is Messier 17, Cygnus Nebulae taken from south west France in July 2010, with my Orion Ed 100 and canon EOS.

Andromeda galaxy, same date, place and scope.........

Deep sky, just up my house, same date and place with the canon only.

Laguna Nebulae, same date place, scope + canon....

you must be living away from cities.

Otherwise , its impossible to shoot those pics near cities .

Science_Dude wrote: you must be living away from cities.

Otherwise , its impossible to shoot those pics near cities .

Hi ! Yes i live in countryside ! I am not very far 3 kms from villages with public lightning.

Science_Dude wrote: you must be living away from cities.

Otherwise , its impossible to shoot those pics near cities .

the picture of sky up to my house, is clearest in the lower part : it is because of a little town 12 kms far.

now because of economy, lots of public lightning here are shut around 10pm. I should take the time to read and take new pictures (before --J-- ended his Messier's Tour )

woospy wrote:

Science_Dude wrote: you must be living away from cities.

Otherwise , its impossible to shoot those pics near cities .

the picture of sky up to my house, is clearest in the lower part : it is because of a little town 12 kms far.

now because of economy, lots of public lightning here are shut around 10pm. I should take the time to read and take new pictures (before --J-- ended his Messier's Tour )

Cool pics Titus! I spend a lot of evenings watching the skies also. I have no pic but I have seen some cool stuff, including the space. Station twice, as well as other satellites.

T.R. wrote:

woospy wrote:

Science_Dude wrote: you must be living away from cities.

Otherwise , its impossible to shoot those pics near cities .

the picture of sky up to my house, is clearest in the lower part : it is because of a little town 12 kms far.

now because of economy, lots of public lightning here are shut around 10pm. I should take the time to read and take new pictures (before --J-- ended his Messier's Tour )

Cool pics Titus! I spend a lot of evenings watching the skies also. I have no pic but I have seen some cool stuff, including the space. Station twice, as well as other satellites.

Many thanks T.R. ! With digital camera and the combination of scope/dcam/photoshop it is a revolution for astrophotography ! and now the accelerator or motion control on smartphones, and the lot of apps to look the sky with eyes and identify all kind of objects, was --J-- spoke in introduction, we just have to look and aim ! it s another revolution ! toys for adults ... and childs !!

Messier 51 Messier 13

Messier 27 Messier 81&82

July 2010 Sw France orion ed100/canon eos

Science_Dude wrote: well ........

me and my friends do some astrophotography.

Here is a pic

500px.com/photo/23665409

These circles around the pole, with the details in the landscape and the road, and the surprise from the meteor, colors, lights, you and your friends are ( you ) a real photographer !

I like these long exposure, it s why i bought a canon eos years ago, it costs much but since our ancient reflex camera disappeared, i found this only way to get that simple function...

My friend is great photographer.

He like to shoot birds.

Many of them are just brillient !!

Here is a link to an album of his facebook page

m.facebook.com/shaunak.chitgopkar/albums...6516238533/?refid=17


he has many... But they are on his phone , and he hasn't uploaded most of the better once on fb

yall are soo lucky. I love stuff like this but I cant afford to buy a telescope. So i miss out o n suff like this

fantastic shots Titus! One of the great advantages to loving outside of a town is the night sky. I feel sorry for people who only ever see the sky from in a city. they miss so much, that you can see even with the naked eye.

tKestrel wrote: yall are soo lucky. I love stuff like this but I cant afford to buy a telescope. So i miss out o n suff like this

Hi TKs ! Yes you are true I know that it is a great privilege to afford the expense of these stuff, and as well as said Hammer (thanks Hammer !) to live outside town in a natural environment. But Athar's friends shows that sometimes the most awesome and beautiful pictures are taken with light materials and in a modern environment, with the road and cars that are a great addition to that picture !, (i could not connect to see the birds pictures ...) the web is great for that, allows to meet and see the talent and ideas, creativity of others. There is no creativity in my pictures !! I think we should be always proud to do beautiful things with nothing, and take great pleasure just to look and see "carpe diem" and learn ... even if i am collector of everytving i can pick up minerals, fossils, etc ... ! I know it is easy to say that with the reality of life !

If you are seriously interested, you can find some good deals on Craig's list. Don't buy anything untill you know specifically what you want. Untill then, check out the astronomy clubs in your area. I belong to one that has equipment to lend. We also have events when we set up our own equipment and let others look thru it. We even get to use the university's observatory each month. Even a set a binoculars can keep you busy for a long time.

DONT BUY A TELESCOPE FROM A DEPARTMENT STORE, OR ANY SCOPE THAT ADVERTIZES IT'S MAGNIFICATION POWER !!

Normally I look at the moon as my enemy because its light washes out DSO's. However, tonight I couldn't resist putting a filter on my eyepiece and giving the full moon a look. I had forgotten how much there is to see there.

I know reflectors are not the best choice for astrophotography, but I think I'm gonna get a webcam and see what I can do. I hear the registax software is pretty good at improving the resolution when you take multiple photos and "stack" them. Time lapse is out of the question with my dob.

I had a great night on the scope tonight. The club that I belong to held a public star party. Also attending was a High School science class. Great seeing before the moon rose. I got in several hours of great views of easy targets like Jupiter, Orion Nebula, De Marian's Nebula, Pleiades, Andromeda Galaxy, etc....

There were many other scopes there so I got to look thru a couple of different types. A real blast to be able to show this stuff to kids who were genuinely interested.

For anyone who might have some interest, check out your local clubs. They will have similar events.

--J-- wrote: I had a great night on the scope tonight. The club that I belong to held a public star party. Also attending was a High School science class. Great seeing before the moon rose. I got in several hours of great views of easy targets like Jupiter, Orion Nebula, De Marian's Nebula, Pleiades, Andromeda Galaxy, etc....

There were many other scopes there so I got to look thru a couple of different types. A real blast to be able to show this stuff to kids who were genuinely interested.

For anyone who might have some interest, check out your local clubs. They will have similar events.

I checked ... And there is no club here ......

Any chance , we can create an online club

Science_Dude wrote:

--J-- wrote: I had a great night on the scope tonight. The club that I belong to held a public star party. Also attending was a High School science class. Great seeing before the moon rose. I got in several hours of great views of easy targets like Jupiter, Orion Nebula, De Marian's Nebula, Pleiades, Andromeda Galaxy, etc....

There were many other scopes there so I got to look thru a couple of different types. A real blast to be able to show this stuff to kids who were genuinely interested.

For anyone who might have some interest, check out your local clubs. They will have similar events.

I checked ... And there is no club here ......

Any chance , we can create an online club

I think this thread would qualify

GET YOUR SCOPES OUT !

Supernova Erupts in Nearby Galaxy M82 !

news.discovery.com/space/astronomy/super...campaign=DNewsSocial

Science_Dude wrote: GET YOUR SCOPES OUT !

Supernova Erupts in Nearby Galaxy M82 !

news.discovery.com/space/astronomy/super...campaign=DNewsSocial

Here are a couple of screen shots that can help you find m82 (Cigar Galaxy) in the proximity of the big and little dippers.