David's Astronomy - Projects (original) (raw)
Some key observing targets for 2010 are listed in the table below.
As in previous years a selection of objectives/targets have been defined in order to focus and prioritize observing sessions for the year.
Key observing targets for 2009 are listed in the table below. The objectives/targets were defined to give some focus and prioritization for observing sessions for the year.
| Target | Notes | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Extrasolar Planet HD 209458b (Peg) HD189733b (Vul) XO-1b (CrB) | Continuing attempt to detect an exosolar planet transit using my LX200 scope need excellent sky conditions to achieve a successful detection. Transiting Exoplanets Project Page WASP-12b - The 12th-mag host star, 670 ly, in SE Auriga | Transit of exoplanet X02b successfully detected. Details still to be written up & loaded to website. |
| Wide Field Mosaic of NGC 7000 - North America nebula | Narrow field mosaic of NGC 7000 acquired in 2006 and mosaic of IC 5067/5070 undertaken in October 2008 provide encouragement for making a wider field mosaic of NGC 7000 | Still due to make a large mosaic of NGC 7000 . Several other nebular were successfully imaged in 2009 including Helix, Cocoon, Triffid nebulaes. |
| Variable Stars (representative example of each type of variable) | Continuing programmes Variable Stars including Light Curve Results Particular new project variables for 2009 atre | Several programmes were continued through 2009. Highlights during 2009 were DY per and TT Ari |
| Supernova Light Curve | Monitoring SN website (Rochester Supernova site), pick suitable SN (new/bright/distinct), then monitor light curve buildup/decay | No suitably bright/suitably position SN appeared |
| Variable Nebula | Continue programme began in Nov 2007 NGC 1555 on 2007-11-28 (Hind's Variable Nebula) NGC 2261 on 2007-12-07 (Hubble's Variable Nebula) | NGC 1555 monitored, but no significant changes noted to date, |
| RR Lyr type variables in M3 globular cluster | Idea from http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~jhartman/M3_movies.html ] Nice image of M3 taken April 2007Requires a run of very clear seeing | No attempt at M3's RR Lyr type variables made during 2009. however a further nice image of M3 was taken in May 2009. |
| Objects complementing Distance Ladder Project | Nearby Stars Project Page Nearby and distant galaxies | Quality of monitoring of nearby stars for proper motion/parallax upset by switch over from 8" to 12" LX200. Several additional Local Group Galaxies and Maffei 1 Group Galaxies imaged during the course of 2009. |
| Dim Object Challenges | Quasar PC 1247+340 (redshift 4.897 / Canes Venatici ) discovered in 1991 was for a while the most distant object known. At magnitude +20.4 it requires very long deep image. Image attempt in Mar 2007 reached +18.9 in 15x3 min exposure PC 1247+340 attempt on 2007-03-22 Eris - magnitude +19 | Most challenging distant dim object target in 2009 was probably Hickson 50, which was successully located and imaged in May 2009. Dwarf Planet Eris successfully imaged in September 2009 |
| MPL 2003 UB313 (Dwarf Planet Eris) | MPL 2003 UB313 (Eris / Dwarf Plant ) requires very dark sky/ good seeing. New attempt to be made with ST-10XME camera/12" LX200R combination (post Mar 2009) | Dwarf Planet Eris successfully imaged in September 2009. Makemake successfully imaged in November 2009. |
| Bright Comet | Monitor websites/magazines for new comets | Best comet in 2009 was Comet Lulin |
| Near Earth Asteroids | Monitor SpaceWeather.com | No suitable opportunities presented themselves in 2009 (due to either appropriate timing or sky conditions) |
| Target | Notes | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Extrasolar Planet HD 209458b (Peg) HD189733b (Vul) XO-1b (CrB) | Continuing attempt to detect an exosolar planet transit using my LX200 scope need excellent sky conditions to achieve a successful detection. Transiting Exoplanets Project Page | Conditions not suited to making any serious attempts. Time series runs made on other variables to help perfect techniques. |
| Wide Field Mosaic of NGC 7000 - North America nebula | Narrow field mosaic of NGC 7000 acquired in 2006 provides encouragement for making a wider field mosaic | Position of NGC 7000 or sky conditions were not suited for taking a long mosaic run over NGC 7000, however a large mosaic of IC 5067/5070 was undertaken in October |
| ARP Galaxies (Gallery of different ARP galaxies representative of different types/style of perculiar galaxy) | Project begun in October 2007 ARP Gallery Page | 30 additional ARP objects were imaged during 2008 (placed on ARP Gallery Page ) |
| Follow Up images of Galaxies with previous (pre-2008) Supernova | Aim to complement 2005-2007 images of supernovae with new images of their respective host galaxy after original supernovae has faded. | Several follow up images collected |
| Mercury | Mercury at crescent phase. Specific dates of max elongation from Sun (evening) - Feb 22-Feb 28 (2006) | No suitable opportunities presented Only image of Mercury dates from 2007 (Mercury, 2007-05-19) |
| Variable Stars (representative example of each type of variable) | Continuing programmes Variable Stars including Light Curve Results | Extensive monitoring of several variables during 2008. Several additional variables added to the list. Variable StarsHighlights : Nova V2491 Cyg, Nova |
| Variable Nebula | Continue programme began in Nov 2007 NGC 1555 on 2007-11-28 (Hind's Variable Nebula) NGC 2261 on 2007-12-07 (Hubble's Variable Nebula) | Continued taking images of NGC 1555, not detectable changes observed during 2008. |
| RR Lyr type variables in M3 globular cluster | Idea from http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~jhartman/M3_movies.html ] Nice image of M3 taken April 2007Requires a run of very clear seeing | No attempt made. |
| Objects complementing Distance Ladder Project | Examples : Wolf 359 (GCVS CN Leo), Ross 128 (GCVS FI Vir, Hip 57548), Luyten's Star (Hip 36208, BD+05 1668) Nearby Stars Project Page | Continued monitoring motion/parallex effects of several nearby stars/star systems. |
| Quasar PC 1247+340 | Quasar PC 1247+340 (redshift 4.897 / Canes Venatici ) discovered in 1991 was for a while the most distant object known. At magnitude +20.4 it requires very long deep image. Image attempt in Mar 2007 reached +18.9 in 15x3 min exposure PC 1247+340 attempt on 2007-03-22 | attempt to image PC 1247+340 was made in February using 15 x 3 min stacked images, but was unsuccessful in reaching the magnitude required to detect the quasar |
| Supernova Light Curve | Monitoring SN website, pick suitable SN (new/bright/distinct), then monitor light curve buildup/decay | There were no suitably bright supernova in 2008 for deriving a light curve (brightest SN in 2008 all seemed to be in southern skies !) Best SN in 2008 was SN2008ax in NGC 4490 |
| Bright Comet | Monitor websites/magazines for new comets | 2008 was a relatively poor year for comets. Best was 8P/Tuttle (Comets 2008) |
| Near Earth Asteroids | Monitor SpaceWeather.com2007 TU24 on Jan 29th, 2008, 1.4 LD. 400m diam,mag 10 | Three NEA objects where observed in January: 2007 TU24 at 1.4 LD., 2006 WJ56 at 10.9 LD, & 1685 Toro at 76 LD |
| MPL 2003 UB313 (Dwarf Planet Eris ) | Requires very dark sky/ good seeing. | Unsuccessful attempt made to image 2005 UB313 in Dec 2008 |
| Target | Notes | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Extrasolar Planet HD 209458b (Peg) HD189733b (Vul) XO-1b (CrB) | Specific nights (already on calendar), need excellent sky conditions to achieve detection objectives | Baseline / reference images taken of new transiting exoplanets. Identified which are most suitable stars for making a transit detection with my 8" LX200 and created an Excel spreadsheet/graphs to show the best opportunities. Compiled a presentation on my attempts to date Exoplanet Detection with an 8” LX200 - Part 1: Preparation shown at my local astronomy society in Oct 2007. Transiting Exoplanets Project Page |
| Wide Field Mosaic of NGC 7000 - North America nebula | Narrow field mosaic of NGC 7000 acquired in 2006 provides encouragement for making a wider field mosaic | Suitable opportunity (clear, dark, moonless night, with variable star work completed) didn't present itself during the 2007 season. Will make a new attempt in 2008. |
| RR Lyr type variables in M3 globular cluster | [ Idea from http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~jhartman/M3_movies.html ] | Unable to make a sustained effort to image M3 during 200, through recorded a nice image of M3 in April. It is clear that attempt to spot / follow individual stars in M3 will require a run of very clear seeing. Possible project for 2008. |
| AXP Stars (Cassiopeia) | Monitoring of AXP stars (anomalous X-ray pulsers) for possible outbursts | Occasional monitoring of two AXP stars in Cassiopeia during 1H 2007 but no outbursts noted. |
| Supernova Light Curve | Monitoring SN website, pick suitable SN (new/bright/distinct), then monitor light curve buildup/decay | Image a number of supernovae in 2007, but none with sufficiently bright or well positioned to record a useful light curve. SN 2007le (NGC 7721 in Aquarius) was imaged at a measured magnitude of +13.8 , but lay too low in the sky (altitude <= 26 deg) to consistently image because of cloud/murk or observatory wall. Other Supernovae imaged during 2007 were 2007s, 2007aa, 2007bm, 2007cm, 2007gi, 2007hj, 2007od. |
| Mercury | Mercury at crescent phase. Specific dates of max elongation from Sun (evening) - Feb 22-Feb 28 (2006) | Unable to find suitable opportunity to image Mercury through my 8" telescope from its observatory, but did manage to capture an image of the planet through a digital camera in May 2007 Mercury at dusk |
| Variable Stars (representative example of each type of variable) | 1 year programme star(s) short programmes (over one month) single night eclipses | Significant observing time devoted to variable stars during 2007, with continutation of monitoring of SS Cyg and the mira stars W And, U And, U Her. Several new stars added to observing programme in 2007. Variable Stars including Light Curve Results |
| Bright Comet | Monitor websites/magazines for new comets | Comet C/2006 P1 [McNaught] was unfortunately not visible from my observatory and only caught a visual sighting. Other highlight of the year was the dramatic brightening of Comet 17P/Holmes. Other bright comets captured on CCD Images was 8P/Tuttle and C/2007 E2 (Lovejoy) Comet 17P Holmes Comets 2007 |
| Near Earth Asteroids | Monitor SpaceWeather.com | Made observations of 2007 XH16 - a 565m diameter asteroid which passed by the earth on 2007-12-24 at a distance of 8.1 lunar distance (LD). 2007 XH16 on 2007-12-22 2007 XH16 on 2007-12-24(25) Observations also of 2006 VV2 in Apr 2007 2006 VV2 on 2007-04-01 Notes / Reanalysis of 2006 VV2 images |
| Objects complementing Distance Ladder Project | Examples : Wolf 359 (GCVS CN Leo), Ross 128 (GCVS FI Vir, Hip 57548), Luyten's Star (Hip 36208, BD+05 1668) | Nearby stars continued to be monitored for proper motion and parallax Nearby Stars Project Page Very good dataset developing for Barnard's Star |
| MPL 2003 UB313 (Dwarf Plant Eris ) | Requires very dark sky/ good seeing. | Still awaiting suitable observing times & conditions to observe 2003 UB 313 (Eris), but did mange to capture my first images of a Kuiper Belt Object - MPL 2003 EL61 - in March 2007. I also imaged Ceres recently promoted to a status of a dwarf planet MPL 2003 EL61 on 2007-03-20 Ceres on 2007-12-05(06) |
| Mars at Opposition | Mars very positioned at Opposition in Dec 2007, need to swap setup to F/10+Barlow/Eyepiece projection, RGB filters | Problems switching over to high focal length imaging due to failure of digital focusser, however did manage one evening of observing Mars on Dec 19th Mars on 2007-12-19 |
Some principal observing targets for October 2005 - September 2006 period (12 month period) have been selected in order to focus and prioritize observing sessions. They have been chosen in order to fulfill specific personal goals. The targets are listed below.
| Target | Notes | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Mars at Opposition | Oct/Nov 2006, need to swap setup to F/10+Barlow/Eyepiece projection, RGB filters | Images : 1) Mars on 2005-11-04 , 2) Mars on 2005-11-05 |
| M31 Mosaic | Requires one dark night/no moon/no clouds. Check frames for possible infill images before finishing session | Acquired a 7 x 12 frame mosaic over two nights in December 2006 M31 Mosaic |
| Extrasolar Planet HD 209458b (Peg) HD189733b (Vul) XO-1b (CrB) | Specific nights (already on calendar), need excellent sky conditions to achieve detection objectives Baseline images HD189733 [2] , XO-1 | Baseline images recorded, FOV & reference stars selected. Awaiting suitable observing times & conditions. |
| MPL 2003 UB313 ('10th planet') | Requires very dark sky/ good seeing. | Awaiting suitable observing times & conditions. |
| AXP Stars (Cassiopeia) | Monitoring of AXP stars (anomalous X-ray pulsers) for possible outbursts | Monitoring on several nights - no sign as at Dec 2006 |
| Supernova Light Curve | Monitoring SN website, pick suitable SN (new/bright/distinct), then monitor light curve buildup/decay | 2006bt light curve attempt, CGCG 108-130 (Apr/May 2006) |
| Hubble Deep Field (UMa) | Very dark sky, optimum seeing. | HDF - 2 brightest HDF objects recorded (May 2006) |
| M81/M82 (Messier Infills) | M81/M82 require use of diagonal mirror to prevent CCD camera crashing against base of LX200 | M81 taken with CCD camera at extreme of northern declination limit range (May 2006). but M81 mosaic not feasible. M82 beyond declination limit (option for using diagonal mirror still to be explored) |
| Mercury | Mercury at crescent phase. Specific dates of max elongation from Sun (evening) Feb 22-Feb 28 (2006) | Mercury viewed with naked eye/through binoculars, but too low to be visible with telescope from observatory. Earlier viewing prevented by bright sky and clouds. |
| Variable Stars (representative example of each type of variable) | 1 year programme star(s) short programmes (over one month) single night eclipses | RT Auriga (Cepheid) light curve (Feb/May 2006) HD 5501 Project Page recording variablity in new eclipsing binary Mira variables followed - U Her, U And, W And |
| Suspected Variables Screening (NSV) | Lower priority (costly in observing time/low probability of reward), still worth retaining software technique. | HD 5513 suspected variable found |
| Bright Comet | Monitor websites/magazines for new comets | Comet 73/P Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 followed in Apr/May 2006 73/P SW-3 fragments, Fragment B disintegration |
| Near Earth Asteroids | Monitor SpaceWeather.com | 1) Attempted MPL 2005 YO128 - no luck 2) MPL 2006 GY2 - 800m diam, passing at 7 LD (May 2006) |
| Objects complementing Distance Ladder Project | Examples : Wolf 359 (GCVS CN Leo), Ross 128 (GCVS FI Vir, Hip 57548), Luyten's Star (Hip 36208, BD+05 1668) | 1) Distance Ladder (in prep) 2) Cepheid light curve (Delta Cep) (Jan 2006) 3) Quaser Q0957+561 A/B at 8.5 billion light years distance (Feb 2006) 4) Teegarden's Star - baseline images (Feb 2006) 5) Barnards Star Proper Motion detected (May 2006) 6) 61 Cygni Proper Motion detected (May 2006) 7) Nearby Stars Project Page |
My original plans for entering into the field of future CCD Imaging are described on my Future Steps Page.
Imaging Notes and Experience from imaging sessions and tests are recorded on a series of pages
FWHM have been recorded for a number of observing sessions in an attempt to quantify the seeing conditions from my sub-urban observatory in Dorset, UK.
In 2002-Oct I started a CCD Imaging project to follow the variability of a number of stars. I began with variables in constellations Andromeda, Lacerata and Pegasus. See Variable Stars Project. (2)