International Space Station Flyby AM 24th December 2011

What a Bonus!!!   James Harris and I were out photographing Comet Lovejoy and the ISS flew past.  I managed to grab these 30 second exposures with my Canon 350D.

Comet Lovejoy Early AM 24th December 2011

This is the view I snapped of Comet Lovejoy this morning with my Canon 350d. The comet tail is centre and you can see the effect of a car tail light in this 30 second exposure bottom right.

Darkness but lots of Cloud!

Well we had the darkness as the moon moved into the umbra of the Earth's shadow but the good ol clouds blocked our view here in Launceston.

We will have the another chance to see a full lunar eclipse on December 10/11th this year (Midnight). A bit less bitter as it will be summer and not an early rise needed, just a late night/early morning to bed.

For more info on upcoming lunar eclipses see http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/lunar.html.

Cheers

Michael

Prelude to the the Lunar Eclipse June 16th 2011

Full totality of a previous Lunar Eclipse on August 28th August 2007 taken at Royal Park Launceston.

Just Before totality!

Halfway to totality

The intitial darkening of the limb of the moon which will begin around 4am Thursday Morning (tommorrow).

Here is a short summary on the Iceinspace website for basic information about tommorrow's Lunar Eclipse.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-618-0-0-1-0.html

If its clouded out here in Northern Tasmania you can try a live upload to u tube at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgUieQsR4YI

Here's hoping for clear skies wherever you are observing the eclipse.

Michael

Home from Snake Valley now with a Canon 350D and loving it!

M83, Southern Pinwheel Galaxy.

Sombrero Galaxy

Centaurus A Galaxy

Omega Centauri Globular Cluster

Jewel Box, Open Cluster

Eta Carinae Nebula

Tranquility Base, Blackstone Heights

Snake Valley March 2011

Images of and taken at the Snake Valley Astronomy Camp March 2011