NASA, parallax Program

[bgilbert]

. Time is running out, for those amateurs who are prepared to help NASA's New Horizons project to measure the distance to Proxima centauri.

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Learn/Get-Involved.php#Parallax-Program
. 22 and 23 April

Barry

[turbo_pascale]

Sounds like fun - I hope I can get my 10" scope back online in time.

[The_bluester]

Unless is is an expected resolution thing with the focal length you might expect from a 6" or bigger scope I am not sure why they specify 6" or above.

I actually grabbed a 60 second frame of Wolf 359 once on a whim and it is clearly visible using my 80mm frac and ASI294 camera. In 5 minute subs I can identify stars down to about mag 17.5 by comparing the sub to stellarium around easily identifiable stars.

If the weather plays ball I might have a go anyway, if the subs are useful to them then fine. If not, fine too.

[tonybarry]

Last night was clear in Western Sydney until about 11:30pm. I was able to observe Proxima Centauri with the 10" SCT. Here is a composite image, with a singular image of 10 seconds exposure @ f/10; and a Palomar Observatory Sky Survey taken before 1959.

The proper motion is readily apparent.

Regards,
Tony Barry
WSAAG

[turbo_pascale]

That's very cool!

[pfitzgerald]

Tonight in Melbourne will be no good - but tomorrow looks like we will get the chance to join in.

I intend to set my gear up and catch both stars. Dark, bias, flats and light frames - the whole shebang (sp?).

Please let the skies stay clear.

Paul

[turbo_pascale]

I won't be able to do it unfortunately, but I'd be interested to know, in order to cut through the light pollution, would shooting through Ha (or any filter for that matter) still provide viable results for their use?

[The_bluester]

I shot a single 5 minute sub of each two nights ago. I need to crop them to a more reasonable starfield. I did them with my SVX80 (So half the size they call the minimum) and both stars are well visible. Just the Proxma filed is VERY busy with my field of view and so close to the milky way.

[multiweb]

Very cool :thumbsup: Might give it a go tonight.

[The_bluester]

My Wolf 359, oriented so North is up and cropped to match the chart on the New Horizons page. Centered on Wolf 359. Not too bad I think for a single 300 second sub from a 3" scope and $1500 camera.


Proxima Cen added too, same North up, cropped to their chart framing, 1 X 5 minute sub.

[pfitzgerald]

And as is so often the case, Melbourne's weather lets us down - missed both windows of opportunity.

Not happy Jan!

[The_bluester]

Sods law.

[turbo_pascale]

You can image it up to a week either side of the "ideal" date as long as you've got the date/time in the FITS header, they can use it - says so on their web page!!

It's clear tonight - go for it! (My 10" scope is out of action, can't attempt with my little 80mm!)

[rustigsmed]

reminded me of this old post

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=118941