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Sunday, April 22, 2018

Northeast Astronomy Forum NEAF 2018

The immense distances to the stars 
and the galaxies mean 
that we see everything in space in the past, 
some as they were before the Earth came to be. 
Telescopes are time machines.
- Carl Sagan

Astronomy & Space Expo 2018 New York


NEAF 2018
Sky and Telescope Astronomy Tours  NEAF 2018
America the Beatiful at Night NEAF 2018
Classic Telescopes NEAF 2018
Explore Scientific Telescope NEAF2018
Solar Filters DayStar NEAF 2018
Binocular NEAF 2018
New iOptron SkyTracker NEAF 2018
Glatter Parallizer NEAF 2018
Diffraction Spikes Telescopes NEAF 2018
Coronado Telescope NEAF 2018
Telescope NEAF 2018




Thursday, April 19, 2018

Antelope Canyon at Night - Astrophotography Arizona

One more night photo from my Arizona trip.

Antelope Canyon at Night - Astrophotography Arizona
Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 30.0 sec; f/2.8; ISO 6400

And photo near Antelope Canyon - Horseshoe Bend SunSet

Horseshoe Bend SunSet

Monday, April 16, 2018

Night Storm Grand Canyon Arizona Astrophotography

I had only one night at Grand Canyon. The weather was not good, but as minimum I tried. Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 96 sec, f/2.8; ISO 6400.Mather Point, South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona.

Night Storm Grand Canyon Arizona Astrophotography
Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 30 sec, f/2.8; ISO 6400

Cloudy Night Grand Canyon Astrophotography Arizona

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Lowell Astronomical Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona

One of the oldest observatories in the United States - Lowell Observatory.

Lowell Astronomical Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona
Lowell Observatory -  Entrance Gate
Lowell Observatory - Cat Sculpture
Lowell Observatory - Old Telescope
Lowell Observatory - Pluto Telescope - 13-inch Astrograph
Lowell Observatory Spectrograph
Lowell Observatory Art
Welcome to Lowell Observatory

Lowell Observatory Today Program

Lowell Observatory Elementary and Middle School classes
Lowell Observatory SunDial
Lowell Observatory Saturn Lamp
Lowell Observatory Old  Car
Lowell Observatory Sculpture
Lowell Observatory Store
Lowell Observatory Store 2
Lowell Observatory Store 3
Lowell Observatory Electrical Calculator  Millionaire



Saturday, March 17, 2018

Milky Way over Galapagos Astrophotography

We can allow satellites, planets, suns, 
universe, nay whole systems of universes, 
to be governed by laws, but the smallest insect, 
we wish to be created at once by special act.
--Charles Darwin

Panorama of Milky Way - 40 photos (it takes about 1 hour). On this photo you can see Orion, Crux (Southern Cross), Canis Major, Carinae, Centaurus Constellations, and three brightest stars of the Earth sky: Sirius, Canopus and Rigel Kentaurus. The night sky airglow (red and green sheen) is visible on this panorama too.

Milky Way over Galapagos Astrophotography

 Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 16.0 sec; f/2.8; ISO 6400, Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador.

One more photo: "How to Train Your Dragon"

The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), also known as the sea iguana, saltwater iguana, or Galapagos marine iguana, is a species of iguana found only on the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) that has the ability, unique among modern lizards, to forage in the sea, making it a marine reptile.
How to Train Your Dragon or Milky Way over Galapagos Astrophotography

Not so much were changes on Galapagos Islands during last 3 millions years!

The blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) is a marine bird. The blue-footed booby is distributed among the continental coasts of the eastern Pacific Ocean from California to the Galapagos Islands down into Peru. The blue color of the blue-footed booby's webbed feet comes from carotenoid pigments obtained from its diet of fresh fish.
The blue-footed booby and Milky Way Isabela Island Galapagos Ecuador
Frigatebirds (also listed as "frigate bird", "frigate-bird", "frigate", "frigate-petrel") are a family of seabirds called Fregatidae which are found across all tropical and subtropical oceans. Females have white underbellies and males have a distinctive red gular pouch, which they inflate during the breeding season to attract females.
Frigate-bird and Milky Way - Galapagos Islands
Darwin's finches (also known as the Galapagos finches) are a group of about 15 species of passerine birds. During the survey voyage of HMS Beagle, Darwin was unaware of the significance of the birds of the Galapagos. These birds were to play an important part in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.
Darwin's Galapagos finch and night cloudy sky Santa Cruz Island
Most of Galapagos Flamingo plumage is pink, giving rise to its earlier name of Rosy Flamingo and differentiating adults from the much paler European species. Flamingos can only eat with their head upside down. Their beaks have lamellae (thin, flat membranes) which are used to filter the mud.
Galapagos Flamingo and Milky Way Astrophotography
The Galapagos tortoise are the largest living species of tortoise. Modern Galapagos tortoises can weigh up to 417 kg (919 lb). Today, giant tortoises exist on only two remote archipelagos: the Galapagos Islands 1000 km due west of mainland Ecuador; and Aldabrachelys gigantea of Aldabra in the Indian Ocean, 700 km east of Tanzania.
Galapagos giant tortoise and Orion - night sky



Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Crux (Southern Cross), Milky Way and Palm Tree - Galapagos Night Sky Astrophotography

Galapagos night starry sky is fantastic! You can see Alpha Centauri - the closest star system to the Solar System, Crux - Southern Cross constellation, and the South Celestial Pole!

Crux  (Southern Cross), Milky Way  and Palm Tree - Galapagos Night Sky Astrophotography
Panorama of 3 photos, Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 16.0 sec; f/2.8; ISO 6400, Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador.

Using this photo you can find the South Celestial Pole.


The South Celestial Pole - Galapagos Equator Sky - Annotated
From this photo you can see that the south celestial pole is very close to the horizon. The equator passes through the Isabela island. This is true equator sky!


Saturday, March 10, 2018

Large Magellanic Cloud - Galapagos Night Landscape Astrophotography

Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is one of the symbol of the Southern Sky (especially for me northern-biased star gazer).  First time I saw Large Magellanic Cloud in Peru, couple of years ago, but it was too close to horizon. Finally, I got it!   This small white cloud on the right is not regular cloud, it is companion of our Milky Way, just 1/100 mass of our Galaxy. The position of the LMC can be recognized using Southern Cross. On Galapagos fantastic starry night sky, the LMC view was amazing!

Large Magellanic Cloud - Galapagos Night Landscape Astrophotography
Large Magellanic Cloud, Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 30.0 sec; f/4.0; ISO 6400.

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Sky Ladder - Galapagos Nightscape Astrophotography

The Night Sky at Galapagos Islands is one of the best dark sky which I saw! The darkness of night sky based on Bortle scale was very close to Level 1 (Excellent dark-sky site): clouds are only visible as dark holes against the sky, airglow is readily visible. I did not see a lot of night photos at Galapagos in internet, but I think it will be a lot soon, it is really one more attraction on the islands.

Sky Ladder - Galapagos Nightscape Astrophotography


Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 30.0 sec; f/2.8; ISO 6400. Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador, Nightscape Astrophotography.

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Moonset - Galapagos Ecuador Astrophotography

After couple of days trips on Ecuador and Galapagos Islands when weather was cloudy and rainy (February is rain season) we got clear night sky.

I early went to sleep and wake up midnight to start astrophotography with Moonset. Photo was done on Isabela island on the beach of small city Puerto Villamil (less 2,000 people). There are about 100 meters to the main street. I was tied after day trips so it also was convenient to get this place. The other reason there are too many animals around so as minimum I able to see it.

Moonset - Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador Astrophotography
Moonset (not to be confused with sunset) Astrophotography. Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, 10.0 sec; f/2.8; ISO 6400.

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Tennessee Astrophotography - Great American Eclipse - Total Solar Eclipse August 21, 2017

"The Sun was eclipsed; it was all gone. 
It was like ink and without light. 
The stars were visible in the daytime."

-- Hyaku Rensho. (Total solar eclipse of August AD 975)

There are photos from our families expedition to T-Lea Farm, Tellico Plains, Tennessee for Great American Total Eclipse August 21, 2017. In the Shadow of the Moon - 2 min 37 sec.

Solar Corona - Tellico Plains, Tennessee - Total Solar Eclipse 2017, New York City Expedition, photo by Igor Kuskovsky
Total Solar Eclipse 2017 August 21 Canon 60D  Tellico Plains, Tennessee, New York City Expedition, photo by Igor Kuskovsky
Diamond Ring Total Solar Eclipse 2017 Celestron Nexstar 4SE Astrophotography

Solar Corona Great USA Eclipse 2017 Celestron Nexstar 4SE Astrophotography

Solar Eclipse 2017 Aug 21 Dimond Ring and Solar Corona

Solar activity was pretty active (compare other days when no sunspots was visible). Three bright solar flares and couple of sunspot areas (Wolf Number about 66).

The Beginning of Total Solar Eclipse 2017, Aug 21 - Coronado SolarMax II 60 Telescope, Celestron Nexstar 4SE Tripod, Canon 60Da Camera, Tennessee Astrophotography
Total Solar Eclipse 2017 - Celestron Nexstar 4SE Telescope, Canon 60Da Camera, Solar Filter Spectrum Telescope ST525G, Tellico Plains, Tennessee Astrophotography
Telescope Nexstar 4SE Camera Canon 60Da Total Solar Eclipse 2017 Tennessee  Astrophotography
Temperature dropped about 10 degrees Fahrenheit (or 5 degrees Celsius) during the Totality. It was cold! Even small clouds disappeared around the sun, probably because of such temperature inside moon shadow.

Total Solar Eclipse 2017 Black and White T-Lea Farm Tellico Plains Tennessee Astrophotography


Tennessee Astrophotography - Great Total Solar Eclipse 2017, T-Lea Farm, Tellico Plains

Great American Eclipse August 21 2017 Celestron 4SE

Tennessee Astrophotography - At night before the Solar Eclipse - Milky Way - T-Lea Farm, Tellico Plains