http://www.dirtyskies.com Experiences in Urban Backyard Astronomy Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:24:18 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I was browsing the Mars Exploration Rover Mission Website and took a look at the latest Flight Director's Update video entitled "Jan 17: It's the fourth anniversary of the Mars Exploration Rovers." It's a nicely produced little piece that is more of an overview of the mission (for those of you ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2008/03/12/mars-rovers-fourth-anniversary/ Greetings, I realize it has been some time… even longer since I've had the scope out (almost 2 years!). Hopefully this winter I'll get to break in the new ETX125. At any rate, Comet 17P/Holmes got me outside the other night with my tripod mounted Canon EOS 300D. These were the ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2007/11/08/comet-madness/ Via a somewhat convoluted surfing route I stumbled across this cool time-lapse movie of the Moon coming out of the recent eclipse and setting at dawn over San Francisco! Just thought I'd share. Anyone else find "accidental imagings" of the event? http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2007/09/02/moon-over-san-francisco/ Local news here in Florida is reporting that a micro-meteorite has damaged Endeavors window #2. The crew is in no immediate danger. Full Story: baynews9.com - News: Endeavour damaged by space debris http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2007/08/16/space-shuttle-endeavour-windshield-damaged-in-orbit-by-space-debris/ Wow. I haven't blogged in a while but this caught my eye and I don't see anyone has picked it up yet. NASA says it has found wires which may have been deliberately cut on computers bound for the international space station. NASA finds apparent sabotage - CNN.com http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2007/07/26/nasa-finds-apparent-sabotage/ I almost missed this. I was putting the dog out the back door and happened to see it just before it set. I quickly grabbed my camera and tripod. Cannon EOS 300D 100-300mm zoom telephoto. 21:42:43 EDT. ISO 1600 - 2 sec exposure to illuminate the foreground. click for larger Note the haze ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2007/05/20/moonvenus-conjuntion/ What looks initially like a Hubble photo or an exceptional ground based image of Jupiter was indeed taken from Mars! click for larger Image courtesy NASA/JPL/University of Arizona The martian astronomer responsible for this outstanding shot is actually not a native but a terran immigrant. The HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2007/05/04/martian-astronomer-images-jupiter/ Well, so much for my triumphant return to the amateur astronomy blogworld. I would say my observing season is about two-thirds over and I haven't gotten the new scope out ONCE. It's not that I don't want to because I really do, it's just that I've never been so busy ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2007/02/23/crescent-moon-and-venuswhere-am-i/ This past Saturday they had a night launch of the shuttle (Discovery STS-116). I was on my way off to work but I delayed 15 minutes to bring the video camera outside and catch it. There were some hazy clouds near the horizon that weren't visible to me until illuminated ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2006/12/11/night-launch/ I had not intended to purchase a new telescope as I'm barely finding the time to use the one I have. My wife had gone out shopping with a friend who works at a well known retailer. This friend was enjoying a 50% discount on EVERYTHING in the store today ... http://www.dirtyskies.com/index.php/2006/11/25/new-scope/