Aurora and Perseid Meteors 12/13 August 2024

Another Aurora event visible (to a camera) at lower latitudes.

Equipment:

Pentax K-S2

16mm Samyang lens

Manfrotto tripod

Capture details:

F3.5

ISO1600

10sec

 

Aurora

Perseids

Aurora (at last) and bonus Perseid meteor

Having missed the spectacular event in May, I've had fingers cross for another. Finally last night some success, although not as spectacular as May it was still pleasing to get some images and this one also captures a Perseid meteor. Two for the price of one!

Equipment:

Pentax K-S2

16mm Samyang lens

Manfrotto tripod

This image was captured at 01:27 12th August 2024

Capture details:

F3.5

ISO1600

10sec

 

AR3664 - The region that caused Aurora around the world (but I missed it!)

Sun spot region AR3664 can be seen right of middle. This image was taken on 9th May, a couple of days before the Aurora was seen around the world.

White light (Left)

Scope: Sky-Watcher 80ED PRO

Camera: QHY 268C

Ha (Right)

Scope: Coronado PST

Camera: Altair GP-CAM3 178M

The start of a new season of Solar imaging

Here are a few recent images of the Sun captured in White light and Ha

White light (Left)

Scope: Sky-Watcher 80ED PRO

Camera: QHY 268C

Ha (Right)

Scope: Coronado PST

Camera: Altair GP-CAM3 178M

April 7th

April 18th

April 20th

April 29th

April 30th

First Perseid Meteor of the season

I had fairly clear skies late Sunday evening, 6th August, so put the DSLR out to try for some Perseid meteors.

I took 298 x 10s f/2.5 exposures between 21:40 and 23:19 UTC on a 20s timer. This is the only one I managed to capture, it was captured at 23:13 UTC.

Pentax:    K-S2

Lens:       Samyang f/2.0 16mm ED AS

Tripod:    Manfrotto ART 055

Of the 298 exposures, 47 (16%) contained satellite trails, that's way more than I can remember seeing in the past and an illustration of how mega constellations of communication satellites are polluting our skies. It'll only get worse unless someone of influence takes a stand, unfortunately big business rules and that'll never happen.

Nice active region flare - 30th May 2023

Scope:     Coronado PST

Mount:    Sky Watcher NEQ6 Pro
Camera:  AltairAstro 178M

Image capture: SharpCap using 'Feature Tracking Tool'

Compiled to video with PiPP and processed with VirtualDub.

SN 2023ixf - Super Nova in M101

A new Super Nova in M101 was discovered on Friday 19th May 2023 by Koichi Itagaki. At 21 million light years away it's the closest observed Super Nova for over a decade.

More information

https://earthsky.org/todays-image/supernova-in-m101-pinwheel-galaxy-closest-in-a-decade-how-to-see/

I imaged it on Sunday 21st.

45 x 120s Lights + Darks and Flats

Scope:     Sky Watcher ED80 DS Pro
Mount:    Sky Watcher NEQ6 Pro
Camera:  QHY268C

Guide scope: Sky Watcher Evoguide 50ED
Guide cam:   Altair Astro GP-CAM 290M

Image capture: SharpCap
Guiding:           PHD2
Planetarium:    Cartes du Ciel

Stacked with Deep Sky Stacker.

Processed with Fitswork4 and Affinity Photo V2.1.0.

April 2022

May 2023

The animation below is compiled from the above images, April 2022 and May 2023.

The Super Nova is clearly visible below and to the right of the centre of M101. The recent image is bluer than the 2022 image, that's just processing differences. The video quality seems to have been reduced by the site, but it still shows the Super Nova very well.