Observing Log for Mike Durkin
8/20/2010 10:00PM-12:30AM
Locust Valley, NY
Transparency: 7/10, Seeing 4/5
Temperature: about 70 degrees
Equipment: Stellarvue 70mm and 10x50 binoculars
Observed and measured some variable stars.
Z UMa, XY Lyr, R Aql, R Sge, R Vul, AF Cyg, and CH Cyg.
After that, took a quick look at the moon with 17mm(25x) and 7.4mm(57x). Crater Gassendi was prominent,
as well as a couple of craters on the north.
8/7/2010 about 9:00PM-3:00AM
Locust Valley, NY
Transparency: 8/10, Seeing 4/5
Temperature: about 70 degrees
Equipment: Celestron Ultima 8 with PEC and Hutech Modified Canon Rebel XT
It took me a long time to get the off axis guider figured out. I forgot that
I needed to use the afocal adapter extention tube, but I think I have it
figures out now.
My main focus of the night was to image the Dumbbell Nebula, M27. I took
about 60 minutes worth of images of the Dumbbell, and I had a little bit
of batter power left to try imaging the galaxy NGC 7331, or the Deer
Lick group. I took 30 minutes of images for NGC 7331.
After processing, I am very satisfied with the image of M27. I am slightly
disappointed with NGC 7331, but that is to be expected since 30 minutes
is too short for such an object. I'll need to try this galaxy again with a
longer exposure, like 60-90 minutes.
 Dumbbell Nebula Telescope: Celestron Ultima 8 with PEC Camera: Hutch modified Canon Rebel XT Exposure: 30x2 minutes, 25 dark frames ISO: 1600 Guiding: Meade DSI Pro and PHD Location: Locust Valley, NY Processed with MaxDSLR and Photoshop, with Astronomy Tools |
 Galaxy NGC 7331 Telescope: Celestron Ultima 8 with PEC Camera: Hutch modified Canon Rebel XT Exposure: 15x2 minutes, 25 dark frames ISO: 1600 Guiding: Meade DSI Pro and PHD Location: Locust Valley, NY Processed with MaxDSLR and Photoshop, with Astronomy Tools I needed some more frames in order to bring out the arms of NGC 7331 better. |
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