Milky Way

It is almost a new moon again when it's the best time to get out and look at the West Texas skies. We truly are blessed in West Texas to have amazing skies (away from the cities of course). I'm headed back down to Fort Davis again on June 10 to do some more astrophotography. I'm hoping for clear skies. I need to do some more wide field images of the Milky Way as the core rises in the southeast. If you are fortunate enough to see this magnificant site, then I highly recommend it.
Unfortunately not too many people get to see this site in urban areas where lights block out the Milky Way. 2/3 of the U.S. population cannot see the Milky Way anymore do to light pollution. I'm very blessed to have a place where I can see this awesome site.

M51 TSP 2010

I know I have posted this before about the same picture. But I thought this was a better picture of M51. Taken with a QHY8 CCD. It is a 5 minute exposure. 12 images stacked to get the best picture. Processed with Photoshop. This is the most well known spiral galaxy.

Texas Star Party 2010

It is that time. It is time for TSP. The Texas Star Party is an annual star party under the great dark skies of the Davis Mountains near Fort Davis, TX. I came down on Friday, May 7 and took some great images. I've been stuck having clouds since Saturday, but am hoping the clouds go away for more viewing. This image is M81. The Spiral galaxy near the Great Dipper. Nearly 12 million light years away.

Fall is here and in West Texas I can feel the cool weather approaching and the change of frontal passage from warm to cold, and cold to warm. Fall in West Texas is my favorite because you get to experience Fall before it turns too cold. As a Kansas boy we went from summer to winter most years. It seemed as though Fall skipped us. I have not been able to do much observing do to family and business, but I hope to get out more.

Fort Davis, TX

Before observing this evening, a big buck decided to venture near and watch what I was doing. I don't think he cared about me when he had females to look at. I snapped this photo and I thought it was a great picture.

Been a while

Been a while since I did anything to my blog. Standby and I'll download some new info and pictures.