# 359 | The International Space Station and Jules Verne Spacecraft
Though the International Space Station orbits the Earth every 90 minutes, the celestial geometry between a potential observer and the spacecraft has to be such that sunlight reflects off of the craft's shiny metallic body in the direction of the observer.
During this past week the ISS has travelled over Canada shortly after sunset, creating opportunities to view it over the course of several nights.
An added bonus was the ability to view the Jules Verne spacecraft. Launched in March by the European Space Agency, the Jules Verne was used to transport equipment and supplies to the ISS.
On September 29, ESA controllers will command the Jules Verne to de-orbit and later in the day it will burn up in the atmosphere somewhere over an uninhabited portion of the Pacific Ocean.
Marcus Stevens captured this photo of both the ISS (the brighter streak) and the Jules Verne cruising over London, Ontario on September 21. Using a Canon XSi digital camera, he took a 60-second exposure at ISO 1600 using an 18mm f/3.5 lens.
# 358 | The Harvest Moon
This year's Harvest Moon occurred on September 15. Throughout the year the Moon rises, on average, 50 minutes later per night. Near the autumn equinox, due to the angle of the ecliptic, the moonrise varies only by about 30 minutes per night.
This extra moonlight has historically lended a hand to farmers harvesting their fall crops --- hence the name "Harvest Moon".
From near Big Bay, Ontario, Steve Irvine captured the Harvest Moon rising over Georgian Bay. He used a tripod-mounted Canon 350D equipped with a 100mm lens operating at f/3.5. A 1/80 second exposure was taken at ISO 200.
# 357 | The Double Cluster
The Double Cluster, formally known as NGC864 and NGC869, can at first appear to be a single star cluster. Upon closer scrutiny, it can be discerned that there are indeed two separate groupings of stars.
Peter Raine took advantage of the dark skies found at Gordon's Park on Ontario's Manitoulin Island in late August to take this image of the Double Cluster.
Shooting through an Astro-Physics 102 refractor, Peter took a single 10-minute exposure at ISO 400 with a modified Canon 350D using an 80mm refractor equipped with an ST-4 for guiding.
# 356 | NGC891
Though M31 may be the most commonly known and observed galaxy within the constellation Andromeda, NGC891 is an object not to be overlooked.
Shining at magnitude 10.8, NGC891 is an edge-on spiral galaxy located south of Perseus' Double Cluster. Nearly 29 million light-years from Earth, NGC891 is a spectacular object when viewed from a dark observing site through an 8-inch or larger telescope.
Imaging from near Orangeville, ON, Mark Viol took this photo on August 31, 2008.
Using a Canon 350D and shooting through a Celestron 11-inch SCT equipped with a f/6.3 focal reducer, Mark took 26 four-minute exposures at ISO 1600 and then combined them afterwards. Guiding was accomplished using a Meade DSI Pro and an Orion ED80 refractor.
# 355 |Cool Night, Nice Views
As the end of summer approaches, cooler nights begin to arrive and constellations not seen for months begin to show themselves once again.
Though the days may be warm, temperatures often begin to drop at night in August. This can often result in heavy dew and fog.
Jeffery Young recently took advantage of a clear, cool night to stargaze overtop of a lake within Ontario's Halfway Lake Provincial Park.
Jeffery notes that being at a lake under a moonlit night is the best way to enjoy the stars and the water. His photo is testament to that.
A 10-second exposure was taken shooting through a Canon XTi operating at ISO 400 with a Tamron 28-80mm lens at f/4.5.
# 354 | M31
One of the night sky's most well-known and observed objects is once again rising at a convenient time for amateur astronomers.
The Andromeda Galaxy, commonly referred to as M31, is an easily observed galaxy located only 2.3 million light-years from Earth.
Visible under a dark sky to the naked eye, binoculars reveal the galaxy to be distinctly elongated. A telescope can reveal spiral arms and its two companion galaxies.
From near Magnetawan, Ontario, Ian Wheelband recently imaged M31 using an SBIG STL11000M CCD camera and a Tele Vue NP127 apochromatic refractor mounted atop a Mountain Instruments MI250 mount.
# 353 | Perseid Meteors
If you weren't clouded out, chances are you saw many Perseid meteors earlier this week.
Pierre Martin of Ottawa, Ontario, observing and photographing from near Bon Echo Provincial Park, reports that once the Moon had set that the meteor shower was excellent.
Pierre took continuous 2-minute exposures from 1:00 a.m. until 4:30 a.m. and then combined them into one single photo to show all the meteors that were captured by his Canon 30D digital camera.
# 352 | Fishing For Stars
Summer fishing trips to remote areas are highly anticipated by anglers everywhere. Those who also happen to be amateur astronomers really look forward to the trip.
In June Rick Stankiewicz of Peterborough, Ontario travelled to northern Ontario to partake in some pike and walleye fishing.
Fortunately for him, clear skies at night allowed for some stargazing.
Though moonlight interfered with deep sky observations, it created the opportunity to capture the Moon's reflection on the still water of the lake with his Canon digital camera. Jupiter can be seen reflecting off of the water.
# 351 | The Milky Way
With the new Moon occurring this past Friday, deep sky fanatics have been able to observe the night sky without interfering moonlight for the past week. Though the thin crescent Moon will illuminate the night sky this week, those who wish to view the Milky Way will have the opportunity until Wednesday night (unless one chooses to stay up until the wee hours before dawn).
Driving west of Ottawa towards Renfrew, Pierre Martin recently took advantage of the moonless sky to capture the splendour of the Milky Way. Jupiter can be seen to the lower left.
Combining two 7-minute exposures with Adobe Photoshop, Pierre's image stunning image showcases the beauty of the Milky Way stretching from the zenith (the constellation Cygnus) to the southern horizon (the constellation Sagittarius).
Pierre used a Canon 30D equipped with a 16-35mm lens (used at 20mm and f/4) and ISO 400.
# 350 | M63
Nicknamed the Sunflower galaxy, M63 is located in the constellation Canes Venatici. At magnitude 8.5, M63 is an easy target for a 6-inch or larger telescope under moderately dark skies.
Those with an unobstructed horizon to the northwest may still catch a glimpse of M63 before it disappears into the horizon.
Earlier this year Stuart Heggie of Flesherton, Ontario imaged M63 using an f/7 Astro-Physics 155mm refractor and an ST-10XME CCD camera and Astrondon filters.
L= 30 x 5 minutes.
RGB = 4 x 10 minutes.