Nightfly Astrophotography: Blog

Schoodic Light Pollution Survey

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:57:02 -0500

In May of this year, I utilized the National Park Service's Nightscape Survey System to map light pollution as seen from Schoodic Peninsula's overlook at Schoodic Head. Click Here to dowload the movie. Windows Media Player Required. It was a beautiful evening and I collected good data that will help preserve this natural resource. You can help as well by contributing to the Island Astronomy Institute .

New 300mm Images!

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:20:36 -0500

The first images taken with my "new" 300mm Super- Multi-Coated TAKUMAR lens are in. These are just "test" images to see how well the lens recorded on a standard 30 minute exposure with the lens wide open at f/4 and stopped down to f/5.6. The images were taken over the July 4th holiday weekend. I am pleased with these initial results ! A few clouds bloated some of the star images, but the detail is still striking.

July Evenings in Downeast Maine

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:00:04 -0500

The most awe-inspiring sight in the summertime night sky is our Milky Way galaxy. Late evenings away from city lights offer spectacular views that surpass many people's expectations of what is visible in a dark sky free of light pollution, indeed Downeast Maine's rural areas offer the finest views east of the Mississippi. To enhance your vision's ability to see fainter stars, take time for your eyes to adapt to the dark. Use a flashlight sparingly and only with a red filter over it. Red light will preserve most of your night vision. Remember to plan your outing to see the Milky Way when the Moon is not present, which is the first and last week of this month. The view starts directly overhead in the constellation Cygnus and flows toward the southern horizon to Sagittarius and Scorpius. Most impressive are the billowy star clouds of Scutum, Serpens, and Sagittarius. This is a very busy area of our galaxy. You are looking at the center of our Milky Way galaxy when you observe in the direction of Sagittarius. The softly glowing patches of light you are seeing are the combined light of millions of suns! The stars are there, but they eye does not perceive them individually. Scanning these areas with binoculars will reveal swarms of stars, brighter and darker areas of nebulae, and numerous clusters of stars that will need detailed star charts to identify! The Moon steals the show during mid-month, approaching orange Antares on the evening of the 13th and brilliant white Jupiter on the 16th. During this time the Moon hangs low on the horizon, creating a romantic summer scene. Take time for an evening stroll or venture to a scenic area to enjoy these wondrous summer nights.

300mm Super-Multi-Coated Takumar

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:07:28 -0500

The 70's produced awesome optics, including my newly aquired 300mm f/4 SMC Takumar lens! I will be busy with this chunk of glass for the rest of the year. Check back to see my results! I upgraded my piggyback mount as well to accomodate this large lens. A Losmandy DM8 and DA plate to mount my Pentax 67

June Evenings in Downeast Maine

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 19:50:53 -0500

One of the rites of summer is late night stargazing. Twilight lasts well into the evening and stargazing usually can begin by 10 PM. These are the longest days and therefore the shortest nights of the year. To start our evening's observing find open dark skies, preferably when the Moon is not present. Using the sky chart locate brilliant orange Arcturus in the constellation Bootes, the Herdsman. Arcturus can also be located by using the handle of the Big Dipper. Find the arc that is the Dipper's handle, then follow the "arc to Arcturus". The name of the star means "guardian of the bear". Indeed, Bootes is positioned next to the Great Bear, Ursa Major, home of the Big Dipper. East of Bootes is the Northern Crown, Corona Borealis. Its brightest jewel is named Gemma. Can you guess what its name means? The crown shape is apparent, but also takes on the shape of a bowl. Further to the east is legendary Hercules. Although not bright as Gemma, its stars form a small "keystone" pattern, or quadrilateral, representing the hero's body. Floating above the southeast horizon is the constellation Scorpius, the scorpion. You will note its brightest star, brilliant orange Antares. A supergiant star, Antares is hundreds of times the size of our Sun! Late into the evening brilliant white Jupiter can be seen low in the southeast in the constellation Sagittarius, the Archer. Good binoculars held steady can show up to four moons in very close proximity to the planet. You can see their position change night to night. Their names are Callisto, Ganymede, Europa, and Io. Galileo discovered these "new planets" almost 400 years ago in a small telescope of his own construction. Why not try the binoculars to see how many moons you can find!

Amateur Astronomers

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:04:17 -0500

They say "Life is a journey" - Amateur Astronomers skip ahead to the good stuff! Courtesy KQED. To view in higher resolution click here

Light Pollution

Fri, 16 May 2008 21:21:09 -0500

Turn on the........... stars!

IYA 2009

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:36:29 -0500

2009 marks the 400th year since Galileo pointed his telescope up at the sky. UNESCO has deemed proper that 2009 be celebrated as the International Year of Astronomy (IYA). Here is a taste of where we have been since Galileo and where we are headed. Inspiring!

New Images

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:46:19 -0500

Be sure to see the newest images! Enter the Pentax 67 Gallery to see my latest work.

Cold evenings and Mars

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:06:21 -0600

Get Ready for Mars! The Red Planet is making a comeback! Located in the constellation Gemini, Mars rises around 9:00 p.m. as November opens. It doubles in brightness and rises by 7:00 p.m. at month's end. A fortuitous event unfolds on the evening of November 26th. Mars can be seen within a degree and a half to the gibbous Moon. This should be a stunning sight! Another occurs on December 23rd. At that time the moon will be full. Mars reaches opposition on December 24th. At opposition Mars rises at sunset and sets at sunrise. Mars is closest to Earth around December 18th. At this time, Mars is brightest and biggest in a telescope. Even at closest approach Mars exhibits a small disk in which to see detail. For those using a telescope wait until the planet is high in the sky, this will allow the clearest and most stable views. Surface marking should be readily visible. If not, there may be a dust storm hiding those surface features! Whether viewing mars with your unaided eye or through a telescope Mars is sure to please. Take time to enjoy the planet's red light, as Mars will not have another favorable opposition until 2016! Clear Skies! James Cormier