# 329| The February 20, 2008 Lunar Eclipse
Clear skies prevailed across a large part of Canada for last week's lunar eclipse. Visible over the entire continent and parts of Europe, millions of people had the opportunity to watch the Moon glide through the Earth's shadow.
From his observatory in Cap-Rouge, Quebec, Jean Guimond created this montage of the eclipse using an SBIG STL1100M CCD camera and a Takahashi TOA-150 telescope.
A selection of images, taken by readers of SkyNews, can be seen here.
# 328| The Pleiades
The Pleiades, also known as M45 and the Seven Sisters, is an asterism (a collection of stars that form a pattern) within the constellation Perseus.
Located approximately 440 light-years from Earth, the Pleiades is easily recognizable due to it's small spoon-like shape.
Though it may appear that each star is enshrouded by a nebula, there are no nebulae near the star cluster. Dust and gas located somewhere between the Pleiades and our solar system is being illuminated by the cluster and giving the appearance of a nebula surrounding the stars.
Using a remote telescope in New Mexico, USA, Pierre Tremblay captured the Pleiades on December 2 and 3, 2007.
Image details:
Takahashi FSQ 106 ED, Paramount ME German equatorial mount, self-guided, SBIG STL-11000 CCD camera equipped with Astrodon LRGB filters.
Exposure: L=12 x 300 seconds, RGB= 4 x 300 seconds.
# 327| We Have Lift-Off!
Anyone who has ever witnessed the launch of the Space Shuttle will tell the same story — the immense power that is displayed as the Shuttle begins to (literally) rocket toward the sky is incredible.
On Thursday, February 7, the Space Shuttle Atlantis was launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral. Witnessing the launch was Lynn Hilborn, who snapped this image moments after lift-off.
The Shuttle has now docked with the International Space Station and the pair will be visible gliding over Canada shortly after dusk for the duration of the mission.
Appearing as a bright "star" quickly passing overhead, the pair transit the sky within minutes, therefore it is necessary to know the exact transit time for an observer's specific location.
Heavens-above.com is a satellite prediction website that gives accurate times as to when satellites, including the ISS and the Shuttle, can be seen.
# 326| The Old Moon Meets A Young Girl
Astrophotography knows no age. Geneviève Lamarche, a 12-year old girl from Timmins, Ontario, is testament to that.
Just before dawn on January 3, 2008, Geneviève and her father were enjoying the sunrise at Kamiskotia Lake near Timmins when she snapped this pretty image of the old Moon immersed in twilight using a Panasonic DMC-LC33 digital camera.
# 325| Mercury At Dusk
For the past week, illusive Mercury has been hugging the western horizon shortly after dusk.
Appearing as an average "star", Mercury could indeed be mistaken for a star within a constellation.
To locate Mercury, look low in the south-west approximately 45 minutes after sunset. A horizon with an unobstructed vantage point is recommended.
From near Peterborough, Ontario, Rick Stankiewicz captured Mercury using a Canon 400D digital camera equipped with a Sigma 17-70 mm lens (set to 70mm). A six second exposure at f/4.5 using ISO 100 was taken.
# 324| The Moon and Mars
Skywatchers who were fortunate to have a clear sky on the night of January 19, 2008 were able to view a conjunction between the Moon and Mars.
Mars, appearing as a red-coloured "star", was only a half degree away from the Moon. Though they may appear to be side-by-side, at the time of this photo, taken by Peter Raine in Tillsonberg, Ontario, Mars was approximately 104,000,000 kilometres from Earth, while the Moon was at a distance of 366,000 kilometres.
Peter simply framed the shot over the local clock tower and used a Canon A640 digital camera mounted on a tripod and took a 1/2-second exposure at f/2.8 using ISO 80.
# 323| Nemesis of the Amateur Astronomer
Every amateur astronomer, even those with just a minor interest in astronomy, has had to deal with the problem of clouds. Small patches of clear sky, lovingly referred to as "sucker holes", often keep those with extreme dedication patiently waiting to view the night sky.
Clouds can, however, sometimes add to the aesthetics of an image. James MacWilliam of Sechelt, British Columbia took this image of the Moon while clouds were blowing through.
Image specifications: Canon Digital Rebel, Orion 100mm Astroview refractor, 1/30-second exposure.
# 322| Sun Pillar
Surprisingly common at this time of year, a Sun pillar can be seen shortly before sunrise or just after sunset.
Created when floating ice crystals refract light (similar to the lunar halo seen in SkyNews Photo of the Week 321), Sun pillars aren't visible for too long. Photographers are advised to be quick with their camera!
From Newmarket, Ontario, Brenda Glendenning photographed this Sun pillar on January 2. Using a Canon 30D digital camera, she took a 1/400 second exposure at f/11 using ISO 400 with a 17-40mm lens.
# 321| Lunar Halo
Commonly seen on cold nights when the full or near-full Moon is close to the horizon, a lunar halo is caused when ice crystals within high, thin cirrus clouds refract moonlight.
Occasionaly a solar halo can be observed just before dawn or shortly before sunset.
Optical aid is not required to view a lunar halo — the halo covers an immense portion of the sky and can only be viewed with the naked eye.
Phillip Chee of Peterborough, Ontario, captured this lunar halo on December 22, 2007 using a 10mm fisheye lens attached to his Nikon D200 digital camera.
# 320| The California Nebula
Located in the constellation Perseus, NGC1499 is an emission nebula and is approximately 1000 light years away from Earth.
From his backyard observatory in Colomban, Quebec, Eric Roy captured this image of the nebula on November 11, 2007 using an SBIG STL-11000 CCD camera and a Takahashi FSQ-106 refractor mounted atop an Astro-Physics 1200 goto German equatorial mount.
Image specifications: Ha-Ha-G-B composite, Ha: 270 minutes, G: 48 minutes, B: 48 minutes, unbinned.
Processed with Maxim DL, Images Plus and Adobe Photoshop CS2.