Whiteoaks Photo Albums » 2009-02-28-chuckwalla

Astronomy expedition to our favorite desert observing site, with Jane, Mojo, Dave, Tod, Caroline, and Greg. Pre-dawn panorama of our observing site.

Departing Monrovia, we enjoyed seeing the snow on Mt....	This was the sky as we approached Chuckwalla Bench. The...	Pumping station near I-10 between Chiriaco Summit and...	Our exit. Maps tend to refer to it as Red Cloud Mine Road.
No off-roading around here.	We go two miles on the somewhat washboarded dirt road.	Help protect the desert tortoises.	Unloading the van Saturday evening.
Dave has his big dob set up.	Our host ocotillo looks like it's had a difficult year....	Mojo's astrophotography setup coming together for the...	Nice sunset shot of Dave's observing area.
Jane brought two telescopes, one a little bigger than the...	Mojo setting up.	Dave with his big dob.	Jane with her small refractor, for Galileo-like views.
Dave and Greg chatting before sunset.	Sunset clouds, which fortunately cleared nicely overnight.	Jane's observing area with her Ranger and Litebox 18-inch...	Venus is there below the moon. Can you find the tiny...
A piggyback picture of M42 (The Great Nebula in Orion)...	Jane's sketch of the stars in the Trapezium region of M42.	The moon, Canon 20D at prime focus with the AP Traveler.	This shot of the moon through the thin clouds was...
Jane's lunar sketches made the same evening as the photos.	Venus through the AP Traveler, Canon 20D at prime focus.	Sketches of Venus through Jane's low-power refractor.	Piggyback night sky view of the Hyades and Pleides star...
Jane's Pleides sketches, and a recreation of Galileo's...	Center left is the Beehive (or Praesepe) cluster.	Beehive Cluster, M44, 4 x 120 second exposures	Comet Lulin, six exposures aligned on the comet, show the...
These six exposures are aligned on the stars behind the...	lulin-a	Obligatory M42 photo. 5 x 60 second exposures. Focus a...	M105 galaxy group in Leo. 4 x 5 minute exposures.
Open cluster which appears as "Orion's Head", 4 x 60...	Dawn sun rays break over Chuckwalla Mountain.	Dawn sun beams light the desert mountains.	Halfway packed for the trip home.
Full packed, ready for home.	In the distance, that's the Salton Sea from I-10.	Mount San Gorgonio driving east on Sunday morning.	Dave's great license plate.
Home again, the observatorys on Mt. Wilson appear as...

Total images: 45 | Last update: 3/8/09 11:27 AM | Made with JAlbum & Chameleon | Help