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The white area is greater Los Angeles. I observed from my driveway in Monrovia, indicated at the "red/white" border zone marked with cross-hairs
My meteor watching setup – comfortable chair, blanket, clipboard, red flashlights, clock, binoculars, snacks
The graph shows the ZHR (Zenithal Hourly Rate), which is the number of meteors an observer would [...]
It was 23°F inside the observatory while we were observing the asteroid
Asteroid 2005 YU55 sketched November 8, 2011
Asteroid 2005 YU55 wasn’t my first visual observation of an asteroid passing near Earth, but preparing to view it brought back some great memories of our first one, asteroid 2002 NY40, nearly ten years ago.
Here’s a [...]
Lunar Landing Site Chart – click for larger versions. Courtesy Lunar and Planetary Institute
My photo of a three day moon. East is at the bottom. Mare Crisium is the egg-shaped feature on east limb.
Here’s my photo of a five-six day moon, near first quarter. East is at bottom here too. The middle [...]
The moon's summer and winter path, courtesy NASA's Starchild website
The winter’s moon – a smiling crescent just after sunset Feb 5, 2011 (click to see moon upper center)
Closeup of winter crescent moon
The summer's "backwards C" crescent moon at sunset, late June 2007 (click to see moon in lower right)
Closeup [...]
Johann Bode's 1801 Uranographia, showing Quadrans Murales, Boötes and other constellations
Boötes, Canes Venatici, Coma Berenices and Quadrans Muralis
The Northeast sky Jan 4 at 1:00 a.m. PST. Look between Ursa Major and Minor, and the bright star Arcturus in Boötes for the location of Quadrans Muralis on the Boötes-Draco border
Looking Northeast [...]
Perseid Peak Aug 12-13 18h-7h UT
My Perseid count Aug 13 06h-11h UT
Sunset at Amboy Crater, with moon and Venus
Amboy Crater by day
For the past year I’ve been traveling to dark skies to observe and count meteors during the major showers. Armed with a clipboard and a comfy chair, I stare at [...]
Size comparison of Mars (at closest and furthest approach) and the moon
See Mars and the moon near one another in mid August
2010 marks the eighth annual return of 2003′s Mars In August email.
The email always says something about Mars appearing as large as the moon, but there are annual variations to the [...]
Updated 1/1/2012
Before – 13.1-inch f/4.5 Coulter Odyssey 1
After – – note the original blue ground board
Update: A colleague at work had a telescope he wanted to give away. I advertised it and found someone who wanted it. Here’s a before and after image. The telescope has been reincarnated as you [...]
Use a chart like this to locate where to look for your object
Can you find the constellation Perseus and comet McNaught in Mojo’s lovely skyscape?
Mojo's photo of Comet McNaught
Quick comet sketch with notes. See the long ion tail, the bright coma, and the short dust tail in my sketches
Comet C/2009 [...]
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