Speaking of diamonds...

[orogenicman]

Kickass pic of a kickass celestial body for which I have a deep and abiding affection.

Thanks.

[KichigaiNeko]

What is more exotic? Mars?

It might be, but my scope is actually better suited for deep sky astrophotography instead of planetary work. The Moon is close enough that I can get decent (but not supurb) images of it.

Here is a false color photo I took of took of the harvest Moon in 2006 with the same scope but a different camera:

The false colors show the various mineral compositions of the Moon. Bluish-gray represents titanium-rich lavas, while the reds represent iron-rich lavas (which is a relative term, since the Moon is deficient in iron relative to the Earth). The pinkish regions are the silicate-dominated lunar highlands, and contain the oldest rocks on the surface of the Moon. I like to think of this photo as a poor man's geologic map of the moon.

Beautiful orogenicman ...just beautiful.

Wondering if you have any pics of the Pleiades constellation??

[orogenicman]

What is more exotic? Mars?

It might be, but my scope is actually better suited for deep sky astrophotography instead of planetary work. The Moon is close enough that I can get decent (but not supurb) images of it.

Here is a false color photo I took of took of the harvest Moon in 2006 with the same scope but a different camera:

The false colors show the various mineral compositions of the Moon. Bluish-gray represents titanium-rich lavas, while the reds represent iron-rich lavas (which is a relative term, since the Moon is deficient in iron relative to the Earth). The pinkish regions are the silicate-dominated lunar highlands, and contain the oldest rocks on the surface of the Moon. I like to think of this photo as a poor man's geologic map of the moon.

Beautiful orogenicman ...just beautiful.

Wondering if you have any pics of the Pleiades constellation??

Thanks. Actually, the Pleiades is a star cluster in the Constellation Taurus. I have some, but I've never been satisfied with them. They are very hard to image because they are very bright, while the nebulosity surrounding them is very dim. So in order to get the nebulosity to show up right, you have to overexpose the stars. Any defects in your optics and in guiding show up very easily. On top of that, at the focal plane of my telescope, I cannot get all of them in the view, it is that big (and close).

With that said, this is my best image of them todate, taken last year. I plan to take more this year, hopefully better than this (part of the problem with this image is that I took it very early in the morning, and my mirrors fogged up:

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Here is an image of the pleiades that someone else got right:

[Erinome]

I love your pictures. Next year I will be studying full time at Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory.

I got a Meade LT for my birthday but I've not had the opportunity to enjoy it.

[KichigaiNeko]

Thanks. Actually, the Pleiades is a star cluster in the Constellation Taurus. I have some, but I've never been satisfied with them. They are very hard to image because they are very bright, while the nebulosity surrounding them is very dim. So in order to get the nebulosity to show up right, you have to overexpose the stars. Any defects in your optics and in guiding show up very easily. On top of that, at the focal plane of my telescope, I cannot get all of them in the view, it is that big (and close).

With that said, this is my best image of them to date, taken last year. I plan to take more this year, hopefully better than this (part of the problem with this image is that I took it very early in the morning, and my mirrors fogged up:

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Here is an image of the pleiades that someone else got right:

I never know what to call them..Star Clusters, stars of ...constellation. Please forgive my ignorance in all things Astrophysical.

I am wanting 'Subaru' at the end of my bed in the new house. Already have the "Hour glass Nebula" at the head of the bed...tnx Zen

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All I know is that Aldebaran is part of the constellation of Taurus (as seen from earth) the distances between these stars brings into question the whole constellation concept imho. A point of reference (from Earth) is about all "constellations" are good for...should we actually be out in space what would they look like then??

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Still deadly beautiful

[Epimethean]

My brother-in-law is working on the mirror imaging on the TMT. That work (well, and his doctorate) brought him to the States. He does the math of the whole thing, numerical modeling, wot wot.

[Jackalope]

What is more exotic? Mars?

Sorry, could have been more clear. Galaxies, nebulae, that sort of think.

[orogenicman]

My brother-in-law is working on the mirror imaging on the TMT. That work (well, and his doctorate) brought him to the States. He does the math of the whole thing, numerical modeling, wot wot.

That's awesome. Congratulations to your brother-in-law.