John O'Neal's Astrophotography Gallery - onealphotosite

Welcome to my Astrophotography website!
Here you'll find day-to-day pictures I've taken and the interesting stories behind them. Visit regularly to see what's new.

My Solar Astronomy Album

GHR Observatory Visit, June, 2011

The March 29th, 2011 ISS Solar Transit

The March, 2011 Full Perigee Moon

TheJanuary, 2011 Minima of Algol

The Winter Solstice and Total Lunar Eclipse of December 21st, 2010

Comet 103P/Hartley 2

Astrophotography

Astro Friends

Comets

Galaxies

Gear

Halley's Comet, 1986

Moon

Planets

Sun

MyAstro Gab Site
The O'Neal Web Site
The O'Neal Flickr Website
My Facebook Site
View My Astrophotography Webshow
The Good Night Observatory Website
John O'Neal's Comet Website
My Old Astrophotography Website

My Astrophotography Book>

UPLOADS!!!

BRAS_2010_Calendar.doc


BRAS_2010_Schedule.xls


ADigitalAstrophotographyPrimer.pdf


ADigitalAstrophotographyPrimerII.pdf


CometHolmesPresentation.ppt

South Amherst, OH

Charlotte, NC

Lancaster, SC

Black River Astro Blog Site

Black River Astro NEWS Forum
The purpose of this forum is to provide a place for members of The Black River Astronomical Society to blog, discuss upcoming meetings, cancel meeting, advertise their intent to go to the Nielson, etc. The Black River Astronomical Society has been bringing astronomy to, and serving Lorain County residents continuously since 1949.
PUBLIC OBSERVING CANCELLED
PUBLIC OBSERVING FOR SATURDAY 1/21 IS CANCELLED. In spite of forecasts that there might be clearing tonight, it remains cloudy.There is some clearing to the north, but it reaches the Lake Erie shoreline and stops. Thus we remain socked in.
     Our next Public Observing session is Friday February 17th from 7:00-9:00. Hope to see you there. The public is reminded that they are also welcome at our monthly meetings. The next monthly meeting is Wednesday Feb. 1st, at the Carlisle Visitors Center at 7:00.
Steve Schauer
President
PUBLIC OBSERVING FRIDAY 1/20 IS CANCELLED
PUBLIC OBSERVING IS CANCELLED for tonight, Friday Jan 20th. We have solid cloud cover and a winter weather advisory to contend with tonight. Please check back tomorrow as there is the possibility of clear to partly cloudy late Saturday into Saturday evening. If we cancel tomorrow night we will do so around 5:00pm. Think clear skies!
Steve Schauer
President
BRASSO Observing Session yields unexpected Solar Transit
Here's a short video from an image capturing session on January 15th, 2012. Hope you enjoy it!




Another BRASSO Member does good...
Early this morning I received an email (about 3am) saying that AAPOD (Amateur Astronomy Picture of the Day) had selected my image to feature. Since I had just submitted a picture yesterday I was expecting it to be the one they selected. So, I was shocked to see an image that I had submitted back in October of 2011.

So, if you've submitted an image to them and haven't heard anything back, be patient. I guess it can take a while...

On October 23th, 2011 large flares were erupting on the Sun and setting my Solar Radio Telescope charts ablaze.
I grabbed this image to accompany the graphs. John O'Neal

BRASSO Member does good again!!!
Last month,BRASSO Member, Randy Shivak got an image posted on the Cloudy Nights Website's Picture of the Day Gellery. That image is currently in competition for Photo of the Month. To show your support for one of our fellow Black River Astro member and to vote for Randy's image, follow this link:
Cloudy Nights Photo of the Month Challenge
Voting ends Sunday night, so don't delay...

 Today Randy got yet another awesome image posted on the Anacortes Website, in their Picture of The Day Gallery. Follow the link to check it out....
Anacortes Photo of the Day Gallery

You can see more of Randy's images on the Black River Astronomical Society Solar Observers page at Black River Astronomical Society Solar Observers

Randy's new image is aptly named Forest of Fire!
 Please join me in congratulating Randy for another awesome image!
Black River Astro Solar Imager does good....
Congratulations go out once again to BRASSO member, Randy Shivak, whose recent solar image just made the Anacortes Image of the Day and got him kudos from a couple of the most renowned Solar Imagers on the planet. Good work, Randy!


Guys, see the info below and the video link. Comet Lovejoy could become visible to the naked eye today as a ball of mist and/or vapor hanging next to the sun today. 

Watch for it and get pics if possible.


BIG COMET PLUNGES TOWARD THE SUN: Comet Lovejoy (C/2011 W3) is diving into the sun and furiously vaporizing as it approaches the stellar surface. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) is recording the kamikaze plunge:


SOHO Coronagraph: movie, latest image

"This is, without any doubt, the brightest sungrazing comet that SOHO has ever seen," says comet researcher Karl Battams of the Naval Research Lab in Washington DC.

The comet's nucleus, thought to be twice as wide as a football field, will skim approximately 140,000 km (1.2 solar radii) above the solar surface on Dec. 15/16. At such close range, solar heating will almost certainly destroy the comet's icy core, creating a cloud of vapor and comet dust that will reflect lots of sunlight.

"If Comet Lovejoy gets as bright as magnitude -4 or -5, there is a tiny but non-zero chance that it could become visible in the sky next to the sun," says Battams.

Indeed, something similar happened to Comet McNaught in January 2007 when it was visible in broad daylight: gallery. Standing in the shadow of a tall building to block the sun allowed the comet to be seen in blue sky nearby.

"Comet Lovejoy will be reaching perihelion (closest approach to the sun) right around sunset on Dec. 15th for people in the US East, Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones," continues Battams. "Be alert for the comet to the left of the sun at that time." Caution: Do not look at or near the sun through unfiltered optics; focused sunlight can seriously damage your eyes.

Discovered on Dec. 2nd by amateur astronomer Terry Lovejoy of Australia, the comet is an unusually large member of the Kreutz family. Kreutz sungrazers are fragments of a single giant comet (probably the Great Comet of 1106) that broke apart back in the 12th century. SOHO sees one plunging into the sun every few days, but most are small, no more than 10 meters wide. Comet Lovejoy is at least ten times larger than usual.

We finally got a clear day Saturday and I was able to capture a couple images of the Sun through my new Lunt Solar Hydrogen Alpha Scope.
 Not only were there nice prominences, but lots of filament action on the surface as well.
Astronomically, John
PUBLIC OBSERVING CANCELLED
The Public Observing session for SATURDAY 12/3 is CANCELLED due to cloud cover. Our next Public Observing will be January 20 from 7:00 to 9:00. With any luck we will have clear skies and moderate temperatures.
Steve Schauer
BRAS President
Public Observing Cancelled
Public Observing for Friday Dec. 2nd has been CANCELLED due to clouds. The clearing that was forecast earlier, no longer seems to be happening and tomorrow doesn't look much more promising. However, check back tomorrow for an update. If we cancel Saturday, we will do so by 5:00pm.
Steve Schauer, President, BRAS

Public Observing for Friday Nov.25th is ON!
     The weather looks unusually good for this late in the year and the Black River Astronomical Society wishes to invite the public to come to the observatory tonight to view the stars through powerful telescopes. The session runs from 7:00-9:00PM. Directions to the observatory are to the right and further down the page on this website. We hope to see you there.
Steve Schauer President
Solar Observing today, Sunday October 30th, 2011@ Nielsen Observatory
Won't you join us for some Solar Observing today, Sunday October 30th, 2011@ The Nielsen Observatory from 1-4pm. It's clear out, not too chilly and there's some nice activity on the Solar Surface today.
Randy will be there with the Daystar Filter, Mike with the Club's Lunt Hydrogen Alpha Telescope and John with his Video setup so you can see the Sun on a TV monitor.

Hope to see you there...

Astronomically, John 
Backup Observing for 29OCT2011 Cancelled
Well last night was a bust. The small gap in the clouds disappeared and there was no chance for observing. The clear weather this morning held promise but the conditions have been deteriorating all afternoon. Showers are in the offing and it won't clear off until after midnight.

Tonight's public observing session is therefore cancelled. Let's hope November is a little better.
Aurora Borealis




Our next Public Observing is set for Friday Oct. 28th from 8:00-10:00PM. This is a clear skies only event. If it's cloudy, we will try for the following night (the 30th) at the same times. We will post a cancellation here at least two hours before hand if it is cloudy. Wear warm clothing as nights are getting progressively more chilly. We hope to see you there.
Public observing for 1OCT2011
Well there seems to be a short break coming in this dreary weather. We hope to have a few hours of fairly clear weather tonight. We will attempt to have our public observing session! Keep an eye on the skies, dress warmly, and keep your feet dry.
Public Observing for 30SEP2011 Cancelled
The inclement weather has forced a cancellation for this evenings viewing session. There is a slim chance for better weather tomorrow so check back on Saturday evening.
AAVSO Special Notice #255 - Cataclysmic Variable in Draco
AAVSO Special Notice #255

Cataclysmic Variable in Draco = PNV J18422792+4837425
September 14, 2011

IAU CBAT Central Bureau Electronic Telegram 2818 (Daniel W. E.
Green, ed.) announces the discovery by Hideo Nishimura, Miyawaki,
Kakegawa, Shizuoka-ken, Japan, of a cataclysmic variable in Draco
on 2011 Sept. 5.529 UT at magnitude 11.8 (reported by S. Nakano,
Sumoto, Japan). The variable was designated PNV J18422792+4837425
when posted on the Central Bureau's TOCP webpage.

A spectrum obtained by Ulisse Munari, Istituto Nazionale di
Astrofisica, Padova Astronomical Observatory, on 2011 September
6.841 UT with the Asiago Astrophysical Observatory 1.22-m telescope
is typical of a cataclysmic variable near maximum.

Munari also reports that nothing was visible at the location of
the object on the Palomar Sky Survey. This suggests the possibility
that it may be a WZ Sge-type variable, based on its large amplitude.
CCD time series are requested to determine the nature of this
object and to search for superhumps. Visual observations are also
welcome.

Over 800 observations of PNV J18422792+4837425 have been submitted
to the AAVSO International Database to date, by Richard Sabo,
Bozeman, MT, and Joseph Ulowetz, Northbrook, IL; the most recent
one is from 2011 September 13.2285 UT at magnitude 12.621 CV by
Ulowetz.

Coordinates: RA 18 42 27.92 Dec. +48 37 42.5 (2000.0)

Charts for PNV J18422792+4837425 (000-BKD-643) may be plotted
using VSP (http://www.aavso.org/vsp). To accomodate the location of
the comparison star sequence relative to the variable, it is
recommended that observers choose a D-scale chart and a limiting
magnitude of 16.0.

Until an official name is assigned by the GCVS team, please report
observations of this object to the AAVSO International Database
as PNV J18422792+4837425.

This AAVSO Special Notice was compiled by Elizabeth O. Waagen.


---------------------------------------------------
SUBMIT OBSERVATIONS TO THE AAVSO

Information on submitting observations to the AAVSO may be found at:
http://www.aavso.org/webobs
You’re invited ...

2 ISS/Solar Transits this week.



Public Observing Tonight 19AUG
Come one, come all!! Public observing tonight from 10pm til midnight. See the late summer sky in all its splendor!


Solar Observing at Miller Road Park
     The Avon Lake Parks District has an event called "Sunset Celebration" this Saturday the 20th at Miller Road Park on Lake Rd./Rt 6 at Miller Road (beside the power plant. They will have a band and BRAS members will be there with their solar telescopes to show the public the sun. Pam and Randy Shivak and Mike Harkey will attend with hydrogen alpha filters/scopes to show the sun at it's best. All BRAS members, their families and the public are invited to attend. The event starts at 6:30 PM. Hope to see you there

      Members are also reminded that the BRAS OTAA convention is Saturday Sept 3rd. this year at the Methodist Church hall in Birmingham. Please look for email reminders that will be sent out by President Tin Kreja.
Public Solar Observing, Sunday, August 7th, 2011 from 1-4pm
Public Solar Observing session today, Sunday, August 7th, 2011 from 1-4pm. Come see views through hydrogen alpha scopes. See the flares and prominences shooting out from the Sun's photosphere.Also view  white light filtered views of the Sun's Spots.

We'll be at the Bur Oaks Metropark on Ford Road. Note that the Bridge is out so you can't get to the park from the north by Wahl-Mart. You must go to 254 and Gulf Road and get on Ford Road there.

Look forward to seeing you there,


Astronomically, John
Public Observing 6AUG2011 Cancelled
The weather is moving in so I have decided (belatedly) to cancel tonights session. I thought there would be a decent chance for a clear spot bu the rain is on the way.

Our next public session is Friday 19AUG from 10pm til midnight.

PS. Don't forget Public Solar viewing tomorrow afternoon 1-4 pm at Bur Oak reservation. Safely view sunspots and prominences.
ISS Transits the Lunar Surface, Sunday, July 31st, 2011
Good morning and welcome to yet another ISS Transit opportunity...
This time the ISS will transit the Moon!

On Sunday morning, July31st, 2011, at 09h 06m 53.92s EST the ISS will transit the Moon as it is low on the Eastern horizon. At 17 degrees altitude this would be an almost impossible apparition except for the fact that the Lunar disk will be transited at Sherod Park in Vermilion, Ohio overlooking Lake Erie. This will result in an unprecedented, unobstructed Eastern horizon.
As a result of the steep angle between the observer, the ISS and the Moon, the Space Station will take over two whole seconds to complete it's journey across the face of the Lunar Surface. This could place the transit within the reach of still photographers. (Set the camera in burst mode and hold the shutter down!) Guys shooting 30 f/s will capture ~60 images and guys shooting 70 f/s will record a whopping 140 something seperate frames of the transit.
A major detractor of this event is that the Sun will only be 11 degrees away from the Moon at the time of transit, creating some obstacles we will need to prepare for and overcome,including:
First, the Moon will be hard to locate at this distance from the Sun.
Second, there won't be a lot of contrast, and
Third, extreme caution will need to be exercised to prevent accidentally pointing imaging devices and unprotected eyes at the Solar Surface.

 More details to come soon....

Astronomically, Dr. John

ISS/Lunar Transit DataSheet:
ISS crosses the disk of Moon. 
Separation=0.116°  
Position Angle=271.0°, 
Position angle vertex=320.8°.  
Transit duration=2.01s
Angular diameter=25.8"  
size=109.0m x 73.0m x 27.5m
Satellite at Azimuth= 90.6° E    
Altitude= 17.1°  
Distance=1070.0 km  
Magnitude=2.3mag
In a clock-face concept, the satellite will seem to move toward  4:19
Angular Velocity=14.5'/s

Centerline, closest point →Map: Longitude= 82°13'42"W  Latitude=+41°21'59" (WGS84) Distance=3.45 km  
Azimuth=200.3° SSW  
Path direction=110.3° ESE  
ground speed=10.417 km/s  
width=10.8 km  max. duration=2.2 s
Sun elevation=+29°  
Elongation from Sun=11°
Orbit source: NASA predicted orbit

1/30/2012 2:30:57 AM