Behold the Drizzle!
Meade has released Drizzle software for all of their DSI cameras, and as a result I can increase the effectively double the resolution of my camera to about 1024x768 and even a bit higher if given enough exposures to stack. I've uploaded the first result of "Drizzling" a new picture I took this evening of the Ring Nebula (M57). Compare it to my previous Ring Nebula picture and see the difference in resolution.

Space Shuttle
Well I got my first video of the space shuttle this morning so that'll be coming soon. I had a great tracking run at 5:40 this morning. With my new laptop there are no crashes unlike before. The control inputs are a little more responsive, but still sluggish due to the nature of the setup. The joystick is routed through the laptop and then the control inputs are processed and sent to the telescope via a serial connection, so transfer speed is always going to bottle neck there. Nonetheless, I got the scope on the shuttle quickly, which was being followed closely by the space station. The field of view of the scope is way too small to get both of them together unfortunately, but the view of the shuttle is excellent. I've also posted a few new photos since my last blog posting. And last but not least, I got a second video of the space station taken July 20th. That's coming soon as well. Hat's off to Brent Boshart for his excellent tracking software that I use with my LX200 telescope. This simply wouldn't be possible without it.

New setup
Tonight was a horrible night as far as cloud cover, but it was excellent as far as success was concerned. I tested a new setup for my telescope in which i control it wirelessly indoors. The mount and the camera are placed under my new laptop's command and the laptop is wirelessly controlled by my indoor desktop. It's a joy to use and keeps the mosquitoes off :) This new picture of M3 is the first picture taken with this new setup.

New asteroid, new pictures
Well to start off, here is the asteroid, as promised. Any lack of quality owes to its very dim nature (magnitude 15). It's a main belt asteroid (so its orbit won't bring it anywhere near earth); just another interloper between Mars and Jupiter. I've also uploaded a number of new deep space pictures over the last couple of weeks including my new favorite that I took last night, M51. It was a beautiful moonless night (at least for the time I needed) since a high pressure system has settled over my area. Enjoy!

Asteroid Charis
Last night I captured the first image in a series of images that will be used to make an animation of an asteroid as it moves against the background stars. Asteroids look just like stars, so the only way to distinguish them is to look for movement. The weather was great last night, but tonight I'm going to get rained out. Even so, I should be able to tell which "star" has moved once the skies are clear again, and I'll have my first asteroid picture to post.

More deep space
Added a few new deep space images to page four of the gallery. Tried out a new .3 focal reducer last night and the results speak for themselves. No luck catching any new station passes yet, still waiting for a good opportunity.

Deep space is here!
My new Meade Deep Sky Imager (DSI) finally arrived. I've begun taking deep space photos (other galaxies, nebulae etc.) so keep an eye on the gallery for new additions. Here's the first image ever taken with the camera.

Lunar Eclipse 10-27-04
Last night was the last lunar eclipse for almost 3 years. Fortunately, the weather was great, as was the turnout at the observatory. The seeing was decent, no cloud cover once it got dark, but there was a heavy fog that set in after midnight. I have a few pictures of the event on pages 3 and 4 of the photo gallery, but I have more to add later today or tomorrow.

Early bird
Well at 5:30 this morning I tried to get a second video of ISS. It was in the trees more than it was in the sky so the only frames I have of it aren't post-worthy. I didn't come away empty handed though as Saturn was making a grand appearance high in the sky. Check it out on the third page of my photo gallery.

ISS is here!
Here it is, my first video of the International Space Station. The footage is shaky which is why there isn't much detail visible in the station's image, but that will be resolved with antivibration pads when I try to track it again next week. For now, enjoy this first successful attempt. ISS Video