HOBBY PAGE

Full moon on supermoon night

2011-03-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

This photograph of the full moon was made using a simple handycam. I did not use a telescope, but processed the video using registax 5 (an image stacking software- freeware). Also, since registax has trouble with mpg files, I first converted the mpg video file of the moon (see video below) to avi format and trimmed out the useful part of the video using virtualdub (another freeware). Not bad at all for a snap of the moon without a telescope.

The video below (and phot above) were taken on 19th March 2011- the night of the full moon on (the supermoon date). This is the day the moon reaches closest to the earth in its elliptical orbit around the earth.

A short video of the full moon today

2010-12-19T18:01:00.000-08:00

I decided to check the ability of the video camera to catch a full moon today. I and my son had a go at it. This video clip is one of the few I managed to grab on a cool December night on the terrace. Despite best efforts there is a mild chromatic aberration.

Another video clip of the full moon.

Full moon on Jan 30th 2010 from Cochin

2010-01-31T09:24:00.000-08:00

I perked up this snap of the moon with photoshop.

The full moon was spectacular on Jan 30th 2010. See these giant/ large snaps of the moon on this day at 8 PM, taken via 4.5 inch reflector telescope from my home here in Cochin, India.

I and my kids (and some friends) had a good time enjoying the view through the scope.
The full moon on Jan 30th 2010 was a little larger in size and much brighter. I could see many small craters, all over the lunar surface.

Some giant and super giant snaps of the moon:

2009-12-09T00:34:00.001-08:00

Behold, lovely GIANT (large sized) snaps (astrophotos, photos), of the full moon at its best.
Click to view full size.
These 4 moon snaps are courtesy of Mr. Jan Timmermans an experienced astronomer from The Netherlands. You can view more of his snaps of the beauty of the night sky at:

Jan Timmermans N 51.363 E 5.4622 (Valkenswaard - The Netherlands) http://www.thefirmament.nl

For more great photographs of the moon: visit:
http://www.thefirmament.nl/moon_giants.html or
http://www.thefirmament.nl/moon_details_hires.html

Large image of Jupiter:

2009-11-27T22:16:00.000-08:00

Click to view a giant (large) astrophotograph (snap) of Jupiter. This snap of Jupiter was taken by the Hubble space telescope. That oval reddish spot is the GRS or the Great Red Spot.

A nice snap of mars

2009-11-27T18:35:00.001-08:00

This is a snap from the Hubble Space telescope. Those hill like structures are giant volcanoes on Mars.

A video recording of the sun's surface:

2009-08-26T22:46:00.000-07:00

This is a really "cool" video of a "hot" object- the surface of the sun (our sun). Taken with a H-alpha filter fitted on to a telescope, you can see a red hot plume, the solar flare reaching outwards from the solar surface. Enjoy....

This is an actual video recording of a Pulsar:

2009-08-26T22:37:00.000-07:00

This video recording shows a Pulsar. A pulsar is a neutron star that spins very rapidly, emitting streams of electromagnetic radiation, at regular intervals from a few milliseconds to 8 seconds. The pulsar can only be seen when the bursts of radiation reach us on earth during these regular intervals. Watch this video recording of a Pulsar...

Some nice astronomical videos:

2009-08-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

I found this nice web site with lovely astronomy videos. This needs to be published. Just click on the heading, lean back and enjoy...

Here is a nice astronomical video that was taken using a telescope scanning the surface of the moon... The site is: http://www.stickam.com/viewMedia.do?mId=179334081

Enjoy...
Joe.

New impact of comet on Jupiter

2009-07-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me this nice link, describing a new impact on Jupiter, by a large object, possibly a comet. The snaps taken by amateur astronomer Wesley, from Australia, show a large black spot the size of the earth on Jupiter's South polar region. See this link for more:
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/amateur-astronomer-finds-new-earth-size-impact-mark-on-jupiter/?ref=global-home
This astrophotograph by Wesley shows the black spot (arrows) in the upper right of Jupiter.
NASA and JPL scientists are still not sure about what it was that caused this massive earth sized scar on this giant planet, but are of the opinion that it might have been a large comet, that evaded their detection.
With all the attention of the world focused on the solar eclipse today (22nd July 2009), few, in the amateur astronomy world are aware of this interesting development.
Joe.

Moon photos of Feb 2009

2009-04-29T02:50:00.000-07:00

Photograph of the moon through a Sony digicam
through Orion 4.5 inch reflector telescope. Note the irregularity of the left outer rim of the moon. These are lunar mountains or margins of craters pockmarking the lunar surface.

This is a close up of the moon using a high power lens on the telescope.

Pinhole glasses- a review:

2008-10-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

Review of pinhole glasses:
Pinhole glasses are now a viable alternative to regular spectacles using lenses. These consist of a metal frame supporting plastic lenses with multiple fine perforations, drilled using precision lasers. The advantage of pinhole glasses is that they allow only coherent and direct light rays to enter the eye, thus improving vision and reducing eye stress.
The fine pinholes on the surface of the plastic lenses of the pinhole glasses act to reduce the aperture of the eye's pupil, thus conducting a very narrow beam of light through to the eye lens. This narrow beam causes less blurring of the image formed on the retina, thus resulting in improved vision. Find out more about how pinhole glasses work here.
Many users of this novel technology (pinhole glasses) have reported better vision and less eye strain on prolonged use. Another major advantage is that one pair of glasses suits all conditions, be it reading book or watching distant objects. These glasses are also lightweight and weigh about the same as other spectacles. These are sturdy and durable. Pinhole glasses are resistant to scratches and do no break. Are you worried about whether these will suit you..no worry again.. these are available in variety of shapes and are stylish, following current trends.
What is the cost? These glasses are available for US $ 19.99 At this price these modern glasses are a viable alternative to expensive conventional spectacles which can cost many times more. Did you know that ophthalmologists also use pin hole lenses whilst examining the patient’s eyes? Many users have found that pinhole glasses are less stressful than using multifocal or varifocal glasses. The pinhole lenses also cause apparent brightening of dimly lit objects, especially during night time. Thus one can easily see better in the night.

To order visit: Pinhole glasses

(Note: this is only a preview of pinhole glasses. We donot take reponsibility for the use and purchase of the above mentioned items).

Moon yesterday night:

2008-02-20T20:40:00.000-08:00

Jamie is a budding astronomer.

Some snaps of the full moon taken yesterday night 8PM

from my roof top in Cochin. My son, Jamie assisted me.

The horsehead nebula

2007-12-11T04:11:00.000-08:00

This is a nice snap of the horsehead nebula in Orion. The horsehead is the small, dark nebula below the red part of the cloud. Astrophotograph by Dr. Suresh Mohan, Chennai.

An eagle in the night sky- the eagle nebula:

2007-04-21T04:09:00.000-07:00

A snap of the eage nebula by Dr. Suresh Mohan, Chennai, India. It does look like an eagle...

The trifid nebula:

2007-03-15T00:52:00.000-07:00

This astrophotograph by Dr. Suresh Mohan reveals yet again the beauty of the night sky. The trifid nebula or M20 is located in the constellation Sagittarius. The glowing red gas cloud is divided into three parts by dark dust lanes.

February astrophotos:

2007-02-23T02:54:00.000-08:00

Have a look at this snap of a spiral Galaxy M51 by

Dr. Suresh Mohan, Chennai.

And mighty Saturn this month:

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2006-11-01T02:55:00.000-08:00

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More pictures from amateur astronomers:

2006-11-01T02:27:00.000-08:00

These pictures of deep space objects (DSOs) are taken by amateur astronomer Ginger Mayfield from USA. The picture at left is that of the great Andromeda galaxy. Improvements in imaging equipment (digital cameras and telescopes) means that anyone with that spark of curiosity patience and perseverance can take pictures like these from terra firma itself. You can see more at her website:
http://www.gmayfield.com/

The picture at left (click the pic to view full size) shows an edge -on view of our own galaxy, the Milky Way. Both galaxies are what are called Spiral Galaxies. These have a dense central core of trillions of stars (and maybe black holes) and spiral arms radiating away.

My pictures of the night sky:

2006-09-20T02:09:00.000-07:00

A picture of Saturn, the ringed planet from my roof top: (above)

Astronomy is not an easy hobby. It requires patience and persistence. Braving mosquitoes, I took these pictures of the moon and Saturn from my rooftop, using a 4.5 inch reflector hooked to a digital camera.
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In case you weren't aware

2006-07-28T02:18:00.000-07:00

Just go through these pictures. You'll get an instant idea of the relative sizes of the planets and our solar system

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THE WONDERS OF THE NIGHT SKY

2006-06-30T03:47:00.000-07:00

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Jupiter is the giant among the planets and also very well visible from earth.
See the thick cloud bands across its surface and the great red spot (GRS), a perpetual storm on its
surface. The GRS is 3 times larger than the earth.

Photo courtesy, Dr. Suresh Mohan, Tamil Nadu.

ASTRONOMY AS A HOBBY

2006-06-30T02:07:00.000-07:00

Watching the night sky is not exactly the common man's idea of a hobby. But if you look at what
is waiting in the dark depths of space, you might jolly well have a different outlook.
Have a look at some of the splendid photographs captured by budding astro-enthusiasts the world over..
and you might never be the same...
You could always watch the night sky with the naked eye and yet be left spellbound.
But there is no limit to what you can see with the aid of a binocular or a good telescope.
If, in addition to a telescope, you have a reasonably good digital camera, you could take pictures
(astrophotographs) of objects as faint as the nebulae or distant galaxies.
My good friend Dr.Suresh Mohan from Tamil Nadu has done just that and the results... well
.. I leave it to you judge.. I call them spectacular.
Observe M51 (also called the Whirlpool galaxy):
This is a spiral galaxy appx. 37 million light years from earth. A smaller galaxy is seen near the main spiral galaxy. (see picture above).
Or Look at the picture below:
It shows M42 or the Great Nebula in Orion...The fuzzy cloud, glowing around the central stars
is a cloud of burning gas. It is the remnant of a star that exploded (supernova) ages ago.
The amazing thing about these photos is the amount of detail visible from earth, through
a good digital camera.