Secret Still Observatory

'I saw the crescent, you saw the whole of the Moon'

Day 11 Moon

Views of the day 11 terminator

Mark

2 minute read

The ASI662MC has small 2.9 micron pixels which give excellent resolution, especially in a long scope such as the CC. The 10th Jan was the stablest and most transparent evening we have had for weeks if not months and the Moon was really high at over 65° in altitude. The 12th was less clear but still gave a really good view of the full Moon.

Mark

1 minute read

    Integration time (running total):
    * L 20 X 120s (40m)
    * R 18 X 120 (36m)
    * G 18 X 120 (36m)
    * B 16 X 120 (32m)
    * Total: 2h24m

     Integration time target
    * Target: 10 hours
    * L 75 X 120s (150m)
    * R 75 X 120s (150m)
    * G 75 X 120s (150m)
    * B 75 X 120s (150m)
    * Progress: 22%

3rd January 2025

Seeing index: OK (4)
Jet stream: Poor (40 m/s)
Transparency: Good (4)

Mark

1 minute read

    Integration time (running total):
    * S 42 X 300s (210m)
    * H 41 X 300s (205m)
    * 0 40 X 300s (200m)
    * Total: 10h15m

Seeing index: OK (4)
Jet stream: Poor (40 m/s)
Transparency: Good (4)

B174

Barnard 174 is an impressive dark nebula in Cepheus

Mark

2 minute read

    Integration time (running total):
    * IR_PASS 12 X 180s (36m)
    * L 19 X 180s (57m)
    * R 38 X 180s (114m)
    * G 32 X 180s (96m)
    * B 28 X 180s (84m)
    * Total: 6h45m

    Integration time target
    * Target: 10 hours
    * L/IR_PASS 100 X 180s (150m)
    * R 100 X 180s (150m)
    * G 100 X 180s (150m)
    * B 100 X 180s (150m)
    * Progress: 65%

17th October 2024

Seeing index: Good (4)
Jet stream: Good (9 m/s)
Transparency: Ave (3)

Mark

2 minute read

    Integration time (running total):
    * L 81 X 180s (252m)
    * R 73 X 180s (219m)
    * G 75 X 180s (225m)
    * B 72 X 180s (216m)
    * Ha 73 X 300s (365m)
    * Total: 21h17m

    Integration time target
    * Target: 28 hours
    * L 100 X 180s (300m)
    * R 100 X 180s (300m)
    * G 100 X 180s (300m)
    * B 100 X 180s (300m)
    * Ha 100 X 300 (500m)
    * Progress: 76%

7th January 2025

Integration time:
    * L 15 X 180s (45m)
    * R 13 X 180s (39m)
    * B 12 X 180s (36m)
    * G…

Aurora Borealis

The second aurora in 2024, just visible to the naked eye.

Mark

1 minute read

This image was taken at 00:14 BST. The aurora was visible intermittently between 8pm and 2am. Faint pink and green hues were visible to the naked eye. Cameras revealed much more. In less light-polluted areas the colours were much more vivid.

Mark

1 minute read

    Integration time (running total):
    * L 26 X 180s (78m)
    * R 27 X 180s (81m)
    * G 25 X 180s (75m)
    * B 24 X 180s (72m)
    * Total: 5h02m
    
    Integration time target
    * Target: 6 hours
    * Progress: 85%

Seeing index: Poor/OK (2/3)
Jet stream: Ave (12 m/s)
Transparency: Good (4)

Mark

2 minute read

    Integration time (running total):
    * OSC RGB 18 X 120s (36m)
    * OSC NB 156 X 300s (780m)
    * Total: 13h00m
    
    Integration time target
    * Target: 12 hours
    * Progress: 108%

The imaging is finished for now. The data is excellent and deserves to be experimented with in processing. The RGB stars also need to be implemented.

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