Astrophotography Blog

Astrophoto from Brooklyn New York, NYC and astrophotography tourism. I like astronomy, astrophotography and nightscape, starscape photography. I like to record the finest details of the Moon, planets, the Sun, the Milky Way and beauty of the night sky. Telescopes: Celestron NexStar 4SE, Coronado Solarmax II 60. Digital Cameras: Canon EOS Ra, 60Da and 40D. CCD: NexImage, NexImage 5. Lens: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II, Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto USM

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Pelican Nebula Astrophotography (IC5070 and IC5067)

“A wonderful bird is the Pelican.

His beak can hold more than his belly can.

He can hold in his beak

Enough food for a week!

But I'll be darned if I know how the hellican?”

― Dixon Lanier Merritt

Pelican Nebula Astrophotography without telescope taken Canon 60Da, iOptron skytracker, EF200mm f/2.8L II USM, f/4.0; ISO 6400, Deep Sky Stacker 144 images x 20 sec

Pelican Nebula Astrophotography IC5070 and IC5067

Pelican Nebula (IC5070 and IC5067) - really looks like a pelican! Compare it with photo of an real pelican!

Pelican

For comparison I show also smaller set of image Canon 60Da, EF200mm f/2.8L II USM, f/4.0; ISO 6400, Deep Sky Stacker 29 images x 20 sec

Pelican Nebula Canon60Da iOptron SkyTracker EF200mm f2.8 L II USM_Astrophotography

Pelican Nebula is an active star-forming region, located in Cygnus constellation near North American Nebula.

Northern America nebula and Pelican Nebula and Deneb Star

Sky location of Pelican Nebula see on my collage

Pelican Nebula, Sky Location Milky Way and real Pelican Collage

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Meteor or Satellite?

There is story about attempt to make photos of meteors. These photos were done April 13, 2016 about 5 a.m. When I saw first photo I was very happy that I this steak which looks like meteor. Direction on first view was from Perseid radiant and it was very close to Andromeda galaxy

Andromeda galaxy and meteor-satellite steak during Perseid meteor show April 2016 - photo 2

Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, ISO-6400, f/3.5, 90 sec.

I found that on previous photo I saw another steak. Fantastic!

Andromeda galaxy and meteor-satellite steak during Perseid meteor show April 2016 - photo 1

Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, ISO-6400, f/3.5, 120 sec.

But after that I recognize that both about same location and on the same line, but looks like have opposite directions! I combine both photos in one.

Andromeda galaxy and meteor-satellite steak during Perseid meteor show April 2016 - two photos

Probability that this is one meteor I think about zero. Difference between these two photos about one second and in this case meteor would be very slow. Probability that there are two meteors also very small. Definitely such situation would look very strange.

After that I googled if somebody had before such photos and can explain it. Immediately got idea that it can be Iridium satellite. When I asked this question on astronomy forum http://www.astronomyforum.net/ and immediately received recommendation to check http://www.heavens-above.com/ website for Iridium satellites at this time. Actually it was one at about this time!, but orbit was projected to Orion constellation from my location.

Iridium Flare

So continue to search if this is bright satellite. Havens-above web site also have this data. There were a lot of satellite so I got problem with calibration of EXIF DateTimeOriginal values the photos. I did couple of photos of computer time and http://www.time.gov/ time and compare with DateTimeOriginal. Difference about 1 hour (58 min) looks like camera not using summer time. After that I founded two satellites which most close to this time and orbit.

IRS-P2 Rocket

Cosmos 2292

One actually was in opposite direction (IRS-P2 Rocket) other in right direction and really on very close line and right direction (Cosmos 2292). But my calculation time is 4:57 a.m. - difference about 3 minutes. Probably camera clock not stable or not using start time or it can be other not so bright satellite or something other. Could not prove that these sky steaks is satellite but I believe it is most probable explanation. I added link in my blog to http://www.heavens-above.com/ website – really amazing and very useful data. Hope my story was interesting and help other in such situation

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Long Island Astrophotography - Custer Astronomical Observatory

These photos were done during my trip to Custer Astronomical Observatory. This observatory is oldest Long Island's public astronomical observatory. It was founded in 1927. Photos were done by Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, ISO-6400, 20-30 seconds.

Long Island Astrophotography - Custer Astronomical Observatory - Dome and Radio Telescope

Custer Observatory Radio Telescope and Jupiter - Long Island Astrophotography

Custer Observatory Dome and Big Dipper - Long Island Astrophotography

Susan Mini Observatory inside Custer Observatory - Night Landscape

Silent Sky - Custer Observatory Long Island

Monday, May 9, 2016

Peru Astrophotography

Finally, my dream happens and I was able to see south sky – Southern Cross, Alpha Centauri, Large Magellanic Cloud etc. These photos were done during my trip to Peru, Central Andes, near Inca sacred valley and Cusco city - Chinchero village. I had limited time for astrophotography during shopping time of our women. Altitude is about 3,762 m or 12,339 ft. At such altitude the sky absolutely amazing! You really feel that stars are much closer.

Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, ISO-4000, f/2.8, 30 seconds. on this photo you can see Alpha Centauri which is the closest star to the Sun, just 4.37 light-years. Thinking about next vacation :)

Peru Astrophotography - Milky Way and Alpha Centauri

Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, ISO-4000, f/2.8, 30 seconds. Peru is on South hemisphere and on the photo you can find the south pole (3 1/2 times the distance between Gacrux and Acrux).