. jAlbum 9 Jane, Mojo, and Dave Hasenauer head to the desert for some winter sky observing. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-100.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Heading out 210, seeing Mt. San Jacinto in the distance. Heading out 210, seeing Mt. San Jacinto in the distance. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-100.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-101.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Jane's 17.5-inch Litebox with Barry's beautiful mirror lid. Jane's 17.5-inch Litebox with Barry's beautiful mirror lid. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-101.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-102.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Unpacking at Chuckwalla Bench, Dave in the background has his 18-inch dob erected. Unpacking at Chuckwalla Bench, Dave in the background has his 18-inch dob erected. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-102.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-103.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Lovely view of our site looking toward the north. Lovely view of our site looking toward the north. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-103.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-104.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Dave's desert office, includes his original Unitron 60mm refractor from his childhood. Dave's desert office, includes his original Unitron 60mm refractor from his childhood. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-104.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-105.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Jane shows off her star chain mirror cover. Jane shows off her star chain mirror cover. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-105.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-106.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Equipment unloaded and ready for assembly, complete with a copy of The Night Sky Observer's Guide, Volume 1. Equipment unloaded and ready for assembly, complete with a copy of The Night Sky Observer's Guide, Volume 1. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-106.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-107.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Mojo's desk is unloaded, with the tripod leveled, mount and telescope assembled. Still needs all the cabling and polar alignment. Mojo's desk is unloaded, with the tripod leveled, mount and telescope assembled. Still needs all the cabling and polar alignment. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-107.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-108.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Desert Jane getting out her 80mm finderscope for the big dob. Desert Jane getting out her 80mm finderscope for the big dob. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-108.jpg slides/rosette.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Rosette nebula in Monoceros, 2x15 minute exposures. AP Traveler 106mm f/6, ST-4000XCM imager. Rosette nebula in Monoceros, 2x15 minute exposures. AP Traveler 106mm f/6, ST-4000XCM imager. slides/rosette.jpg slides/103P-Harley.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Jane and Dave had a difficult time finding comet 103P/Harley, and this is my image of it. They did confirm seeing the diffuse glow of the comet, but here in the middle of this milky way star field is the actual core of the comet. See the next image for a crop. Jane and Dave had a difficult time finding comet 103P/Harley, and this is my image of it. They did confirm seeing the diffuse glow of the comet, but here in the middle of this milky way star field is the actual core of the comet. See the next image for a crop. slides/103P-Harley.jpg slides/103P-Harley-crop.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 That faint smudge in the middle of the slightly out-of-focus stars is the core of 103P/Hartley. That faint smudge in the middle of the slightly out-of-focus stars is the core of 103P/Hartley. slides/103P-Harley-crop.jpg slides/cone.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 The Cone nebula is the dark nebula near the center of the image, surrounded by emission, reflection, and dark nebulae in this wide field view. The Cone nebula is the dark nebula near the center of the image, surrounded by emission, reflection, and dark nebulae in this wide field view. slides/cone.jpg slides/ngc2655.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Just to the right of center is galaxy NGC2655 with a recently discovered supernova. Just to the right of center is galaxy NGC2655 with a recently discovered supernova. slides/ngc2655.jpg slides/ngc2655-crop.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Crop of the previous image pointing out the bright supernova. Crop of the previous image pointing out the bright supernova. slides/ngc2655-crop.jpg slides/owl-m108.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 I love this shot of M97 (the Owl Nebula, upper right) and galaxy M108. It's interesting to contemplate the differences in distances. The Owl is in our own galaxy! I love this shot of M97 (the Owl Nebula, upper right) and galaxy M108. It's interesting to contemplate the differences in distances. The Owl is in our own galaxy! slides/owl-m108.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-109.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Before dawn officially arrived, we all enjoyed this great crescent moon with Venus. Before dawn officially arrived, we all enjoyed this great crescent moon with Venus. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-109.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-110.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Southern sky from Chuckwalla Bench before dawn. The yellow glow is from the Inland Empire. Southern sky from Chuckwalla Bench before dawn. The yellow glow is from the Inland Empire. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-110.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-111.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Dawn starts to break over Chuckwalla mountain. The bright objects are Venus and the moon. Dawn starts to break over Chuckwalla mountain. The bright objects are Venus and the moon. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-111.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-112.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Closeup of the mount control junction. Serial cables offer mount reporting and control to a PC, other connections are for power, camera autoguider, keypad controller, and cables to the actual mount motors. Closeup of the mount control junction. Serial cables offer mount reporting and control to a PC, other connections are for power, camera autoguider, keypad controller, and cables to the actual mount motors. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-112.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-113.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 The bottom of the SBIG ST-4000XCM shows connections for power, USB data, and autoguiding relays. The bottom of the SBIG ST-4000XCM shows connections for power, USB data, and autoguiding relays. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-113.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-114.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 A morning picture of Mojo's astrophotography equipment. On top of the wood tripod is an Astro-Physics Mach 1 GTO "go to" astronomy mount. It holds an Astro-Physics "Traveler" 106mm f/6 APO refractor. The rectangular box on top of the telescope is a Telrad sight. Instead of an eyepiece, there's an SBIG ST-4000XCM astrophotography camera with its cables draped over the mount. A morning picture of Mojo's astrophotography equipment. On top of the wood tripod is an Astro-Physics Mach 1 GTO "go to" astronomy mount. It holds an Astro-Physics "Traveler" 106mm f/6 APO refractor. The rectangular box on top of the telescope is a Telrad sight. Instead of an eyepiece, there's an SBIG ST-4000XCM astrophotography camera with its cables draped over the mount. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-114.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-115.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Jane in the pre-dawn skies with her big dob, the moon and Venus. Jane in the pre-dawn skies with her big dob, the moon and Venus. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-115.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-116.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Dave also enjoyed this very old moon crescent with his big dob. Dave also enjoyed this very old moon crescent with his big dob. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-116.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-117.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 This is the area where Jane's dob was resting: one flat square surrounded by her footprints as she observed most of the evening. This is the area where Jane's dob was resting: one flat square surrounded by her footprints as she observed most of the evening. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-117.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-118.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Dave's truck almost completely packed and ready to return to civilization. Dave's truck almost completely packed and ready to return to civilization. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-118.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-119.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Our van with all the telescope gear, ready for tables and chairs on top. Our van with all the telescope gear, ready for tables and chairs on top. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-119.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-120.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Dave and Mojo over breakfast at Chiriaco Summit getting a little preview of Mojo's images from the night. Dave and Mojo over breakfast at Chiriaco Summit getting a little preview of Mojo's images from the night. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-120.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-121.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 This picture is very low contrast, but the view of the distant mountain tops (San Gorgonio, left, and San Jacinto, right) was fabulous as we descended into the Coachella Valley. This picture is very low contrast, but the view of the distant mountain tops (San Gorgonio, left, and San Jacinto, right) was fabulous as we descended into the Coachella Valley. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-121.jpg slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-122.html# Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:28:02 -0800 Jane noticed and snapped this picture of stacked standing lenticulars sitting downwind of the mountain range. Jane noticed and snapped this picture of stacked standing lenticulars sitting downwind of the mountain range. slides/2011-01-29-chuckwalla-122.jpg