My First Solargraph

Today, after six months I opened the solargraph. The can was still intact and the photopaper was well preserved. The paper was humid and still fixed against the wall of the can. Looking at the picture you will see some interesting aspects. In the front (at the bottom of the picture) you see my garden with the trapoline in the middle and the trees some further.

Also the top of the sunpaths is not captured on the picture. On the inverted pictures the many black band show the poor spring without "sun".

Original (not inverted)

Original Inverted by Photoshop CS4

Edited  colors intesified by Photoshop CS4

Edited Black/White Photoshop CS4

The Moon and the Effect of Focal Length

Ever curious what the effect is of Focal Length. Attached photo shows the moon with different focal length. Background picture shows the moon with focal length 3000mm, the smaller ones 400mm and 200mm. All pictures taken with Nikon D60.

Celestron Travel Scope D70

This evening tried my new Celestron Travel Scope D70/400.
The moon was the target. Installing the Travel Scope is easy. I used my camera tripod instead of the Celostrons tripod as I already want to take some pictures. The view is sharp and since it's very light easy to handle.
Installing the Nikon D60 on the oculair is easy but limits the scope to handle easily as it become more heavy. Make sure the scope is rigour mounted and the tripod secured with some weight.

The Nikon D60 was connected using T-connector and the focal was enlarged with 5cm tube to have the moon sharp in the field. It's not needed to use a barlow 2x as the moon will not be in the focus.

May 19, 2013 - Nikon D60 - Celestron D70/400 1/50 ISO100

Open sky... no comet Panstarrs

This evening open sky with low hanging clouds above the horizon. The moon above western horizon. But no comet Panstarrs visible with the naked eye. Picture taken at 7h30 PM. Or looking at the wrong place or comet hidden behind clouds. Next time more luck needed.

Panstarrs all over

The northern hemisphere awaits the comet Panstarrs. Today the comet will start his journey back into  darkness which will take 100million years. The comings days the comet will show up just after sunset in the west.  The conditions are not really promising as heavy snowfall is predicted for the newt days. As from wednesday weather forecast predict partially clouded... Let't wait and see...

Follow the daily news of the comet Daily news

Good luck for those with an open sky!

Comet Panstarrs

Minus 2 days the comet Panstarrs will be closest to Earth. Visibility is around magnitude 1 or little less.

See also this website : Calcsky

Astronomical weather

As said earlier in my blog, astronomical weather condition are key for observating the sky, both during the day as at night.
This link provides around the world weather forecast.

Use this link : Astro weather