Posts Made By: Michael Greenham

My wife and I went for a 8km bike ride this week through the back trails of Mont Orford National Park here in Quebec. About 4km in we arrived at a secluded beaver made pond,"Etang de la Castorie".

We stopped for a little lunch and I took a few photos. Very peaceful and relaxing, we were the only people there.

I took my ST80 refractor along with the Canon 20D for birding pics but most of the photo opportunities were closeup or macro.

I think I'll grab the Astroscan and come out here some night when the moon's not up.

Here's the pond.

First time I have seen this particular bird in our backyard. Can anyone help me identify this species and its common name?

Taken with my C5 and Canon 20D.

These are looking nice this morning. If you have clear skies it might be worth a look. I am using a C5 with white light solar film and at 39x one part of the group looks like a small guitar.

I also realize that it's nice to have clean eyepieces during this type of solar viewing. I can see every speck of dust...distracting sometimes.

If you don't have clear skies you can see the group here:

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/sunspots/

Mike

It rained all day today and now it's about to clear for a nice night of observing. I didn't have much to do today so I just sat around with a cold beer in one hand and my remote timer in the other photographing birds with my C5 and Canon 20D. It was hard to capture the falling rain in the photos like I could see through the viewfinder.

The first pic is a Cedar Waxwing.

Here's a little time lapse sequence I put together of my orchid bloom. 3500+ photos spanning 19 days and nights in under 6 minutes.
Canon 20D, 50mm, f/11. Automatic exposure, manual aperture, manual focus.
This was my second attempt at time lapse photography and I ended up having to reposition the camera and plant a few times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SSpsNhhgqA

Clear skies,
Mike

Did anyone else view the transit of Io across the face of Jupiter last night? This observation was only the second moon/shadow transit I have seen and the only transit viewed through large aperture. It was really amazing to see the moon appear as a small bright pimple on the edge of Jupiter and slide across against the blackness of space and appear as a disc and not just a point of light. The dark defined shadow made for a real 3D effect to the whole scene. Maybe I am crazy but it seemed as if I could see some of the other moons in phases (half moon like)..that's not possible right with the sun behind us? I could also see size differences between the moons with Io appearing as the smallest. Am I crazy or is this possible through a 12.5" mirror? The sky was exceptional here in Quebec last night and one of the best nights I have had so far in my three years of observing. I have a permanent smile today

Mike

I use a Roger Tuthil Press-on Solar filter. Works fine.

Another photo.

Thanks for all your input. I will use this lens for experimental purposes. I guess it could be used for a cheap finder.

Nice job Ed. You and the kids will love the views through that little refractor. You might want to consider an astro chair. A refractor will sometimes have you viewing on your knees. On second thought, it might be the perfect height for small children. Have fun! Clear skies.