Posts Made By: Roland Beard

M81 is a common favorite. Even at a little astro-video gathering in Luray Va the last two days and evenings, nearly everyone took a look at M81 or M82 while passing through the region observing other objects. From a binocular view (with both 81 and 82 in the field of view) to highly magnified views with big scopes, it's hard not to return to it. So while we are waiting in Luray for a line of thunderstorms to pass and perhaps observe tonight if its clear, I was running through some recent observing sketches around Ursa Major. Here is a recent one of M81 using a classic C8 tube but with a MallinCAM astro video camera attached.

Here is a doublet sketch of the comet. The right side is from 6/6. Being left-handed, I sketched on the right and hoped to catch it again. On 6/10 we grabbed it in Luray VA during a mini-star party with about 16 people. Both sketches were done by observing high resolution screen outputs from MallinCAM astro-video cameras mounted in place of EPs. Very nice object to chase.

It was one of those still hot nights when the full moonrise gets my attention. The full story is on our web site (address below my signature) along with sketches of Crater Neper but here is the sketch of the moonrise with 16x70 Fujis. The sketch does not capture all the beauty of the evening, but I tried.

We had a brief STACATION in June (stay-at-home vacation) where my wife and I were joined by Huerkamps from Louisiana. Of the nights we were together, most were good for observing. One of those nights I was set up with the 12.5 f4.5 Dob with the MallinCAM Hyper Color attached. Jack suggested 2 galaxies that are probably common to many but I had never observed them. We visited them for 30 minutes a piece. Jack was patient while I sketched since that is how we record our observations. Here is the final observing page, which was originally done 9x12 to fit both objects and the other information. It is "dumbed down" here to keep the file under 40K

On hazy moisture-filled nights when the moon is high, most self respecting astronomers head for the "barn" but astro video can transform those nights into very nice low-altitude passes over the lunar terrain. In this case, I was using a classic C8 mounted on a straightforward LXD75. The Pro Dob MallinCAM with a focal reducer was fitted with a Barlow and placed on the 'straight through' port of the flip lens. I was running the Pro Dob at 1/6000 second. The camera output (standard video or S-video but I used standard video in this case) goes to a 14 inch high resolution B&W monitor. I can be remote but in this case everything was in the little plastic dome with lights as needed. I can (and did) roam around the lunar surface at about 300X before settling on Clavius, then took 70 minutes to study and sketch its features. It is a wonderful way to do lunar exploration, and it very easy to project for a group. This particular evening was just me.

The thumbnail is a subsection of the sketch and is the crater Rutherfurd that is along the southern border of Clavius. The whole sketch and story (as is our practice) is on the Inspiration Page for our ministry site (top left story with a link) if you care to see and/or read the whole thing.

In August 2008 we had a chance to observe the Swan. Using color astro video complicates observing an object with this much color, so the effort took awhile. About a week ago my wife and I had a chance to observe it again. This time we simply sat in front of the lcd screen and reviewed the object's features and colors for 40 minutes or so. It is always a delight to return to it. This weekend we will be doing a little observing outreach, and the Swan is near the top of the list to review. We use the same setup so the group can see it together. Not only do they enjoy the color, but we take the opportunity to teach them a few observing skills as they look for color shapes and changes as well as star field characteristics. Here is the sketch from 2008. A full story on the object with this sketch is on the ministry web site (top left story on the Inspiration Page).

General comment: The sketch was quick because the view was murky but it was still a beautiful sight and a fun object to study again. The astro video camera helps a lot, but it still cannot punch through everything. The whole story and 2 additional sketches of the same object are on our ministry site's inspiration page (top left story) if you care to look. www.christworksministries.org

It is fair question. I enjoy binocular viewing, EP viewing, but also astro video viewing. Being a little older (eyes are not keen nor is the body adaptable for long observing periods without some price to pay), astro video certainly has advantages. But the bottom line for the Wife is this AND color. This sketch is an example, which was obtained during two observing sessions (each less than an hour) using a common instrument (a C8). And, when it comes to outreach, we always show M27 for the same reason I sketched it this time: it has beautiful colors, hues, and transitions among them. Yep, I can look at a photograph. But when I see the live screen image live, it is somehow different: it is sort-of mine....my equipment, my conditions, my observation.

I am a skin-flint, which means I don't like to spend money. The equipment set up is really not that expensive: C8s are not costly; the LXD75 mount is on the cheap side; the camera (which I use 50 times a year at least) is cheap compared to other popular hobby items. So everyone makes their choices, but I want to see objects like this for myself in color and in comfort where I can talk about it with friends, study it, and sketch it. That's why I bother with astro video.

It was a wonderful target for my wife and me in 2007. We are hopeful to return to it. Like NGC 253 (another favorite), some objects are just worth returning to many times over. When astro video is involved, we are able to sit together and work through the object with our eyes, our communication, and our sketching. We hope to return, but we still remember the night we did this sketch:

It was our pleasure to send kits then teach teachers in the Philippines about observing (seeing and sketching an object using small binoculars or an 80mm refractor). We have been doing this sort of thing for awhile, but it is always exciting and new when a group who has never looked through optics has a chance to do so. Of course, in addition to teaching teachers, we do demonstrations for children. In a small villages and schools, you can be surrounded by children in a heartbeat doing this but its a joy in the midst of work. We had tribal chiefs to 3 year olds to work with.

It was a wonderful time to give thanks and enjoy the created heavens with others.