Dark adaptation 2

Much better than the traditional flashlight and red filter, however, is a red LED (light-emitting diode) flashlight. Its red is purer and deeper, so the division between rod and cone vision is more sharply drawn. LEDs also use much less current, so the batteries last for years. Many LED flashlights for astronomers are now available.

Secrets of Deep-Sky Observing by Alan MacRobert

Dark adaption 1

Be prepared to let your eyes adjust to the darkness. It takes about half an hour for the human eye to become totally darkadapted. If you look into headlights, or a bright flashlight, even for a second, be ready to start that half hour over again.

Stargazing Basics
Getting Started in Recreational Astronomy
ISBN-13 978-0-521-72859-1
- PAUL E. KINZER

How to find the South Celestial Pole (SCP)

How to find the South Celestial Pole (SCP) almost accurately.

It is always difficult to find the (almost) exact spot when you are aligning your telescope. I hope this will help!

Why find the SCP?
 
- To set up your Barn door mount (Scotch Mount, Star Tracker) to ensure round stars on your image.
- To do a proper polar alignment with your Go To Telescope on a wedge to take astro photographs.
- To store it in your head and show your knowledge at a star party.

• Some methods to not so accurate methods to find the SCP on Wikipedia

Why this method?

- You get pretty close to the SCP without guessing where the lines from wherever should cross.
- With a green laser mounted on binoculars (on a tripod) you should get very close to that magical unmarked spot in the Southern hemisphere. Not even the North star is precisely on the dot.

Whose idea?

When I was setting up my Barn door mount  to take photographs at the Britstown Star Party (6 - 9 August 2010)  it all came back to me. I used this pattern  some years ago to set up my SCT at Boyden Observatory.  I tried to find it on the web, but Google was of no help. So if I stole the idea from someone, please let me know and I will credit you. 

What you need to plot the SCP

• 7 X 50 m binoculars
•  A steady hand or a tripod for the binoculars.
• A green laser pointer will help. Mount the laser and binoculars on a tripod.
  Adjust the laser light to show in the center of the binocular view.

How to find the SCP

1. Find the constellation Octans. Use a planisphere, software like The Sky 6, Cartes du Ciel etc. or Map 1 below.

• Map 1

2.  Zoom in and plot the Table mountain figure on map 2. It is almost magnitude 6 stars. So be patient. When you get familiar with the star environment you will find them with the first pointing of the binoculars. PRACTICE!

• Binocular view (7 X 50)  7 degrees.

• Map 2

3. Use the third map to pinpoint the SCP

• Map 3

• Upsilon Octantis
  Object name: SAO 258932 Other ID: HIP 111196 Magnitude: 5.76 Flamsteed-Bayer: Upsilon Octantis
• Tau Octanti
  Object name: SAO 258970 Other ID: HIP 115836 Magnitude: 5.50 Flamsteed-Bayer: Tau Octantis
• Sigma Octantis
  Object name: SAO 258857 Other ID: HIP 104382 Magnitude: 5.45 Flamsteed-Bayer: Sigma Octantis
• Chi Octantis
  Object name: SAO 258799 Other ID: HIP 92824 Magnitude: 5.29 Flamsteed-Bayer: Chi Octantis

I hope there is method to my madness.

- Connect Tau Octantis and Chi Octantis
- Draw a 90° line through Sigma Octantis. This line will pass very close to the SCP.

- Sigma Octantis is 01°02'37" from the SCP

- The star (mag 6.8) is 00°13'41.818" from the SCP.

How close do you want to get to the SCP?

Charts: TheSky6

Enjoy!

Hannes Pieterse

ASSA Bloemfontein
South Africa

assabfn@gmail.com

Die moontlikheid van lewe binne ons eie sonnestelsel

Plek: Pigout Restaurant

Adres: Smithfield
Datum: 25 September 2010

Tyd: 19H00

Koste: R75 vir volwassenes en R50 vir kinders

Program: Sterre kyk voor die maan opkom en praatjie.

Tema: Die moontlikheid van lewe binne ons eie sonnestelsel

Ingeluit by die toegang: Lekker sop en ciabatta en wyn en koeldrank

130 km van Bloemfontein. Hier is gastehuise waar mense kan oorslaap as hulle wil.

Bring ook julle teleskope saam. Die sterre is baie mooi hier.

Werk wat by die sentrum gedoen word: Radiowaarnemings. Navorsing op die son en Jupiter. Die belangrikste werk is navorsing in die 1.4GHz waterstoflyn waar vir enige tekens van ET gesoek word.

Bespreek vooraf

Kontakinligting:
Henk Swanepoel
UFO Research Centre
Smithfield
Tel: (051) 683-0498
E-pos: uforesearch@smithfield.co.za

Hier is `n webtuiste vir die voornemende amateur sterrekundige. Besoek die webblad en lees die res. Ek plaas net die opskrifte.

Groete

Hannes Pieterse

How to Get Started in Amateur Astronomy

1. Read about astronomy.

2.  Visit a planetarium or observatory.

3.  Purchase a star atlas or a star map which will enable you to determine what you are looking at while gazing at the sky.

 4. Find someplace dark to observe that is away from city glare.

5.  Buy a pair of binoculars.

6.  Obtain a telescope.

7.  Join an astronomy club.

8.  Attend a star party.

9.  Subscribe to an astronomy magazine.

10.  Subscribe to an astronomy podcast, such as What's Up in Astronomy, StarDate, or SkyWatch. 

11.  Join the Astronomical League or similar organization. (ASSA in South Africa)
12. Enjoy your new hobby.

Klubaand: 14 Augustus vir Bloemfontein Amateur Sterrekundiges

Plek: Boyden-sterrewag
Datum: Saterdag, 14 Augustus 2010
Tyd: 17:30- Tot ons klaar is.

• Groepbespreking: Gesels oor die afstand- en grootte bepaling van sterre.
  Lees vooraf daaroor op die internet. Wiki’s en ander. Maak uitdrukke en bring saam.
  As jy `n boek het met inligting daaroor kan jy dit gerus ook saambring.
  (In die biblioteek)
  
  
• Hannes en Pieter Pieterse gee terugvoer oor die “Star Party” op Kambro naby Britstown. Foto's
  
  
• Dieplugwaarneming op die platform. Die stukkie maan wat op is, is ook `n goeie teiken.
  Bring jou teleskoop of verkykyer.
  Onthou jou sterkaarte en maanatlas.

Bring vir jou `n eet- en drinkding saam. Ons sal die kookwater gee.

Ook iets om aan te peusel onder by die platform.

Hou die weer dop en trek maar warm aan.

Groete
Hannes Pieterse

Waarnemingshulp
- What's Up - August 2010 (SAAO)
- Southern Sky Almanac for 2010 - Pdf (Thanx Auke)
- Comet Chasing August 2010
- Dieplugvoorwerpe (teleskoop) vir Augustus
- Verkykervoorwerpe vir Augustus
- Donker aande in Augustus 2010
- ASSA se Top 100 (Dieplug)

- Moon Phases
- Wolke
- SA Time server
- How to observe the deep sky
- Southern Sky Map (S&T)
- psychohistorian.org
- Southern Star Wheel
- Sky Map - Southern Hemisphere
- Dieplug waarnemingsverslae


Laai dokumente af ! (Pdf-formaat)
- Deepsky Observer’s Companion
Pdf-formaat (Dankie Auke)
- Sketskaart vir jou waarnemings
- Sterrekunde-inligtingstuk

Foto's van die 2010 Star Party by Kambro, Britstown

2010 Star Party foto's - Kambro Padstal, Britstown

Klik op die foto-onderskrif hierbo om na die foto's te gaan.

Klik op die middelste "Play"-pyltjie vir outomatiese aanblaai of om te "Pause".

of   klik op die links en regspyltjie vir 1 foto op `n slag.

Klik op die linker ikon om die kleinfototjies links te laat verdwyn.
Stel jou skerm op volskerm (F11)

Geniet dit! 

Hannes Pieterse
e-pos: assabfn@gmail.com

Starparty 2010: Sluit af met `n vuurstreep oor Kambro by Britstown

 Klik om te vergroot

"Kyk daar!" skree ek vir Louis en Pieter. 

Na die wind uit die Weste ons forseer het om om op te pak het ons so teen 10:00 by Auke se blyplek op die stoep gaan sit en gesels.  En drie koppies koffie later en amper Maandag is ons daar weg. 

 Dit is Maandagoggend 00:03 toe ek die meteoor net so links van die Groot Magellaanse wolk sien. 

"Ok! dink ek. Die hele naweek was daar baie van die goed.  Net nog een. Die verskil is hierdie een is helder en dit hou nie op nie. `n Lang geel -oranje vuurstreep met vonke stert agter  die kern aan. 

Ek skree vir die Pieter en Louis (Fourie)  om te kyk.  Ook hulle volg die vuurstreep so van tussen  die middel van die Magellaansew wolk en die Suiderkruis tot net verby die Suiderkruis. 

Was dit dalk `n stuk van `n satelliet wat ingekom het of kon dit `n meteoor wees? Met die horsisontale trajek het dit lank in die boonste lae van die atmosfeer vertoef.

(Ons het net koffie gedrink ;-)

Beslis `n hoogtepunt om die naweek mee af te sluit. Laat weet asseblief wie die vuurstreep gesien het.

Dankie aan almal vir `n wonderlike naweek by Kambro (Naby Britstown)

Ek is besig met die foto's en sal die skakel hier op die blog pos en ook vir Auke stuur.

Hier is solank `n klompie foto's wat Auke  gelaai het: www.psychohistorian.org

Groete

Hannes Pieterse

assabfn@gmail.com

Astrofoto's uit Bloemfontein

Herman Bonnet, `n astrofotograaf by ASSA Bloemfontein het hierdie Messier-voorwerpe met sy nuwe  Skywatcher equinox 120 afgeneem.

(Klik op foto's om te vergroot)

 M16 (Eagle Nebula and also Star Queen Nebula in Serpens CaudaM16
05082010,06082010
Skywatcher EQ6 PRO
Skywatcher equinox 120 F7.5
Canon 400D
10x 120sec "lights"  ISO 800
11x 120sec  "lights" ISO 1600
6xdarks
8xflats
10xbias
Photoshop CS3
Deepskystacker
Noiseware
Ek het 'n rooi filter probeer vir 5 opnames om te kyk of ek die newel duideliker kan kry nadat die
eerste dag se opnames baie dof was.Ek het gelees op die "digital astro forum" dat die ouens dit gebruik.Lyk of
dit tog die newel duideliker gemaak het

M17 (Swan Nebula, also Omega Nebula in Sagittarius

M17
06082010
Skywatcher EQ6 pro
Skywatcher equinox 120 F7.5
Kamera: Canon 400D
ISO 1600
28X120sec "lightframes
6xdarks
8xflats
3xbias
Photoshop CS 3
Deepskystacker
Noiseware

M20, Trifid Nebula, in  Sagittarius

M20
05082010
Skywatcher EQ6 PRO
Skywatcher equinox 120 F7.5
Canon 400D
ISO 800
11x120sec "lights"
8xflats
6xdarks
5xbias
Photoshop CS3
Deepskystacker
Noiseware

M22 - Globular in Sagittarius (about 70 000 stars)M22
05082010
Skywatcher EQ6 PRO
Skywatcher equinox 120 F7.5
Canon 400D
ISO 800
10X 120 sec "lights"
6xdarks
8xflats
10xbias
Photoshop CS3
Deepskystacker
Noiseware

Katalogusse vir die Starparty by Britstown

Hier is `n paar katalogusse met van die voorwerpe wat sigbaar gaan wees by die Britstown Starparty.

Plek: Kambro Padstal by Britstown  
GPS S30°-25-00.3 E23°-33-56.1

Vir Saterdagaand 7 Augustus.

Dit is gerangskik van 19:00 tot so 05:30.

Sagteware gestel vir voorwerpe bo die horison. 

Voorberei vir 10" Dobsonian

Dit is in Pdf-formaat.

Regskliek en  "Save as".

- ASSA Top 100 ( 96 sigbaar  - Spesiaal vir Auke) Net reg vir `n Messier Marathon. Is dit nie die afskopplek om Suid-Afrika se eie Messier Marathon die lig te laat sien nie.

-  Burnham's Celestial Handbook deep sky list (1346 sigbaar)

- Herschel 400 (255)

- Messier (97)

- Caldwell (87)

- `n Paar komete. 

- Verkykerlys - Binoculars (7 X 50) 


______________________________

Voorberei met Skytools 3

2009 se "Starparty"

Hoe ver: Klik hier   N1 en N10 = 413km    of R64     N12   = 428km
(Bloefontein tot by Britstown)

Groete

Hannes Pieterse
(assabfn@gmail.com)