Author: WebMistress

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.3.2"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.3.2"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.3.2"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.3.2"]

Messier 34, is an open cluster in the constellation of Perseus

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.3.2"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.3.2"][et_pb_text admin_label="Images by Neil Webster" _builder_version="3.18.7" global_module="3174" saved_tabs="all"]

Images by Neil Webster

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4" _builder_version="4.3.2"][et_pb_column type="1_4" _builder_version="4.3.2"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.3.2"]

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_4" _builder_version="4.3.2"][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_4" _builder_version="4.3.2"][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_4" _builder_version="4.3.2"][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.1"][et_pb_row column_structure="1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4" _builder_version="4.1"][et_pb_column type="1_4" _builder_version="4.1"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.1"]

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_4" _builder_version="4.1"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.4.2" hover_enabled="0"]

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_4" _builder_version="4.1"][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_4" _builder_version="4.1"][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.1" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.1" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.1" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.1" global_colors_info="{}"]

We had clear skies last Thursday (2020/02/06) and had many of the Societies Dobsonian telescopes out, a couple of members bought their own telescopes (both reflectors) and Leigh Slomer produced this image of the Great Orion Nebula (M42).

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Image by Leigh Slomer Stack of 27 images at ISO 800 for 30 seconds, 400mm FL Refractor[/caption]

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.1"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.1"][et_pb_column _builder_version="4.1" type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.1" hover_enabled="0"]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Image by Jim Burchel - No details provided[/caption]

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.0.6" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.0.6" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.0.6" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.6" global_colors_info="{}"]

We had an informal meeting over Christmas where Martin took the members through using AstroImageJ (AIJ) he covered the following...

• Loading an image
• analysing stars in an image
• plate solving an image
• batch processing images to calibrate them
•  aligning and stacking images
• photometry on a sequence of images

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Martin Demonstrating AstroImageJ[/caption]

Final image.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="670"] Comet C/2017 T2 20191201 21:49 Simon Dawes[/caption]

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.0.6" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.0.6" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.0.6" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.6" global_colors_info="{}"]

About a dozen members used the 16" telescope over the Christmas period with Keith providing a demonstration of the set-up and use of the new CCD.

The evening ended with cloud relatively early but they did get 10 light frames and below is a stack of these using Astro Pixel Processor.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="746"] Image by CMHASD Members. 16" LX200, total of 360s unfiltered.[/caption]

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.0.6"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.0.6"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.0.6"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.6" hover_enabled="0"]

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.0.6" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.0.6" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.0.6" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.6" global_colors_info="{}"]

Merry Christmas!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="800"] The legendary Quiz Night.[/caption]

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.6" global_colors_info="{}"]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Our Quiz Masters[/caption]

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.0.6"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.0.6"][et_pb_column _builder_version="4.0.6" type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.6" admin_label="text" hover_enabled="0"]

This is the meteor report for November 2019, by the Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society Dartford.

This month we were plagued with poor weather and this is reflected in the low number of meteors captured.

In total we observed 139 meteors from 29 different showers, none of these showers was particularly active, the most active being the Leonid’s where we captured 19 meteors compared to 55 sporadic meteors in the Month.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version="4.0.6" admin_label="video" hover_enabled="0"][/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.0.4"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.0.4"][et_pb_column _builder_version="4.0.4" type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.4" admin_label="intro text" hover_enabled="0"]

At a recent society night Keith described how he has built an all-sky camera, mainly from parts he had laying around, the camera is capable of producing a live view of the sky, time laps video summary of the night, can upload the images to a website for public viewing and can be used as an ASCOM compliant sky sensor.

This short article provides some notes to help others wishing to do the same.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.0.4" column_structure="1_2,1_2"][et_pb_column _builder_version="4.0.4" type="1_2"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.4" hover_enabled="0"]

Parts needed:

• PC/Laptop (windows)
• A CCD/CMOS Astronomy camera (with ASCOM drivers)
• Fish eye lens (Keith use a 2.1mm CCTV Cmount lens)
• Long USB cable 
• Rechargeable dehumidifier 
• Water proof electrical junction box 
• 3.5" Acrylic dome (from dewcontrol.com)
• Plumbers Mate putty (to seal the dome to the junction box)
• AllSkEye software 
• Tektite Skies software (ASCOM cloud sensor software based on all sky camera)
• 1 Ohm resistors (to make dew heater - although dewcontrol.com make them if you don't want to make your own)
• Rain-X Plastic - to reduce raindrops and dew on the dome.
• USB female panel mount connector
• 12v power supply - for the dew heater

Key Features provided by AllSkEye 

• Can run 24/7 automonously
• Acquire images during pre-set or calculated (e.g. night) times
• Place latest image on the Internet (FTP)
• Can automatically creates video files of saved images
• Add overlay on images (e.g. timestamp, compass, text)
• Can save files in FITS format
• Detects meteor trails

Key Features provided by Tektite Skies

• Able to detect stars and clouds
• Can send an email or sound an alert when sky is clear
• Start and stop times
• Optional free ASCOM interface

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column _builder_version="4.0.4" type="1_2"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.4" hover_enabled="0"]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="582"] All sky camera built by Keith Rickard[/caption]

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.0.4"][et_pb_column _builder_version="4.0.4" type="4_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.0.4" hover_enabled="0"]

More information can be found in Keith's Original Presentation.

Have you made one? Have other ideas on how to make an all sky camera? Leave a comment below

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]