orion25

Greetings, George! I hope all is well with you and the Mrs!

That is striking!

The second total lunar eclipse for the Americas in 2022. Here are some prime focus shots I took through my 127mm Mak: Cheers! Reggie

Cracking image, Alex! Thanks for sharing! Reggie

Wow! I have a 127mm Mak, too, and would love to get an image as detailed as this! Reggie

Great image despite the conditions. I've found details on Mars to be soft visually right now; I've read that a windstorm is slowly receding. Hopefully, things will improve in the coming weeks up to perigee/opposition. Regards, Reggie

Awesome image, NV. Thanks for sharing! Reggie

Thanks, Angie. I'm excited about this apparition!

All hail to the mighty C14! Excellent images, Geof. Mars is really putting on a show and the best is yet to come! Reggie

Thanks, Gus. The high elevation (for us Northern Hemispherians) is a definite plus!

Thanks, Neil. Your images are truly inspirational!

Mars is sufficiently close and large enough for me to get a decent image with my 180mm Mak/ASI224mc kit. Great seeing and a withering dust storm! I'm pleased with the result. Lots of detail to see here: Mars fever in FULL EFFECT! 🤩🤩 Reggie

Nice animation, Neil! Mars fever is upon us again

Thanks, Gus. I always loved studying ancient cultures and rituals

DID YOU KNOW that the Ocmulgee Earth Lodge was an ancient observatory and ceremonial chamber for the Mississippians over a thousand years ago? Research indicates that on November 5 (October 22 our time), sunrise entered the earth lodge and illuminated the chief's seat on the eagle platform. The smoke hole at the top of the lodge allowed the lodge dwellers to view the Pleiades star constellation and the Taurid Meteor shower that was prominent at the time (circa 1014 AD). Here are some pictures I took at the Earth Lodge from October 14-22 commemorating the event. Because of trees, you aren't able to see the sunrise reach the eagle platform, but you can see the sunlight enter the chamber at a considerable distance along the walkway. Now is a great time to visit the Ocmulgee Earth Lodge! I hope you enjoy my pictures! Location: Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, Macon, GA, U.S. Sunrise through the entrance of the earth lodge: This interior shot of the earth lodge shows the raised eagle platform where the chief and two other important men sat. The sun would shine on them on this particular morning at daybreak. You can see a reflection on the protective glass enclosure of the sun in the lodge entrance: Daybreak on Coleman Hill a mile west of the Ocmulgee Earth Lodge. Because of trees, it is not possible to see daybreak at the Earth Lodge site: You can see why it's not possible to see daybreak at the Earth Lodge site and, therefore, not possible to actually see the sun's rays reach the eagle platform. Here, it is about an hour after daybreak and the sun is just beginning to peer through the trees: The sun shining on the exterior entrance of the Earth Lodge: The Pleiades (here, shot at my own home observatory) was visible through the smoke hole in the Earth Lodge at zenith during this time a thousand years ago, and the Taurid meteor shower (which was very active at the time) was also visible. Research indicates that this was the reason the lodge was oriented with the sunrise on this date. These prehistoric earth lodge dwellers likely performed ceremony to either the Pleiades, the Taurids or both: Cheers! Reggie

Brilliant image, Geof. It will only get better!

I got this image of Jupiter around the time of opposition. You can see the Great Red Spot and the Io's shadow (which was coincident with the moon itself) near the GRS. Clear skies! Reggie

Mars is unmistakable after midnight and into the morning sky as a brilliant ruddy beacon! Dark albedo and polar cap features are easily visible even through modest scopes (best with some good magnification). I nabbed this image before dawn prior to work (made me want to call in)! Clear skies! Reggie

Great review, as always, Zeta. I have the complete Expanse set that I use almost exclusively with my 127mm and 180mm Maks. The 9mm and 15mm are probably my favorites. How are things on your planet ?

Thanks, George! How are things?

Thanks, Angie. I noticed the rings were noticeably brighter than the planet visually as well.

Thanks, Pete. Yes, Seeliger in full effect!

Here are my images of the Saturn opposition with Jupiter (and moons Europa and Io) in tow using my ZWO ASI 224mc and 180mm Mak-Cass. Seeing was very good if not excellent: Saturn is slowly losing its "tilt" from our perspective, moving towards an edge-on apparition by 2025. Clear skies! Reggie 🤩

Saturn is emerging above the horizon around midnight and will reach opposition (position opposite the sun) on August 14 when it will be closest and brightest. I imaged this shot with my ZWO ASI-224MC space camera and 180mm Mak-Cass telescope. Clear skies! Reggie 🤩