Clear Dark Sky Forecast
AstroBackyard
- Why You Should Be on AstroBin September 20, 2023AstroBin is an incredible resource for astrophotographers, and I’m still convinced there are a few people who have still not joined the fun. It’s an image-hosting platform and social network for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers that includes groups, forums, and an advanced search. Whether you use the website for file storage, planning your next project,... […]Trevor
- $1,000 vs $10,000 Telescope for Astrophotography August 1, 2023Have you ever wondered what the same deep-space object would look like using two very different telescopes? I thought this was a great concept for a video (see below) and a real eye-opener for those looking into upgrading their telescope for astrophotography. For this experiment, we used two high-quality refractor telescopes that were very different... […]Trevor
- The Cherry Springs Star Party June 28, 2023The Cherry Springs Star Party has become an increasingly popular destination for stargazers along the east coast, for good reason. Now that the word is out about the pristine skies of Cherry Springs, the event sells out quicker every year. It is held at a state park between Coudersport and Galeton in Potter County, Pennsylvania... […]Trevor
NASA Solar System & Beyond
- NASA’s First Asteroid Sample Has Landed, Now Secure in Clean Room September 24, 2023After years of anticipation and hard work by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security – Regolith Explorer) team, a capsule of rocks and dust collected from asteroid Bennu finally is on Earth. It landed at 8:52 a.m. MDT (10:52 a.m. EDT) on Sunday, in a targeted area of the Department of Defense’s […]
- NASA Scientists to Discuss Oct. 14 'Ring of Fire' Solar Eclipse September 22, 2023NASA will host a media teleconference at 4 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Sept. 26, to discuss the upcoming annular solar eclipse. The annular eclipse will cross the U.S. from Oregon to Texas on Saturday, Oct. 14, with a partial solar eclipse visible throughout the contiguous U.S.
- Public Invited to NASA’s Goddard Visitor Center to Celebrate Historic Asteroid Sample Delivery September 19, 2023The public is invited to a watch party at NASA’s Goddard Visitor Center, Greenbelt, Maryland to celebrate the first U.S. mission, OSIRIS-REx, to collect a sample from an asteroid and deliver it to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023.
Sky & Telescope
- Psyche Asteroid Mission Set for Launch October 5th September 26, 2023NASA’s newest mission is bound for the metallic asteroid of the same name. The metal-rich rock offers us a view of asteroid interiors. The post Psyche Asteroid Mission Set for Launch October 5th appeared first on Sky & Telescope.Emily Lakdawalla
- Stellafane Star Party Celebrates Their Centennial September 25, 2023As hundreds of astronomers made their annual pilgrimage to the “shrine to the stars” this year, the Springfield Telescope Makers were preparing to celebrate Stellafane's 100th anniversary. The post Stellafane Star Party Celebrates Their Centennial appeared first on Sky & Telescope.Sabrina Garvin
- Osiris-REX Capsule Returns Samples of Asteroid Bennu to Earth September 24, 2023Samples taken from the asteroid Bennu are now safely on Earth. The post Osiris-REX Capsule Returns Samples of Asteroid Bennu to Earth appeared first on Sky & Telescope.David Dickinson
Phil’s Astronomy Blog
- Hello out there? October 12, 2021Anybody still coming here?Phil
- Markarian's Chain in Virgo April 13, 2018My own Hubble View! These galaxies lie between 10 to 50 million light years away. How many galaxies do you see? A pretty tricky part of the sky to image, really. You're utilizing almost your entire field of view with an 80mm scope, so dealing with all that comes with wide-field. This is the best […]Phil
- M51 Whirlpool Galaxy April 9, 2018A nice clear night last night until around 12:30 when clouds rolled in. Managed to get this image of the lovely M51 Whirlpool galaxy. It lies around 23 million light years away and it is interacting with a smaller galaxy (yellow~ish bulge to the left). Three supernova (star explosions) have been detected in this galaxy […]Phil